Shylock Essay

extract the penalty” (1.3.129). Antonio being aware that Shylock is not a friend uses his unworthiness to give him the loan. As a result Shylock uses this opportunity to his advantage by implying the term of the transaction is not a big deal: If he should break his day, what sound I gain by the exaction of the forfeiture? A pound of man’s flesh, taken from a man, is not so estimable, profitable neither…I say, to buy his favor” (1.3.160). Shylock suggests that his request is a demonstration of a compassionate

William Shakespeare's Merchant of Venice In many ways, shylock is a more difficult character for a modern audience than for an Elizabethan audience. With close reference to Act 1 scene 3, Act 3 scene 1 and Act 4 scene 1 show how an actor might reveal the human being behind the stereotype. The merchant of Venice is a play written in Elizabethan times by William Shakespeare. The play is set in Elizabethan Venice. The play starts with Antonio, a rich merchant, who is

between the two main characters, Shylock and Antonio. We learn that this tension is owing to the way Shylock has been treated by Antonio in the past, and yet in their verbal battles Shylock appears unable to take full advantage of Antonio needing his help and the unique power this should give him. Throughout this scene whenever Shylock wishes to rub in the change in their positions, Antonio sticks to his principles and resists, and it is Shylock who has to change tactics. However

in love with Portia, he never would have asked Antonio for the money to woo her and Antonio would not have entered into the bond with Shylock. Similarly, had the laws in the Court of Justice been interpreted by any other lawyer, it I likely that Antonio would have lost his life. At 588 lines, Portia also has more lines than any other character; 233 more than Shylock 's 355 lines and 400 more than Antonio 's 188. Because of this, the scenes surrounding the caskets in Portia 's home should be viewed

Portia, the heiress of Belmont, which will be decided through a casket lottery. In the beginning, Shylock is targeted with prejudice, despite anyone knowing him beyond his job. In addition, Portia and Nerissa rebel against the social normality of the time concerning gender to aid those who need it. Similarly, the Prince of Morrocco is mocked for his skin tone, despite having done nothing but be fair. Shylock faces the prejudice and discrimination of the Venitiens at the cause of his faith, influencing

say that anti-Semitism is bad. In fact it says neither; it only says that racism exists, and the more racism exists, the more hatred begets. 1. Villain or the victim In The Merchant of Venice, Shylock is always made known that he is the villain. In the Elizabethan period, the Christians viewed Shylock as

character, Shylock, suffers from persecution and humiliation for being a Jew as well as attempting horrendous actions in hopes of retaliation. The play starts out with a young Venetian man, Bassanio, needing a substantial loan so that he can attempt to win over Portia, a young, “richly left” woman(1.1.68). A

existent in the Venetian community, especially for the character of Shylock. Although one may think that Shylock is a victim in this play, as a result of other’s wrong-doing, Shylock is rather a villain because he conspired to kill Antonio through his bond, wished to see his daughter dead for him to retain his wealth, and refused to show even mercy so as he could get his revenge on Antonio. It is through such destructive intentions Shylock possessed, having a negative impact on other characters in the

Shylock the Jew of Venice: Victim or Villain? In fifteen ninety-five when William Shakespeare’s play, Merchant of Venice first took stage to the present moment, people of the Jewish religion have been discriminated against. Audience members have questioned the anti-semitic nature of Shakespeare’s play since its opening day nearly four hundred years ago.Shakespeare portrays the focal character of the play, Shylock a Jewish man, as both an adversary to the protagonists and a casualty of their abuse

Bassanio goes to his good friend Antonio who provides Bassanio with the funds through borrowing a short-term loan from a Jewish money lender, Shylock. Shylock dislikes Antonio due to his anti-Semitic views and thus declares that if the money is not replayed within three months he will extract a ‘pound of flesh’ from Antonio. The play concludes with Shylock attempting to claim his bond but through Portia’s deception ends up losing all of his wealth and property, with the play ending in marriage between