Essay about The Merchant of Venice

Shylock responds with a weak argument concerning his hatred towards Antonio with, “affection, Mistress of passion,” who affects men’s moods in ways they cannot explain (4.1.49–50). Saying, just as certain people cannot explain their distain towards cats, certain music, or eating meat, Shylock cannot explain his loathing for Antonio; there is no reason. This makes 4.1.43-61 especially powerful with the range of emotion Shylock expresses during his opaic argument. During 4.1.43-61, the use of repetition by describing the same image, “gaping pig” (4.1.53) and the “woolen bagpipe” (4.1.55) solidify Shylocks character in being narrow minded and determined. The question of, “Are you answered?” (4.1.61) is used to satisfy Shylock in his own explanation of his hatred towards

While The Merchant of Venice points out overlooked moments of dehumanization and problems of religious discrimination, the play also provides a process of re-humanization for Shylock to the audience. After Jessica has run away from Shylock with her Christian suitor Lorenzo, Salarino and Solanio, two of Antonio’s friends, begin to mock and insult Shylock as usual. Unlike Shylock’s previous sarcastic reactions to the

“There is no doubt that Shylock is a cunning and vengeful man, but nothing can justify the treatment he receives at the hands of the Christians.”

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

Shylock could be considered the victim of Antonio's bullying. Because Shylock is a Jew, he is treated in a way in which he seems like a peasant and Antonio is royalty, even

The Merchant of Venus, is a play written by William Shakespeare and is a majority of the time remembered for its scene with Shylock and Antonio. As intricate as the play wove itself, the word that seemed to occur a majority of the time “bonds”, had multiple meanings occurring throughout the play. Oxford English Dictionary (OED) tells us that Bonds can mean the bondage of a marriage, the ways of which a thing is bound or tied down, agreement or engagement binding to him of which who makes it, and a deed, by which binds himself, his heirs, executors, or assigns to pay a certain sum of money. In this play, we see a strong connection between bonds and goods reoccurring from start to finish. The term “bond”, is

He declares, "I'm very glad of it. I'll plague him, I'll torture him, I am glad of it." (3, 1, 115-116) At the end of Act 3, scene 1, Shylock's true motive is revealed. Shylock says, "I will have the heart of him if he forfeit, for were he out of Venice I can make what merchandise I will." (3, 1, 125-127) All these comments clearly attempt to paint Shylock as a money-worshipping murderer and not as a person.

In The Merchant of Venice, William Shakespeare reflects the historic and cultural time period by expressing anti-semitic views in portraying Shylock. At the beginning of the play Shylock offers Antonio a loan for three thousand ducats in three months or Shylock will cut off a pound of Antonio’s flesh. As the play advances, the readers learn that Antonio’s ship has sunk and he will be forced to forfeit the loan. They also learn that the pound of flesh Shylock wants is his heart. At this point readers are viewing Shylock as a cruel and immoral Jew. As the readers continue to read, Shakespeare interrupts that the reason Shylock is being cruel and unjust is the because of the inequitable life he suffered being a Jew in a christian society. Being

The belief that Shylock is “a devil [that] can cite Scripture for his [own] purpose” (1.3.96) is significant because it seemingly justifies Antonio’s hate towards Shylock to “disgrace [him] and hinder [him] half a million” (3.1.50) ducets is because he is Jewish; that enemies of religion must be enemies in occupation. Like Othello, it is not Shylock’s occupation as a financier that

William Shakespeare’s The Merchant of Venice is a perplexing story of dark humor, race, religion, identity, love, and justice. Generally, most people understand The Merchant of Venice as a comedy about a bitter and outcasted Jewish moneylender named Shylock who seeks revenge against a Christian merchant who has failed to pay his loan back. However, there are many different perspectives on whether The Merchant of Venice is a comedy or a tragedy depending on one’s views on the difference between race and religion. If one views the story as a comedy, it is a dark comedy full of many problems, especially the controversial subject matter of anti-Semitic attitudes of its Christian characters. If one views it as a tragedy, it is a tragedy that concludes with majority of its characters in a “happy ending”—that is if one agrees that Jessica’s decision of love over betraying her father and giving up her Jewish identity is indeed a happy ending.

Shylock is also the victim when Jessica leaves. He loses his only child, that underneath his cold exterior it becomes apparent he loves her and struggles with the depth of his grief. He loses hold on his business and walks through the streets morning the loss of his child to the men he detests. He cries in anguish ‘The curse never fell upon our nation till now; I never felt it till now…. My own flesh and blood to rebel! I say, my daughter is my flesh and blood.’ This scene evokes compassion towards Shylock but he is tormented more by Salario and Salanio. This shows him as a repentant father, a man a victim to his child’s will and prejudice surrounding his race.

Secondly, Antonio often mocks and criticises Shylock, and treats him little better than a mongrel. Shylock has been waiting patiently for his chance for revenge, and will not give up his bond, not even for ducats. Thirdly, Antonio is very bad for Shylock’s business of money-lending because Antonio lends out money without

The Merchant of Venice, also known as “The Jew of Venice” is a drama play originally written by William Shakespeare in 1598. The major conflict occurs when a man named Antonio (Venetian merchant) fails to pay off a loan to a greedy Jewish money loaner known as Shylock who demands a pound of flesh from Antonio in return. Antonio and his friends take a journey through friendship, love, and hatred in an attempt to free him of his pound of flesh fate induced by Shylock. Imagine yourself sitting in the master minds of directors Michael Radford and John Sichel while they are directing their adaptations of the play. Imagine experiencing their unique ideas first hand looking through their

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

Shylock’s revenge against years of ridicule is what brought about his downfall. In the end, his refusal to accept anything but the bond that was agreed upon caused him to lose his home, his daughter, his fortune and his religion. This is a tragedy indeed.