Shylock - Victim or Villain?

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08/05/2007                                                                                                                             David Pollon

Many people are villainous in the way they behave. Their villainous acts may be attributed to their desire to destroy others and in turn elevate themselves to a higher financial or social level. However, the root cause of their villainy may be a response to the treatment they have received from others. In that case, they would have been taught villainy rather than being a villain at heart in which case, revenge would be a key motivator in inspiring them to act in a villainous way. This is why sometimes it can be very debatable whether one is villain or victim.

In the ‘Merchant of Venice’ it is arguable that shylock’s character undergoes a metamorphosis from villain to victim. In this essay, I intend to discuss whether Shylock can be defined as either a villain or a victim.

        We are first introduced to Shylock in Act 1 Scene 3. In this scene, we find out that Shylock bears a grudge against Antonio ‘How like a fawning publican he looks! I hate him for he is a Christian.’ By saying this, Shylock is talking about Christian’s altogether as well as Antonio. However, it is still not yet explained what Antonio has done as well as Christians in general.

        Shylock also displays elements of anger in his refusal to ever forgive the Christians. We learn of his intent regarding Antonio’s life: ‘If I can catch him once upon the hip, I will feed fat the ancient grudge I bear him.’ Shylock shows himself to be cunning and crafty by disguising his hatred for Antonio. He does this by talking to them as if he’s a close friend in order to entice Antonio to become indebted to him, not just with money but his life. This is because Shylock decides to change him no interest, but should Antonio fail to pay back the debt, Shylock must be able to take a pound of Antonio’s flesh. These are typical propositions of a villains mind. I think Antonio accepts this bond because he is very confident, perhaps overconfident in being able to pay Shylock back and because of this, Antonio is naïve seeing the bond as a show of friendship, not hatred. ‘The Hebrew will turn Christian: he grows kind.’ I also think that Antonio has great pride in himself and has a big reputation around Venice and consequently, he is foolish enough to accept the terms of this bond despite the warnings Bassanio gave him.

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Shylock now feels justified in challenging revenge upon Antonio because Shylock blames him for all his problems and is bitter about the manner in which Antonio has treated him in the past. He is also very resentful of the torment of his race by the Christians. Shylock speaks in a way that he see’s himself as a representative of his nation, the Jews. ‘He hates our sacred nation.’ Shylock now feels this is a perfect opportunity to relive his hatred for Antonio as well as Christian’s and goes for Antonio’s life. This too is an act of villainy. Shylock then ...

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