The Merchant of Venice

1036 Words3 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Theme of revenge in merchant of venice

Society tends to define people as being either victims or villains due to the actions, beliefs and decisions present in their lives. In the Merchant of Venice, this separation between those good and evil is existent in the Venetian community, especially for the character of Shylock. Although one may think that Shylock is a victim in this play, as a result of other’s wrong-doing, Shylock is rather a villain because he conspired to kill Antonio through his bond, wished to see his daughter dead for him to retain his wealth, and refused to show even mercy so as he could get his revenge on Antonio. It is through such destructive intentions Shylock possessed, having a negative impact on other characters in the play, which designates him as a villain.

Without a doubt, Shylock is a villain because he had an intense desire to kill Antonio and was willing to make a bond in order to satisfy this apparent need. For instance, in Act 1 Scene 3, Bassanio had asked Shylock, a Jew, to lend him three thousand ducats to go to Belmont, however, when Antonio enters the scene, Shylock openly states that he hates him because he is Christian. Shylock had been mistreated by Antonio in the past and as a favour, he is ready and determined to make Antonio suffer in return. When Antonio asks Shylock to lend money to his enemy, not his friend, Shylock takes advantage of this and states:

This kindness I will show.

Go with me to a notary, seal me there

Your single bond, and, in a merry sport,

If you repay me not on such a day,

In such a place, such sum or sums as are

Express’d in the condition, let the forfeit

Be nominated for an equal pound

Of...

... middle of paper ...

... wellbeing in order for him to be wealthy. This shift in priorities not only proves the irrationality of his thoughts but it also shows that he will stop at nothing to regain his honour, even if it means to hurt his family. Further, Shylock, knowingly aware of what it feels like to lose something dear to him, shows no mercy for Antonio when all his ships were reportedly destroyed. This disaster resulted in Antonio’s forfeit of the bond, however, still holding on to his past hatred for Antonio, was intolerable of anything other than his bond. While Shylock had many opportunities to gain our pity, the choices he formulated in response to difficult circumstances were not wise or moral, thus he is defined as a villain rather than a victim.

Works Cited

Shakespeare, William. The Merchant of Venice. Toronto: Oxford University Press, 2001. Print

Show More
Related

  • Prejudice, Racism and Anti-Semitism in William Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice

    2825 Words  | 6 Pages

    When the play was written the audience would have immediately disliked Shylock on the basis of his religion and occupation, however nowadays when religious prejudice is not nearly as strong we still find him an unpleasant character. One of the main things which makes him seem unpleasant is his greed and love of money. His first words are actually “Three thousand ducats; well”, perhaps a method of Shakespeare’s to show the audience immediately what is most important to Shylock. Later on in the first scene, when Antonio enters to talk to him about lending Bassanio money Shylock says to himself;

    Read More

  • Shakespeare’s Presentation of Antonio in The Merchant of Venice

    1281 Words  | 3 Pages

    Whether viewed as a “moral and upright” Christian, or a hedonistic, lonely man “grow[ing] exceedingly strange”, Antonio is certainly an intriguing dramatic device used to explore the importance of friendship and mercy; he legitimises his place in Venice at the play’s conclusion and ensures that he will live a “content” life, but not without destroying Shylock’s happiness first. He maintains an eerie presence which resonates throughout the play, subtly influencing the actions of others; Shakespeare’s presentation of him is purposefully vague so that we make up our own minds about him.

    Read More

  • Theme Of Risk In The Merchant Of Venice

    1151 Words  | 3 Pages

    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

    Read More

  • Characters and Relationships in The Merchant of Venice by William Shakespeare

    1589 Words  | 4 Pages

    We are left with the impression that Shylock is highly intelligent and extremely good at his job using all the information he has at his disposal. disposal before agreeing to loan money. He is true to his religion. faith in spite of all the racist abuse he has received. Perhaps Because of this abuse, he is bitter and anxious to avenge himself for past wrongs, real or imagined.

    Read More

  • The Merchant of Venice: Is Shylock a Villain or a Victim?

    862 Words  | 2 Pages

    At the end of The Merchant of Venice, Shylock has been both a victim and a villain. He is a victim of his religion, and a victim of his greed and overwhelming need for revenge. Shylock is definitely the most villainous character in the play, and only a few elements can show him as a victim overall, even then, his victimisation only seems to be a consequence of his own actions. His daughter running away, because of her treatment, and apparent lack of love. The taking of his assets, because he would show no mercy towards Antonio. The final conclusion must be that Shylock is unreasonable, spiteful, heinous, greedy - and a villain.

    Read More

  • Shakespeare Universal Questions Essay

    783 Words  | 2 Pages

    In particular, Antonio is described as a wonderful, kind, and benevolent person. Shylock receives a different side of him, claiming, “You call me misbeliever, cutthroat dog / And spet upon my Jewish gaberdine” (I.i.109-110). Antonio, the man who is supposed to be, “kind quote” (kind quote), treats Shylock as if he’s not even a person. In 16th century Venice, anti-semitic views like Antonio’s were fairly common, but Shylock’s later monologue criticizes this discrimination and the audience begins to empathize with him. *lead in to quote* “He hath disgraced me and / hindered me half a million, laughed at my losses, / mocked at my gains, scorned my nation, thwarted / my bargains, cooled my friends, heated mine / enemies—and what’s his reason?

    Read More

  • Shylock in William Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice

    1245 Words  | 3 Pages

    Shylock in William Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice Shylock has been very badly treated by certain Christians and he

    Read More

  • Shylock Case Study

    1301 Words  | 3 Pages

    Shylock is a Jew in a Christian dominated world, and because of this he is already a marginalized citizen of the Venetian community. Also, he further receives ridicule for having the stereotypical Jewish occupation as a money-grubbing loan shark which ensures both his peers and the audience dislike for him. He even is first introduced in the play as Shylock the Jew, which seems almost to distinctly label him as something different then the rest of the plays characters. Shylock is definitely considered a victim to society, and when he accused the Christian Antonio of Anti-Semitism and ruining his business, Antonio answers that he is "like to call thee so again, to spet on thee again, to spurn thee too. If thou wilt lend this money, lend it not as to thy friends, for when did friendship take a breed for barren metal of his friend? But lend it rather to thine enemy, who, if he break, thou mayst with better face exact the penalty." Antonio self-righteously feels that it is his role as a Christian to belittle Shylocks faith and treat him in the most inhumane way possible, and ironically he sets himself up into receiving Shylocks revenge. Shylock is also verbally abused from the majority of the other plays character with names like "villain with a smiling cheek, a misbeliever, bloody creditor, an inhuman wretch, damned inexecrable dog, cut-throat dog, a dog Jew, the most impenetrable cur that ever kept with men" yet he bears it all with a patient shrug accepting that "sufferance is the badge of all our tribe". However, in response to such blatant racism and prejudice, Shakespeare lets Shylock deliver one of the greatest written soliloquies about humaneness and tolerance with "hath not a Jew eyes? Hath not a Jew hands, organs, dimensions, senses, affections, passions? Fed with the same food, hurt with the same weapons, subject to the same diseases, healed by the

    Read More

  • The Consequence of Hatred and Revenge

    878 Words  | 2 Pages

    Due to religious and commercial conflict, Shylock and Antonio hate each other. Shylock holds a grudge against Antonio. When Bassanio has to borrow money on Antonio’s credit, Shylock acknowledges that Antonio is financially sound. However, he also sees the risks involved in Antonio’s overseas business. He requests to speak with Antonio, but maliciously refuses Bassanio’s invitation to dine with them. His resentment of Christians is deep; he will do business with them, but little else. Once they meet, Shylock bitterly recounts Antonio’s cruelty. Antonio limits his business by lending money interest-free; he even verbally abuses him in front of other merchants. Because Shylock is unable to openly defend himself against Antonio in a Christian society, his anger evolves into hatred. He sees the loan as an opportunity to ruin Antonio. Shylock takes advantage of Antonio’s confidence in his overseas business by demanding that he sign an unusual bond- if the loan is not repaid on time, Shylock can cut off one pound of Antonio’s flesh as forfeiture. When Bassanio protests, Shylock insists that the bond is a joke. Under this guise of amity, Shylock manipulates Antonio’s life into his hands, revealing the true extent of his hatred.

    Read More

  • Merchant Of Venice - Antonio And Shylock

    808 Words  | 2 Pages

    William Shakespeare shows how two tradesmen can have completely different lives when others view them differently in the play The Merchant of Venice. In the play, Bassanio, Antonio’s friend, needs money to pursue his love. They seek a loan from Shylock, a Jewish moneylender in Antonio’s name. The contract is for three times the value of the bond in three months or else Shylock cuts off a pound of flesh from Antonio. While all this is happening, there are love plots going on. One of which is for Shylock’s daughter to elope with Lorenzo, a Christian. Later on, Antonio’s source of money, his ship, is reported sunken in the English Channel, dooming him to the loss of one pound of his flesh. There is a trial on the bond, and when it seems sure that Antonio will die, Portia, disguised as a doctor of laws legally gets Antonio out of the situation and Shylock recieves harsh penalties. Antonio and Shylock, two similar businessmen of Venice, are viewed differently and are treated oppositely to heighten the drama of the play and mold a more interesting plot.

    Read More

  • Classifying the merchant of venice

    1020 Words  | 3 Pages

    William Shakespeare’s “The Merchant of Venice” is a drama that most scholars find difficult classifying. The play loosely focuses upon Antonio who becomes the subject of a loan that almost costs him his life due to his belittling and poor treatment of Shylock, who as a Jew has received many forms of prejudice from Christians. Despite this fact Antonio is relieved from the loan. Bassino is freed from his prior debts and gets to marry Portia, Portia weds the man that she desires, and four other characters get married. While these moments surely made the play happy and enjoyable, the looming threat of Antonio losing everything because he ended up defaulting on the loan causes the audience to worry and fear the outcome of what may happen. If not for Shakespeare’s usage of comic relief to support the happy ending it would be even more difficult to classify this play. Although there is plenty of happy moments and comic relief the treatment of Jews and Shylock in particular also causes some people to view “The Merchant of Venice” as a tragedy. While others yet view the drama as a problem play, “where moral dilemmas or social problems were explored through one central player”. William Shakespeare’s “The Merchant of Venice” is best classified as a comedy due to comedies definition, the rise of sympathetic characters, the use of comic relief to decrease the dark tense moments, and the inability to properly classify the play as a tragedy.

    Read More

  • The Theme of Prejudice in William Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice

    1157 Words  | 3 Pages

    Shylock is a Jew and his job is as a money lender. These reasons are : enough for most of society to despise him. Antonio, another main. character in the play, is portrayed as the superior person as he is a prosperous Christian and he looks down upon Shylock because of his religion and for his system of making profit out of the merchants.... ...

    Read More

  • Theme Of Love In Merchant Of Venice

    1366 Words  | 3 Pages

    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

    Read More

  • Appearance vs. Reality in The Merchant of Venice

    1066 Words  | 3 Pages

    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.

    Read More

  • Is Shylock a Villain or a Victim?

    860 Words  | 2 Pages

    At the end of The Merchant of Venice, Shylock has been both a victim and a villain. He is a victim of his religion, and a victim of his greed and overwhelming need for revenge. Shylock is definitely the most villainous character in the play, and only a few elements can show him as a victim overall, even then, his victimisation only seems to be a consequence of his own actions. His daughter running away, because of her treatment, and apparent lack of love. The taking of his assets, because he would show no mercy towards Antonio. The final conclusion must be that Shylock is unreasonable, spiteful, heinous, greedy - and a villain.

    Read More

More about The Merchant of Venice

Open Document