Mar 28, · Words. 3 Pages. Shylock: Victim or Villain. Throughout the play, The Merchant of Venice, Shakespeare cultivates the idea of “Shylock the Jew” being both a villain and a victim each depending on the reader’s interpretation of the play. 16th century Venice was largely Roman Catholic and Christian Shylock is a victim of the society around him, as a Jew in the Elizabethan times, the Christians hate him, Antonio, Bassanio, Portia and the Duke. We see this in Act 4, Scene 1, as the Duke refers to Shylock indirectly as ‘The Jew’, ‘Go one and call the Jew into the court.’ Shylock: Villain or Victim Essay on blogger.com �� - Shylock is introduced into the plot of 'The Merchant of Venice' by Antonio and Bassanio. He is approached by them when they are in search of money. They
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We use cookies to give you the best experience possible. 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. 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 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. 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. 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, shylock victim or villain essay, 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. Antonio readily agrees to this because he is a very trusting person and is certain that his ships will return safely home. 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.
Shylock on the other hand, would never refuse payment. Against all this very real generosity, a Christian sense of charity towards others is set the cold and calculating character of Shylock. Shylock does lend money, but not out of love, he does it for profit. Furthermore, shylock victim or villain essay, he shylock victim or villain essay money for revenge as an instrument of his vindictiveness. Antonio has been lending money free of charge, so the other money lenders, like Shylock have lost business because of Antonio. This is how and why Shylock sees an opportunity to get his own back. Viciousness and greed as shown by Shylock are contrasted with the generosity and kindness of Antonio.
Antonio has another business with his ships collecting precious things like silk. This is his way of life and the only way that he can make money, shylock victim or villain essay. So from the start, Shylock is presented in an unfavourable light. It was widely believed in Elizabethan times that Jews were in league with the devil. Shylock often referred to animals, especially pigs which are assumed to have a connection with the devil. There was the detest belief that Jews ate human flesh. More over, it is only when he loses his money that he begins to know what suffering is. Shylock can be contrasted with Portia, Bassanio and Antonio.
His first entrance puts a complete stop to the colourful talk of the first scene. He is a killjoy and his language is harsh and cold. He despises all festivals, again like Scrooge and has no sense of enjoyment at all. The audience is made well aware that it is dangerous hypocrisy. Shylock pretends to be kind, shylock victim or villain essay, which is when he is at his most dangerous, the audience know this. In the past Shylock has ruined the other borrowers by charging outrageously high interest. He hates Antonio all the more because he has helped such people. The relation Shylock has with his daughter is very un-feeling and there is no sign of affection shown towards her before she departs.
In his famous speech in Act III, scene 1, lines we expect to see something human in his character. He points out that a Jew is just as much a human being as the next man, this makes the audience feel a little sorry for Shylock because of the grief that he has put up with for the majority of his lifetime. But even Shylock says that he has none of the feelings of kindness, generosity and friendship. Perhaps it has been hardened by the continuous racial abuse he has suffered. Shylock has undeniable cause for complaint. 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. Gratiano also exhibits a vicious side; this is particularly seen during the trial towards Shylock.
His praise of Portia echoes Shylock, shylock victim or villain essay. 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.
On the other hand, Shylock does not make any attempt to love or show any human emotions to shylock victim or villain essay, not even Jessica, his own daughter. In conclusion, I would say that Shylock is both a victim and a villainheendured a lot of hard times and painful events. Discrimination was always openly shown towards him, especially from Antonio which is the reason he shylock victim or villain essay 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. The way we treat others may conjure shylock victim or villain essay emotions of which we are unaware.
We must not forget that by the closing stages of the play Shylock had nothing. Hi there, would you like to get such an essay? How about receiving a customized one? Check it out goo. Home Page Literature Character Analysis Shylock Shylock is a victim or a villain Essay. Shylock is a victim or a villain Essay, shylock victim or villain essay. Get quality help now writer-Cameron Verified writer Proficient in: Shylock. Don't use plagiarized sources Get your custom essay shylock victim or villain essay "Shylock is a victim or a villain ". Related Essays. Is Shylock a Villain or a Victim that Deserves Our Sympathy Essay Words 5 Pages. Merchant of Venice Shylock - Victim or Villain Shylock victim or villain essay Words 6 Pages.
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Shylock: Victim or Villain
, time: 2:53Merchant of Venice - Shylock: Villain or Victim Essay Essay on Victim, Villain
Mar 28, · Words. 3 Pages. Shylock: Victim or Villain. Throughout the play, The Merchant of Venice, Shakespeare cultivates the idea of “Shylock the Jew” being both a villain and a victim each depending on the reader’s interpretation of the play. 16th century Venice was largely Roman Catholic and Christian Shylock: Villain or Victim Essay on blogger.com �� - Shylock is introduced into the plot of 'The Merchant of Venice' by Antonio and Bassanio. He is approached by them when they are in search of money. They Even more evidence to why Shylock should be classified as a victim, not villain. In conclusion as we have discussed above, Shylock is indeed a victim on more than one account. He has been discriminated against for being a Jew, he has suffered repeated abuse from Antonio and his friends, he has lost his family and he has lost all of his possessions and wealth leaving him Estimated Reading Time: 5 mins
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