Shylock is an extraordinarily memorable character, as his speech is mainly in prose and not in verse. The speech that is in prose shows a more human, realistic and serious side to Shylock, that many other characters lack. Shylock’s antagonist role is proven by the fact that he is seeking retribution and endangering the life of Antonio. Shylock’s hatred and revenge were brought about by the persecution he endures. Even in his pursuit for Antonio’s pound of flesh, he frequently mentions the cruelty he has suffered at the hands of Christians, which makes it hard for us to call him a villain.
In Act 3, Scene 1, Shylock states that Jews and Christians are alike and ‘If a Jew wrong a Christian, what is his humility? Revenge. If a Christian wrong a Jew, what should his sufferance be by Christian example? Why, revenge.’ Shylock’s intentions become clear in this monologue as he ‘will execute’ the revenge he has been taught by the Christians in Venice but he ‘will better the instruction’. On the other hand, Shylock’s explanation for the use of Antonio’s flesh ‘To bait fish withal’ makes it seem as if Antonio’s body has no value and also his continuous efforts to avenge all the awful doings Antonio has done by killing him, repels us from seeing him as a tragic victim.
We hardly witness Shylock with people of the Jewish community, instead we are usually given the Christians views on Shylock. Most of the time, Salerio and Solanio fill the narrative gaps. The Christian characters are positive about Shylock prioritising money before anything else. According to Solanio, Shylock ran through the streets crying ‘My daughter! O my ducats! O my daughter!’, although there is no real evidence that proves he said this. In Act 3, Scene 1, Shylock even says that he wishes Jessica ’were dead at my foot’ along with the jewels which she has stolen. Subsequently, when Jessica trades a turquoise ring, given to him by Leah when he was a bachelor, for a monkey, Shylock is not frantic over the monetary worth of the ring but is hurt by the sentimental value the ring had held for him. Shakespeare’s famous speech in which Shylock states ‘Hath not a Jew eyes’ transforms him into a victim. Shylock is arguing that he is not different from the Christian characters. Although he ends the speech with a tone for retribution ‘if you wrong us, shall we not revenge?’ Shylock also points out that he has been taught the need for revenge through the examples of the Christian characters ‘If a Christian wrong a Jew, what should his sufferance be by Christian example? Why, revenge! The villainy you teach me I will execute. It will go hard, but I will better the instruction.’
In Act 1 Scene 3, Lines 33-43: Shylock explains to the audience about why he dislikes Antonio. ‘He lends out money’ without interest and ‘brings down the rate of usance’. Shylock says ‘I will feed fat the ancient grudge I bear him.’ which means he will get revenge. He also says that Antonio ‘hates our sacred nation, and he rails’ meaning Antonio criticises Jews. He also adds that all Jews will be cursed ‘if I forgive him!’. Shylock also speaks of an ‘ancient grudge’ when he first enters ‘The Merchant of Venice’ and retells a memory of Antonio’s horrible actions. Act 1 scene 3 lines 98-121.Shylock shows his intentions right from the beginning, if Antonio does not pay the loan in three months, Shylock will receive ‘an equal pound, Of your fair flesh, to be cut off and taken’ from Antonio. We feel sympathy for Shylock, as he has experienced prejudice by the hands of Antonio and this makes his desire to get revenge even stronger.
Shylock may have desired Antonio to become bankrupt and he may have had other impure intentions but the Christians invite Shylock to dinner on the same night Lorenzo and Jessica runaway, so that his daughter can runaway easily and with Shylock’s money. In Act 1 Scene 3 lines 27-31, Shylock says that he ‘will not eat with you , drink eat with you, nor pray with you.’ meaning he will not socialise with Christians because of their different beliefs. Although he believes this, Shylock has been invited to celebrate with the Christians but says, ‘I am not bid for love; they flatter me; but yet I’ll go in hate’. His hatred is also increased by the loss of Jessica, his daughter. In Act 3 Scene 1, Shylock says that his suffering and anger are produced by the Christians. He blames his sinful acts on them, informing that he is only imitating their own cruelty and prejudices. Shylock is a citizen of Venice and yet is treated as an outsider. Like other Jews in Venice, he is trying to make a living for himself from his money lending and at the same time is continuing his life even though he receives injustice. Shylock calls this lifestyle ‘well-won thrift’ (Act 1, Scene 3, Line 42)
Shylock is expected to show mercy, even though the law is on his side, nevertheless, Shylock refuses to show mercy. Portia states that ‘Though justice be thy plea, consider this:….To mitigate the justice of thy plea,’ in this speech, she is promoting the idea that the New Testament teaches mercy and that the Old Testament does not. This shows that she has anti-Semitism and pro-Christian thoughts, which paints Shylock to be a victim. An Elizabethan audience would not expect mercy from a villain, so the Christians must bring justice to Antonio. Once Portia uses the law against Shylock saying ‘if thou dost shed one drop of Christian blood,’ your ‘lands and goods are by the laws of Venice’ confiscated on to ‘the state of Venice.’ She gets rid of his bond, money, estate and even dignity, leaving him ashamed and humiliated, forcing him to beg for mercy.
At the end of Act 4, Scene 1, Antonio does not take Shylock’s possessions as punishment for conspiring against him, this would make Antonio the merciful Christian and Shylock the unmerciful Jew in the eyes of an Elizabethan audience. In my opinion, I do not think that Antonio is being merciful because he has made Shylock ‘become a Christian’, which means he can not lend money anymore. This is another reason for Shylock to feel victimised, as usury was the main reason for Antonio spitting on Shylock, therefore, the two of them will have no reason to loathe each other.
Shylock's trial in Act 4, Scene 1, is a mockery of justice, with Portia cross-dressing and acting like a judge, when she has no real qualifications. This shows that the people who hate Shylock have to resort to dishonesty in order to prevail in justice and in the court room. Portia also hurts and humiliates Shylock in the courtroom. She gives him many chances to have mercy on Antonio but waits until the very end when Shylock is readying himself to cut a pound of flesh from Antonio to reveal that his bond is void. She clearly wants to bring embarrassment and failure upon him. When he is defeated he is shown little mercy, despite Portia asking his mercy towards Antonio. Shylock’s money is taken away and he must convert to Christianity.
When Portia arrived and turned the tables to Antonio‘s advantage, the result is of an extremely content ending, especially to an Elizabethan audience. Antonio has prevailed and Shylock must abandon his religion and become a Christian. The fact that the trial was such a close call and was twisted easily in favour of the Christians, however, raises the issue on how the law can be misused and unfair. Shylock’s life is emancipated, but his capability to practice his profession and his religion has been taken away. Ultimately, Shylock has lost his daughter, his fortune, his servant and a treasured ring given to him by Leah. He will give up his estate to Lorenzo, the man responsible for stealing his daughter, and he will renounce his religion for Christianity, which prohibits him from engaging in money-lending, by which he earns his living. Modern audiences cannot help but view Shylock as a victim.
We can only guess and will never found out, in the way, which Shakespeare intended Shylock to be portrayed. The Elizabethan audience had adopted a much shallow view that the Christians were always right, so Shylock was always at fault. Shylock was created to challenge the anti-Semitic and prejudices of the Elizabethan audience. Despite Shylock being a character that is tormented, he is also a tormentor, so it is difficult to choose how he should be viewed. It is purely up to the audience to detect if he should be viewed with pity or with disdain. Shakespeare’s description of Shylock, a usurer, has left many people wondering what Shakespeare really wanted us to feel towards Shylock : compassion, detestation or even both.
