Shylock is a victim or a villain Essay Example For Students

Shylock is a victim or a villain Essay In the play `The Merchant of Venice by William Shakespeare, the character Shylock has two sides to his personality. These two sides, victim and villain of the play, present themselves frequently in the play. Although many Christians see him as a great evil, the audience is forced to feel some sort of sympathy towards him, due to the amount of prejudice shown towards him because of his Jewish religion. Throughout the play we are shown the two sides of Shylocks character. The Merchant of Venice is also a play which contains several linked stories. It is full of contrasting characters. There are high, witty characters that are aristocratic such as Bassanio and low comic characters such as Lorenzo and Gobbo. It has an enchanted princess in Belmont who is Portia and a bond plot set in Venices busy, financial world. It contains a trial, an elopement, a trick involving rings and women disguised as men. Into the middle of this light, romantic comedy, Shakespeare has planted a tragic villain. Shylock is unique in Shakespeares comedies. He is a figure of fun, and a sad, isolated human being. We first meet Shylock at the end of Act I. From the start, we see that only money matters to him. He is very good at his business, which is lending money to people, then charging very high interest on it. He knows all about Antonios financial affairs. He also realises that all of Antonios wealth is out at sea, and is quite likely to be lost. All of the research he has done on Antonio gives the impression that he has his plans well organised. Shylock reveals in his first long soliloquy, his deep and venomous hatred for Antonio. We learn that he has been waiting for a long time to gain his revenge for when Antonio had previously spat on him because Shylock was a Jew. At this point, the audience are making their minds up about Shylock, and from his first entrance, many of the people in the audience have already made their decisions. Shylock now pretends that he wants to be friends with Antonio and to let bygones be bygones. Instead of charging interest on his loan to Antonio as he usually does, Shylock suggests as a merry jest that if the loan is not paid on the day named, then he may have a pound of Antonios flesh. Antonio readily agrees to this because he is a very trusting person and is certain that his ships will return safely home. One of Shylocks most obvious faults is his love of money over people. He is obsessed with money, He has no moral standards and he judges people by their financial status, so he describes Antonio as a good man, he doesnt mean Antonio is morally good, he means that Antonio is well off. More evidence about this is when Shylock reacts to Jessicas elopement and theft is that avarice squashes all fatherly feelings. He only wants to see his daughter dead at his feet with the ducats in her coffin. This confirms that he only cares for gold, ducats and precious stones. Shylock is a miser and hates rejoicing, rather like Scrooge, but Shylock is worse because he has no humour. Portia and Antonio are the most generous people in the play. Shylock is a contrast to them because he is not even willing to share his fortune with his own daughter, Jessica. For both Portia and Antonio, money is to be used, not hoarded and used for friendship. They use money to help their friends; they want no extra payment for it. He who is well paid that is well satisfied. Shylock on the other hand, would never refuse payment. Nothings Changed and 2 scavengers EssayShylock has undeniable cause for complaint. Thou calldst me dog before thou hadst a cause, but since I am a dog, beware of my fangs. He says this to Antonio. It is a very strong message, almost as if he is admitting to being the bitter and twisted man that everybody thinks he is. But it isnt only Antonio who has taunted the Jew. Gratiano also exhibits a vicious side; this is particularly seen during the trial towards Shylock. He reminds us of Shylocks own words. Gratiano is very like Shylock as he has no quality of mercy and thoroughly enjoys the final judgement. His praise of Portia echoes Shylock. O learned judge-mark Jew-a learned judge. A second Daniel, a Daniel Jew. Now infidel I have you on the hip. This echoes Shylocks words about Antonio and shows the disturbing similarity between Gratiano and Shylock, between a Christian and a Jew. If Shakespeare has any message for us regarding Shylock, it must be that evil treatment breeds evil behaviour and before self righteously condemn others, we should examine ourselves first. As always, with Shakespeare, we leave the theatre well entertained, but with lingering thoughts. Shylock is upset when he discovers Jessica has left him but this quickly disappears because of the sheer anger he feels when he finds out that she has taken his fortune. His greed takes over any fatherly feelings which he may have had. The question of whether Shakespeare intended Shylock to be a victim or a villain has long been a subject of debate; evidence indicates that he is a bloodthirsty villain whenever money is involved. But possibly, he has a bit of both in his very complex character. I think that Shylock is portrayed as both a victim and a villain in the play, and I also think that Shakespeare did this deliberately in order to give people their own opinion, but I am unsure as to which I think he is. Although Shylock is very greedy and thinks of nothing but money, he hasnt known any better throughout his whole life. On the other hand, Shylock does not make any attempt to love or show any human emotions to anybody, not even Jessica, his own daughter. In conclusion, I would say that Shylock is both a victim and a villain , heendured a lot of hard times and painful events. Discrimination was always openly shown towards him, especially from Antonio which is the reason he wanted revenge. Anyone subjected to the same treatment as he was is certain to become bitter and angry. He was forced into becoming what he is through the injuries and wickedness inflicted upon his own emotions. Although it may not be apparent, through this study of Shylock, I have become aware that The Merchant of Venice conveys a powerful message. The way we treat others may conjure up emotions of which we are unaware. We must not forget that by the closing stages of the play Shylock had nothing.