Victim vs. Villain: Who is Innocent?
Shakespeare once said “The quality of mercy is not strain'd” which means you can't make someone have mercy but it would help. When Bassanio is in need of a loan, Antonio offers to help but has borrow money from a Jew, Shylock, but ends up making a bond which does not turn out in Shylock's favor. In the story “Merchant of Venice” Shylock is a victim because Antonio does not follow through with the deal and Shylock is treated unfairly.
Shylock gets treated with disrespect when he is only following through with his bond. He gave Antonio “three months” to get him the money for the bond (I.ii.9). Therefore he was being reasonable because Antonio agreed to take on the full bet. He makes it clear he will “have the bond” when ANtonio and the others try to get out of it due to
…show more content…
For example, he claims he wants to “feed his revenge” with Antonio's blood (III.i.45-46). This means that Shylock was being a little harsh on Antonio for the bet, but that doesn't mean Antonio should just get away with losing. For winning the bond Shylock got his “life...house...and” what “sustains” his house taken away from him (IV.i.390-392). Therefore the others punishing Shylock wasn't even in the bond but Antonio only showed barely any mercy when this is his fault. The others make fun of Shylock when his daughter “rebels” and “robs him” of all his money and she runs away (III.i.34). THis shows that Shylock has a good reason to be angry at Antonio and the others because they think it's funny his daughter left him. Shylock does not deserve to be treated any lesser ny the rest of the characters due to the issues he faces. Overall, Antonio should have been punished for breaking the bond , but instead Antonio was left untouched and Shylock lost everything. Shylock is a victim because he is treated with disrespect and hated because he is jew and won the
What he should have done was prove them wrong and show all the venetians that Jews are indeed good people, but no; Shylock’s need for revenge overcame his morals. Even the Duke, who decides Antonio’s judgment, called Shylock out, “The world thinks, and I think so too, that thou but lead’st this fashion of malice to the last hour of act, and then ‘tis thought thou’lt show thy mercy and remorse more strange than is thy strange apparent cruelty” (4.1.?). Everyone just thought that Shylock was dragging this out for a good show and to teach Antonio a lesson. No one thought that Shylock would actually try and take a pound of flesh from a human being. Shylock, at his point, is just giving everyone more reasons to hate him. Not only does he plan to pretty much kill a man, but a good Christian man. For the Duke and everyone else, this is a step too far. When Shylock was asked why he wouldn’t just take the loan plus more money, he just answers, “you’ll ask me why I rather choose to have a weight of carrion flesh than to receive three thousand ducats. I’ll not answer that but say it is my humor.” Shylock is going to far at this point. He really has no reason to kill a man when he could have gotten all his money and the amount of interest that should have been put on the loan. In a way, Shylock could have avoided his own demise, if he didn’t give in to the revenge. In
& nbsp; The villain that we see in Shylock is the greedy moneylender. Shylock charges high interest rates and when he is not repaid he insists on revenge. In the play Shylock loans Antonio money, and out of jest he.
While engendering the bond in the inciting force of the play, Antonio says to Shylock – the antagonist – “Content in faith. I’ll seal to such a bond, / And say there is much kindness in the Jew” (1.3.149-150) which reveals how Antonio sees such positive terms in the deal. Although the terms may seem simples to follow, Antonio will still face the consequences of putting his life on the line for his dear friend, Bassanio. This bond portion of the play establishes relationships through the rivals and also gives background information about characters, which show the elements of dramatic significance. Subsequently, Shylock’s possessions are at stake during their trial after Antonio fails to pay him back because his argosies were abolished. Shylock’s punishment for attempting to
During the sixteenth-century there was a very prominent existence of anti-semitism. The English audience had a very clear prejudice towards the Jewish people because of the deep-rooted concept of anti-semitism. This mindset carried from everyday life to plays and productions of the time. This ill will towards the Jewish people spawned from political and religious disputes that were unresolved. The portrayal of Shylock as a villainous Jew is a logical move for the sixteenth-century playwrights because of this common belief. When walking into a production of The Merchant of Venice during this ear, one must keep in mind the predisposition towards the Jewish people as well as the cultural beliefs at that time.
Shylock: Villain or Victim In the Shakespeare comedy The Merchant of Venice we find a Jewish moneylender, Shylock, a victim of anti-Semitism, cursed as he tries to make his way into a Christian society. It is not long before Shylock is presented with an opportunity to extract revenge on one of his oppressors, a Christian merchant Antonio, who is in need of Shylock’s services. Antonio needs three-thousand ducats to send his good friend Bassanio on a romantic journey. In turn, Shylock wants a “pound of flesh” to guarantee the bond. Shylock, at first sight, is a victim of religious persecution and soon becomes antagonist in the story.
...f flesh, and thereby Antonio's life. One might argue that it is Shylock's honesty that becomes his downfall. In the end there is no doubt in anyone's mind that he, as an alien, did "seek the life of a citizen" (IV, i, 347), and that he therefore is liable to persecution.
Shylock lends Antonio a sum of money, that Antonio intends to pay back when his merchant ships arrive in Venice, one month before the debt would be forfeited. When Bassanio arranges the sum of money, Shylock befriends him, only to stand aside and utter to him self, "I hate him for he is a Christian... If I catch him once upon the hip, I will feed fat the ancient grudge I bear him," Act 1, Scene 3. Shortly after saying, "But ships are but boards, sailors but men... the perils of waters, winds, and rocks...Three thousand ducats; I think I may take his bond." Shylock is setting his trap here. Shylocks terms of the agreement are a pound of Antonios flesh from closets his heart, if it be forfeited.
In Act III scene I Salanio and Salarino confront Shylock, mocking him about his daughter's deception and insulting him. Shylock explains why he will take Antonio's flesh, making his famous speech, 'I am a Jew. Hath not a Jew eyes? Hath not a Jew hands, organs, dimensions, senses, affections, passions?'
Discrimination is a resounding theme in The Merchant of Venice (Meyers). All of the characters are affected by inequality. This inequity is evidenced clearly in Shylock, the Jewish usurer. He is treated with scorn and derision by all the characters. Shylock’s misfortunes stem not from poor attributes or even a poor background; it stems from the fact he is Jewish, and what is more, he is impenitent of that distinction. If he had been more daunted by Christian influence, he might have been forgiven, as Jessica is subjectively exonerated. He is not contrite and it is believed that his appalling birth cannot be absolved (Bonnell).
Shylock’s view on wealth is rather extreme. He values only money, and not family. After Jessica runs away Shylock states, “I would my daughter were dead at my foot, and the jewels in her ear.” (III. i. 79-80). When Jessica runs away, he does not care that she is gone. He only wishes for his money, which she has stolen, to be returned to him. Shylock also prioritizes himself and what he has to gain over the lives of others. While making the deal with Antonio, Shylock states, “Expressed in the condition, let the forfeit be nominated for an equal pound of your fair flesh, to be cut off and taken in what part of your body pleaseth me” (I. iii. 150-154). This deal alone shows Shylock’s greed for money. If Antonio is unable to pay Shylock back by the deadli...
Shylock has the reader's sympathy. Still, their desire for revenge ruins them in the end. Works Cited Shakespeare, William. The. The Merchant of Venice. 1967.
Shylock is a wealthy Jew who invests money into shipments and trades. When Shylock’s enemy, Antonio, requests a loan of 3000 ducats, “Shylock adopts this Christian model of "kind" lending in his bond with Antonio as a means for lawful revenge.” Shylock’s agreement is that if the ducats are not returned, Antonio must repay his loan in human flesh. This is a way for Shylock to either make money or kill a Christian, either will satisfy him. Lee describes Shylock’s feelings towards Christians, “Indeed, although Shylock will neither "eat," "drink," nor "pray" with the Christians, he is willing to "buy" and "sell" with them.” This is where Shakespeare first introduces the devil inside Shylock. Had Antonio been a Jew, there would not have been a payment of flesh. Shylock’s hatred propels the story from start to finish. His hatred causes him to lose his daughter, drives Portia to use her money and wit to save Antonio, and why he ends up losing
During the discussion of the bond, Shylock says to Antonio “ I would be friends with you and have your love” and “this kindness will I show”. He pretends to be Antonio’s friend, but he has an ulterior motive, which is to take a pound of Antonio’s flesh from whatever part of his body he pleases. The underlying meaning is to kill him, and thus, although Shylock seems good-hearted, he is in truth, harbouring deceit. Shylock is manipulative and crafty as he tries to put up a show to deceive Antonio. He sounds generous about offering the three thousand ducats without “usance for my moneys”, thus winning Antonio’s trust. This was done to divert Antonio’s attention from his actual intentions. However, Shylock proposes a flesh bond as a “merry sport”, in substitution for not charging interest. The bond, although an unusual forfeit, is a serious matter, because Antonio may be killed from accepting its terms and conditions. Shylock is a brilliant strategist, and even the perceptive businessman, Antonio, has fallen for it. Shylock is a vindictive and unforgiving man, whose hatred for Christians has driven him to want to kill Antonio. We know that Shylock has suffered emotionally and physically because of how Antonio has kicked, spat and rated him many a times. Thus he deserves some of our pity, as taking revenge on your enemy is only natural.
Shylock lends Antonio a sum of money, that Antonio intends to pay back when his merchant ships arrive in Venice, one month before the debt would be forfeited. When Bassarnio arranges the sum of money, Shylock befriends them, only to stand aside and utter to him self, "I hate him for he is a Christian... If I catch him once upon the hip, I will feed my ancient grudge I bear him," Act 1, Scene 3. Shortly after saying, "But ships are but boards, sailors but men... the perils of waters, winds, and rocks...Three thousand ducats; I think I may take his bond." Shylock is setting his trap here. Shylocks terms of the debt are a pound of Antonios flesh from closets his heart if it be forfeited.
However, one of the most intriguing characters is also the most oft-vilified and minimized in the work. This character, Shylock, is certainly just as compelling as any of the aforementioned—if not more so, because he acts as the catalyst for the majority of the interesting sections of the play (i.e. The flesh pact, the court scene etcetera). It is certainly undemanding to simply label Shylock a stereotypical stock character: the greedy, vindictive and bloodthirsty villain. Surely, there are more than enough instances available to label him as such (1.3.38-49, 3.1.59-62), 3.1.372-375). However, there also exists another possible, yet neglected, description of Shylock's character: the aggrieved, marginalized and putupon minority. As the text repeatedly reminds us, Shylock is Jew; moreover, a Jew in a predominantly Christian Venice. He is an individual that is consistently attacked at every opportunity by supposedly goodly Christian characters (1.3.103-105, 108-110, 2.8.15-17). It is to be expected that someone living in those peculiar circumstances would lash out when the chance eventually arises—in this case, Antonio is the target of the wrath. So, to those who would argue that Shylock is a mean-spirited, unforgiving and avaricious character, I would respond: of course he is. But he can also be seen as a distressed, violated and desperate ...