Shylock as a Villian or Victim in The Merchant of Venice by William Shakespeare

Throughout the education system, there seems to be an unofficial consensus that pieces of literature that are deemed “controversial” should not be taught in school. The Merchant of Venice falls into this category due to the Anti-Semitism which exists within the play making it “controversial” therefore, banned. On the contrary, this play should not be considered controversial and it should not be banned due to the learning experiences and knowledge that can be gained by reading this play. The contrastive style of literature will provide students and teachers alike who read this play the chance to expand their horizons when it comes to their English skills. With this in mind, The Merchant of Venice written by William

‘The Merchant of Venice’ is a play set in Italy in the late 16th Century, written by William Shakespeare. One of the main characters in the play is a cunning Jewish moneylender named Shylock. Shylock is part of a race that was discriminated against, despised and hated for their religion.

In a world full of beauty of countless varieties we allow ourselves to succumb to fear and hate. We hate that which we don’t know, and we hate those who don’t share the same belief. Ultimately our hatred destroys the beauty and only leaves us with more hatred. In Shakespeare’s, The Merchant of Venice, Shylock is a devout jew who lives in Italy during a time of jewish persecution. Shylock is a successful money lender who is constantly harassed by the citizens of Venice because of his faith. Over the years of constant abuse the hatred and abuse causes shylock to develop a hatred for his christian tormentors and after a series of events a desire for retribution for their misdeeds.

Shylock is a character famously known as being the antagonist of Shakespeare’s play merchant of Venice. In this play, Shakespeare portrayal of Shylock the moneylender is one of anti-Semitic stereotype. Shylock is depicted as a typical bloodthirsty Jew who lives a life void of any depth or meaning. His sole purpose for living seems to be to amass wealth and vengeance as seen from his adamant claim for his “pound of flesh”. Despite Shakespeare’s attempts to humanize Shylock at points in the story, it appears that his primary focus is to steer the audience against Shylock, painting him as being a cruel, bitter and inaffable figure. It is clear that in both Shakespeare’s merchant of Venice and Grace Tiffany’s Turquoise Ring, Shylock exposes

Risk is a situation that involves the possibility of exposure to dangers. Risks exist everywhere, even the most minute of actions can place someone in jeopardy. It is an inescapable labyrinth that plagues the lives of all ever since humanity’s first existence. Yet it,s double-edged sword like characteristics of also providing opportunities and gains keeps many enthralled in it. In William Shakespeare 's’ The Merchant of Venice, Antonio, a protagonist, gives himself over to a life-threatening contract with the villain, Shylock the Jew, in order to provide the means for one of Antonio’s friend the opportunity to woo a lady. Over the course of the play, various risky opportunities and events also expose other relationships as means of satisfying their wants, although not all their outcomes are favourable. Risk is the root cause of rewards and punishments in The Merchant of Venice. This is seen between the play’s rivals, such as Antonio and Shylock. Also is seen between lovers, such as Bassanio and Portia. It is seen again between fathers and children, such as Shylock and Jessica.

While in the court Shylock is stubborn to accept anything, but only his “bond of flesh” from Antonio. The Duke intervenes and adheres Shylock to “forgive a moiety of the principal, Glancing an eye of pity on his losses That have of late so huddled on his back…(4.1.25-8). Hence, Shylock refuses to dismiss the contract, in a similar form, as Antonio refused his offer to a potential friendship and instead discriminated him. Yet, the Duke is only focused on saving his fellow Christian from Shylock, a “Jew.” Duke further states, “We all expect a gentle answer, Jew” (4.1.36-7). The way that the Duke has called him “Jew” is inferred as discriminating him for his religion and to some extent not enforcing the law of justice towards Shylock because of his religion. Thereby, knowing that the Duke is in the position of making justice in Venice, he, first, favors those of his kind, “Christian[s].” Thus, Shylock’s does not remove himself from claiming his own justice of the contract for the purpose of the mistreatment that Antonio takes upon him; whereas, “Christians” don’t have that custom in lending money through “interest rates.” Thus, Shylock will not leave until his contract agreements has been completed that he further says, “…by our holy Sabbath have I sworn To have the due and forfeit of my bond” (4.1.36-7). The Merchant of Venice, also shows us how justice plays as injustice but is seen as justice because of the superior group is much greater than the inferior group, the Jewish, which they, practically, do not hold any power. Shylock does not get justice, and thus is puts in a worse discrimination position he was before by enforcing him to convert to Christian. This is paradoxically since the own court refused to give him justice; so why should Shylock still

1190 the Jews in York were massacred and in 1290 all the Jews were to

Shakespeare skilfully demonstrates religious intolerance towards Jews in the Elizabethan era automatically emphasising the kindness of Christians through the discerning use of evidence from the text of The Merchant of Venice. Christianity was the centre of society for Elizabethans, this resulted in discrimination against Jews. The character of Shylock, a Jewish money lender is portrayed as immoral, thirsty for Christian blood and is dehumanised by other characters in the play whereas the Christians were drawn as the moral and righteous human beings of the Elizabethan era. This is depicted through the quote commenting Shylock as, “The Hebrew [who] will turn Christian. He grows kind.” (1.3.175), a metaphor insinuating that Jews were unkind and

Stereotypes for every different religion, ethnicity, culture, and gender exist among the minds of the human race. These typecasts have ruled this world for as long as there has been diversity among people. In Shakespeare’s comedic tragedy, The Merchant of Venice, one prejudice is very central to the theme. The play is dominantly set in Venice, one of the most liberal cities of the Renaissance era. In this place and time period, anti-Semitism is very much in force. The Jewish people are discriminated against and treated terribly by the Christians living in Venice. Shylock, a wealthy Jew, is mercilessly spurned many times by men like Antonio, a Venetian merchant. In contrast to this blind hatred is the longing and lust associated with

only chance for some justice, if not in the bond then as a way of

Shylock of William Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice Shylock is one of the main characters in Shakespeare's play "The Merchant of Venice", he starts in the play as an outcast of society because he is Jewish. Shylock has been forced to become a banker in his life as an inhabitant of Venice, for the fact that his religion is seen as wrong. Although Shylock is forced to become a banker he plays a vital role in the city of Venice, without Shylock the city would struggle economically. From an early point in the play Shakespeare makes Shylock look like a money-loving fiend, Shylocks first words in the play are " Three Thousand ducats. " This line shows that Shylocks life revolves around money.

In the play the ‘Merchant of Venice’ by William Shakespeare the antagonist Shylock is both the victim and the villain. Shylock is a Jewish moneylender and is initially portrayed as anger filled and bloodthirsty but as the play continues we begin to see him as more human and his emotions become more evident. As the antagonist, Shylock is a fearful adversary to Antonio, the protagonist. But as good begins to win over evil, Shylock is crushed and we see evidence of his mortality in his grief. Shylock changes significantly though out the course of the play and he is formed into a too complex character to be labeled just victim or villain.

did this through Shylock. In Act 3 Scene 3, Shylock tells of how he is

The Way Shylock is Presented in William Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice The Merchant of Venice is about the conflict between a Jew and a Christian. This is not between one Jew and one Christian but between Shylock, who stands as a representative of the Jewish tribe, and between groups of Christians who greatly outnumber the Jew. The conflict between Jews and Christians is a historical one. The Christians hated the Jews because they made money from usury; this was completely against the Christian beliefs of that time.

Once again, we can see why Shylock is so intent on revenge and why he