Merchant of Venice How should we best understand shylock - villain or victim?

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Hari Patel 10BN

Merchant of Venice

How should we best understand shylock – villain or victim?

Through time there have been many successful individuals in literature writers, poets, and play writers. But many would argue that one individuals work and character has stood out from the rest and this special illustrious person being William Shakespeare. In the many dramatic pieces of theatrical production written and the diverse individuality he ahs been able to write about many characters created through great though and open imagination. But one of the most famous fictional and criticised Jewish personality’s of English literature was created by Shakespeare, by the name of Shylock.  

Shylocks character remains highly problematic, mesmerizing but also debatable but stays complex within Shakespeare collection of works. Of lasting significant, shylock being the first Jewish male figure on stage continues to be dominant, in his mythical representation. What has been done in order to achieve this?  

Shakespeare’s true skill and talent allows him to create characters invested with psychological realism generating his creations with several appraisals and interpretations. It’s debatable to say neither his characters no their antagonist in situation being shylock and the Christian abuse are ever entirely obedient or corrupt.

Evaluation in to where the significant role of the money- lender is honestly in elation with anti-Semitism or as opposing critiques dispute liberal humanism.

Through history trials and retributions of Jewish representation, treatment and discrimination has been highlighted with their part and punishment received to their innocent race in historic events. But due to the horrific atrocities Jewish people have suffered during the WW2 under Hitler’s repugnant and persecution before that as mentioned. Up to the present day pragmatics are very predisposed to the use of speech that disseminate the foundation and formation of our personal Jewish Stereotypes, views and opinions of Jewish individualism.

Christopher Marlow’s 1589 play “The Jew of Malta” was performed as early as 1590, but was not published until 1633 long after Marlow’s death. It’s often described as a black o satiric comedy, and so any indication of tragedy is eclipsed. And indeed, Barabas does not elicit the audiences sympathy as a tragic hero, as might be expected. However, in spite of this lack of a tragic hero, the play was very popular in Renaissance England, encompassing as it did attacks on both Roman Catholics and Jews, described as two objects of distrust. Many years after the play had been performed to vast audiences the image of the Jew as a greedy usurer was a common distinction in the English theatre. For a modern day audience the visible stereotyping of Jews, with its accompanying images of the destructive force of anti-Semitism, it often offends the present audience; in addition limiting its production. All perceptions of Shakespeare’s shylock provides evidence fro multi-textual understanding in the way which Marlow’s character of Barabas can never be triumphant; Barabas’s involvement being that of an archetypical and stereotypical villain.        

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Since early convention of Greek tragedy most narratives always feature an archetypal antagonist in relation to a heroic protagonist. This is because its creates more of an atmosphere and adds a certain depth to a plot; keeping audiences entertained,  unaware and unacquainted of any major turns and twists in the plot. But in some cases the villain is used to give the hero problems and once the hero overcomes the predicament, the way in which the hero is represented after is with more ligancy, dominance and as a fictional liberator.    

The role of traditional antagonists is ...

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