Shylock in William Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice
'I am a Jew' a famous saying from Shylock in 'Merchant of Venice' that
clarifies the merchant brotherhood of a wealthy city. 'Merchant of
Venice' contains rascals and heroes. The audiences will soon realise
that Shylock, the Jewish money lender, is shown as a villain within
the wealthy city. Is this really what Shakespeare had intended? This
testimony given proposes that Shylock is more of a deceitful character
than what the Christian colony wants us to comprehend. In my essay I
intend to explore if Shylock is really a villain or a victim of his
society.
Shylock is a Jew, which is why the Christians of Venice dislike him.
This is shown by 'If it be proved against an alien' (Act 4 Scene 1
line 345) because in Shakespeare's time Jews were seen as outsiders
within the city. This quotation shows that the Christians think the
Jewish people are 'Cut-throat' and operate in a way the audience would
not expect. Shakespeare's audience relate to him as an 'alien' because
the Christians believe Jewish people were shown as evil people.
The next point to why Shylock could be seen as a villain in the
society is because he is shown as a Jewish money lender. This means
Shylock makes money by adding interest to the money he loans to
Christians. I know this because Shylock says 'He lends out money
gratis, and brings down the rate of usance here with us in Venice'
(Act 1 scene 3 line 39). This quotation shows us that Shylock explains
his hatred towards Antonio, a valuable Christian, by lending out money
without adding interest on to the loan. Shylock shows rivalry towards
Antonio by explorin...
... middle of paper ...
...reotypes against Jewish dealers, he
tried to make out that the Jews are the hard done by people and the
Christians are the rightful religion.
In conclusion I believe that Shylock is a villain and a victim of the
patriarchal society in which he lives in. The reason for why I believe
Shylock can be seen as a villain is because of the stubbornness, his
religion and his intention on revenge against Antonio. I also believe
that Shylock is a victim because of all the abuse he was give like,
the name calling, violence, mockery and discrimination. The way
Shylock was treated in Venice can be related back to the Holocaust
when Jews were pick on because of their religion but also the way they
tried to help people escape from the German unpropitious, Hitler. So
is Shylock really a villain or a victim of his patriarchal society.
'I am a Jew' a famous saying from Shylock in 'Merchant of Venice' that
clarifies the merchant brotherhood of a wealthy city. 'Merchant of
Venice' contains rascals and heroes. The audiences will soon realise
that Shylock, the Jewish money lender, is shown as a villain within
the wealthy city. Is this really what Shakespeare had intended? This
testimony given proposes that Shylock is more of a deceitful character
than what the Christian colony wants us to comprehend. In my essay I
intend to explore if Shylock is really a villain or a victim of his
society.
Shylock is a Jew, which is why the Christians of Venice dislike him.
This is shown by 'If it be proved against an alien' (Act 4 Scene 1
line 345) because in Shakespeare's time Jews were seen as outsiders
within the city. This quotation shows that the Christians think the
Jewish people are 'Cut-throat' and operate in a way the audience would
not expect. Shakespeare's audience relate to him as an 'alien' because
the Christians believe Jewish people were shown as evil people.
The next point to why Shylock could be seen as a villain in the
society is because he is shown as a Jewish money lender. This means
Shylock makes money by adding interest to the money he loans to
Christians. I know this because Shylock says 'He lends out money
gratis, and brings down the rate of usance here with us in Venice'
(Act 1 scene 3 line 39). This quotation shows us that Shylock explains
his hatred towards Antonio, a valuable Christian, by lending out money
without adding interest on to the loan. Shylock shows rivalry towards
Antonio by explorin...
... middle of paper ...
...reotypes against Jewish dealers, he
tried to make out that the Jews are the hard done by people and the
Christians are the rightful religion.
In conclusion I believe that Shylock is a villain and a victim of the
patriarchal society in which he lives in. The reason for why I believe
Shylock can be seen as a villain is because of the stubbornness, his
religion and his intention on revenge against Antonio. I also believe
that Shylock is a victim because of all the abuse he was give like,
the name calling, violence, mockery and discrimination. The way
Shylock was treated in Venice can be related back to the Holocaust
when Jews were pick on because of their religion but also the way they
tried to help people escape from the German unpropitious, Hitler. So
is Shylock really a villain or a victim of his patriarchal society.