Shylock in William Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice

Shylock in William Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice

Written sometime between 1596 and 1598,by Shakespeare The Merchant of

Venice is classified as both an early Shakespearean comedy and as one

of the Bard's problem plays; it is a work in which good triumphs over

evil, but serious themes are looked at and some issues remain

unresolved.

The play is about Antonio, a Venetian merchant, who complains to his

friends that he feels a sadness which he cannot explain. His friend

Bassanio is desperately in need of money to court Portia, a wealthy

young woman who lives in the city of Belmont. Bassanio asks Antonio

for a loan in order to travel in style to Portia’s estate. Antonio

agrees, but is unable to make the loan himself because his own money

is all invested in ships that are still at sea. Antonio suggests that

Bassanio secure the loan from one of the city’s moneylenders in

Antonio’s name.

In Belmont, Portia expresses sadness over the terms of her father’s

will, which stipulates that she must marry the man who correctly

chooses one of three caskets.

In Venice, Antonio and Bassanio approach Shylock, a Jewish

moneylender, for a loan. Shylock has a long-standing grudge against

Antonio, who has made a habit of criticizing Shylock and other Jews

for loaning money at large rates of interest, and undermines their

business by offering interest-free loans. Although Antonio refuses to

apologise for his behaviour, Shylock acts agreeably and offers to lend

Bassanio three thousand ducats with no interest. Shylock adds,

however, that should the loan go unpaid, Shylock will be entitled to a

pound of Antonio’s own flesh. Despite Bassanio’...

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...of this and the characters being unaware

raises the audience tension., this lets them know something dramatic

is about to happen.

In all the play ends positively for the Christians, something which

would have been expected by the audience and they would have been

thoroughly satisfied with the conclusion and the final judgement on

Shylock. We can only guess how Shakespeare intended Shylock to be

portrayed, I feel that Shakespeare intended Shylock to be a victim, I

think he was created to challenge the ideologies of racism at that

time, Although saying this, I feel that it is not prolific for us to

simply categorise Shylock as either victim or villain. Modern audience

are probably more likely to be sympathetic as we share different

beliefs because of events we have witnessed through time mainly after

World War Two.