Shylock's Characteristics Of Merchantlock In The Merchant Of Venice

Antonio’s money is all tied up with a number of trade ships and tells Bassanio that he will be the loans guarantor. Shylock, a Jewish moneylender, offers to lend Bassanio three thousand ducats with no interest. Shylock creates a contract stating that should the loan go unpaid, Shylock will be entitled to a pound of Antonio’s own flesh. Antonios ships are lost and the debt cannot be paid. A trial is called to collect the debt and Shylock ignores all pleas to Antonio’s life. Shylock responds by reasoning that he has no reason. He blames his hatred of Antonio on “affection, Mistress of passion,” who is known to affect men and their moods in unexplainable ways (4.1.49–50). When the Duke of Venice is called in as the judge, he seeks a legal advisor. Portia being disguised as a young law clerk, examines the contract and, declares that Shylock is entitled to the merchant’s flesh, but that he must do so without causing Antonio to bleed. Making Shylocks distain towards Antonio even more apparent. This turn in the trial causes Shylock to accept Bassanio’s money and turns into a trial against Shylock for conspiring against the life of a Venetian citizen, stripping Shylock of everything he holds

Shylock requests a pound of flesh from Antonio on his search for justice. He claimed, "My deeds upon my head. I crave the law, The penalty, and forfeit of my bond" (4.1.195-196). Essentially, he tries to make everyone believe that as a follower of the law he would 've allow Antonio to cut a pound of flesh from his very own body if it was the other way around. Portia challenges Shylock 's hidden intentions. She says, "Shylock, there 's thrice thy money offered thee" (4.1.218). Getting his bond repaid was really not his moto. She is giving him the opportunity to understand that mercy is more important than justice, that he should show an act of mercy for Antonio. Still, Shylock persists and really just shows his real vision when he says, "By my soul I swear / There is no power in the tongue of man / To alter me. I stay here on my bond." His moto is really to hurt Antonio and finally gain revenge. Shylock shows himself as an individual without mercy. Where all that really matters was the insatiable thirst for revenge that controlled his actions.

This speech gives us a glimpse into why Shylock hates Antonio and the anti semitism Antonio has towards Shylock and his religion that he is dedicated to. He starts off by insulting Antonio and declaring that he hates him because he is a Christian. His hatred for Christians can be due to the fact that Christians ostracized and belittled Jewish people, especially during this time period and place. He then continues on describing what Antonio does as a career, but, with much criticism. He explains that Antonio lends money out freely and brings down the rate of interest for his friends.

Unquestionably, Shylock behaves out of character while creating the bond with Antonio and Bassanio. Despite the Jew’s hatred for Antonio, he is willing to loan him money. Antonio says, “Content, in faith! I’ll seal to such a bond, and say there is much kindness in the Jew" (1.3.148-49). This quote confirms Antonio’s trust in Shylock’s fake kindness and friendly behaviour. Shylock’s obsession with the idea of Antonio in a difficult situation is the primary reason why he agrees to loan his money and creates the bond out of hatred and villainy but masks his evil hopes in the presences of Antonio. Antonio is unaware of the seriousness and terms of the bond having believed the forfeit of a pound of flesh was a joke. Shylock deviously tricks the merchant with the appearance of kindness in hopes of catching Antonio at a

Antonio describes Shylock as a devil in disguise, because the devil Also tried to trick Jesus using the bible. This conveys to the the reader, that Antonio thinks that Shylock is a wicked person, guided by his own self-interest. He even goes to the extent of saying that Shylock is an evil soul, producing holy witness, just to get what he wants. The use of the simile, “A goodly apple, rotten at the heart.” Tells us that Antonio is warning Bassanio that what may seem nice and good on the outside, could be bad and evil on the inside. This is the first instance we see Antonio show a bit of resentment towards Shylock. After seeing what these two men have said about each other, it is no surprise that one of them is Jewish(Shylock) and the other a

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

Antonio views money as an influence to get someone to like him. In the book he uses it to try and get Bassanio to like him. Bassanio asks Antonio for a loan even though Bassanio owes Antonio money. Bassanio asks for the money to impress a girl he likes named Portia. Antonio agrees to give him money even though he has no money to give because all of his money is caught up in his business. "Thou know 'st that all my fortunes are at sea; neither have I money nor commodity to raise a present sum. Therefore go forth: try what my credit can in Venice do; that shall be racked, even to the uttermost to furnish thee to Belmont to fair Portia. Go, presently inquire, and so will I, where money is, and I no question make to have it of my trust, or for my sake. "(1.1.184-192). in this quote Antonio says that all this money is in his business and that he would find a way to get Bassanio his money. To get Bassanio the money Antonio took a loan from shylock. Shylock is a Jewish moneylender.

Shylock is punished by the Venetian court for seeking to end Antonio’s life. He is charged under a Venetian law (of Shakespeare’s creation) and he is forced to give up his wealth and to beg the Duke to spare him his life. Viewed like this it seems simple enough; Shylock broke a Venetian law and, as a consequence, is punished. However, Shylock’s case is far from simple. Antonio’s demand that Shylock should renounce his Judaism and become a Christian and his insistence that Shylock should will his money to the Christian

The first event that demonstrates that Shylock is a victim would be that he is ridiculed by his community and his family. Antonio and Shylock were never friends. They always fought because Antonio was a Christian and Shylock was a Jew. They also have different money lending practices which cause a lot of discrepancies. Antonio always mocked Shylock. He calls him a misbeliever and a cutthroat dog. Shylock tells us that Antonio “…call me misbeliever, cutthroat dog,/ and spet upon my Jewish gabardine,” (1.3.108-109). Here Shylock demonstrates that Antonio on a day to day basis mocked Shylock. Later on, Antonio mentions that he will call Shylock that again if he wants to. Another example would be Antonio’s friends. They teas Shylock for his faith and his misfortunes. When Jessica runs away with Shylock’s money and jewelry, he asked the Duke to go help him search Bassanio’s ship for them. Solanio heard

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 tells the audience he hopes to exact revenge on Antonio both for his own humiliation and for the persecution that the Jews have long suffered at the hands of the Christians.  I hate him for he is a Christian;. . . If I can catch him once upon the hip, I will feed fat the ancient grudge I bear him. He hates our sacred nation . . .  Curs‚d be my tribe if I forgive him (I,iii,40-49) Shylock then tells Antonio that he wants to be friends with him and will conclude the bond for a pound of flesh as a "merry sport."  In the second act, however, he still seems to bear a deep grudge against the Christians, for he tells Jessica that he is going in hate and not in friendship to dine with them.  "But yet I'll go in hate to feed upon the prodigal Christian. . . .I am right loath to go." (II,v,14-16)  After Jessica's elopment, Shylock suspects Bassanio and Antonio of abetting her escape, and this suspicion increases Shylock's animosity toward Antonio.  We learn later in the play that Antonio has personally rescued a number of debtors from Shylock's bonds when Antonio says "I oft delievered from his forfeitures; Many that have made moan to me." (III,iii,23-24) We also discover that Shylock cannot or will not explain his reasons for demanding Antonio's flesh.  "But say it is my humor," is all the reason he is able to show.

This applied even more so to the Jews as Judaism was passed on through the mother and so in converting to Christianity, Jessica will be denying Shylock of a Jewish heir. In the course of analysing the ‘Merchant of Venice,’ a key factor to remember is that attitudes towards Shylock have changed over time. In modern day society, he could be perceived as a victim, as he is a product of his environment. These days our society is far more accepting, whereas in the 16th century, Shylock may have been perceived as a villain, in opposition to the calm and rational persona of Antonio.

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