Shylock in William Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice

Shylock in William Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice

In the "Merchant of Venice", Shylock’s character undergoes a

metamorphosis from victim to villain. Christians looked down on him,

and he suffered humiliation and prejudice because of his job as a

usurer and because of his race. However, he is also vengeful and

cunning, and jumps at every chance to take revenge for himself. During

the time that the play was set there were not many Jews in Venice as

the Christians were Anti – Semitism. Christians thought of Jews as

hard hearted and made separate rules for them, for example, Jews were

not allowed to retaliate if a Christian hit them or called them names,

they also had too wear only Jewish clothes so that they stood out.

Christians hated and feared the Jews and they blamed them for the

death of Jesus. Antonio, Bassanio and their friends mocked Shylock, as

he is a Jew and his job was a money lender.

We are first introduced to Shylock in Act I Scene 3, where we learn

about his job as a usurer. In this scene, Bassanio seeks Shylock out

and asks for a loan in Antonio's name. Antonio needs the money to win

Portia’s hand in marriage. Shylock hates Antonio because of all the

things he has called him and for all the many times he has spat on him

‘ You call me misbeliever, cut – throat dog, and spit on my Jewish

gaberdine’ We feel sorry for Shylock During this speech as he reveals

to the audience and readers what he has to cope with and what Antonio

calls him. Shylock displays his hatred for Antonio, and agrees to

lend Antonio the sum of 3,000 ducats only if Antonio is bound by law

to pay it back. We see Shylock as a Villain in this scene as he plans

his revenge on Antonio by instead of charging interest shylock tells

Antonio that he will take a pound of flesh if the money is not repaid

in 3 months, Shylock here does not know whether he will get his pound