Shylock - Villain or Victim?

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        GCSE English        03/02/2008

Is Shylock a villain or victim in

Shakespeare’s The Merchant of Venice?

The overall climax of this play is brilliantly displayed because the realism of the discrimination and prejudice towards Jews helps us to develop a sympathetic feeling for them. Shakespeare has included the historical and incorporated the biblical references in the speeches of this play. Examples such as the story of Jacob and his sheep from the Book of Genesis Chapter 30 quoted by Shylock to justify his way of doing business.

Typically, all of the Jews in Europe experienced a lot of discrimination from Christians during the Middle Ages because of their different appearances, lifestyles, laws and their religion. Shakespeare wrote this play for the Christian audience during the Elizabethan times. They were very prejudiced towards religions that were not pure Christian and would have hated the Jews because they had supposedly “murdered” Jesus Christ. Additionally, in reference to the mythological story of the “Wondering Jew” who was condemned to an everlasting life of misery, had developed an evil character who was believed to kidnap and murder Christian children. This is a personification of exile and Christian condemnation of the Jewish people. Because of this Christians would also have a sense of xenophobia because they feared that Jews would take their land and their wealth from them. During the sixteenth century, the victimised Jews would be forced to live in dreaded isolated areas called “ghettos” by anti-Semitic leaders such as Martin Luther who was “possessed by the devil” said the Vatican chief’s exorcist. The ghettos were often densely populated and many Jews died of hunger and disease because of poverty and social restrictions.

Throughout history, many rulers, empires and nations have oppressed their Jewish populations or have attempted to eradicate them entirely such as the Holocaust during World War II when Hitler forced the Jews into concentration camps and executed them one by one.

Ultimately, the contents of this play are comedy, love and betrayal, meaning that it fulfils the audience at the time by condemning and/or serving justice to the evil characters (Shylock is the villain in this case) and the good characters are successful (which in this case is Antonio) and the audiences’ reaction to Shylock would be stereotypical and would have classified him as just another Jew.

Shylock is first introduced in the third scene of act one. His appearance was hardly noticeable and his entrance was slightly delayed. As a result of this there was great anticipation leading up to his eventual appearance.

His first confrontation was with Bassanio who arranges an agreement in which he can borrow some money from Shylock. Shylock’s attitude towards Bassanio is sincere but cautious. He says he will do business with him and negotiate with him but he will not eat with him. He declines the invitation due to the fact that he hates Christians and he cannot eat pork because of his religion.

        Bassanio: If it please you to dine with us –

        Shylock: …I will buy with you, sell with you, talk with you, walk with you, and so following; but I will not eat with you, drink with you, nor pray with you…

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Here, Shylock explains that he cannot participate in any activities with a Christian that concerns breaking his religion’s boundaries.

Shylock is later confronted by Antonio who he has had past dealings of discrimination and business with before, as a result their emotions are sharply concealed with one another. In the play, Shylock speaks to the audience aside and insults Antonio.

        Shylock [Aside] : …How like a fawning publican he looks!

                           I hate him for he is a Christian; …

Here, Shylock angrily expresses his hatred for Antonio and the religion of Christianity. Antonio is in fact annoyed ...

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