Shylock's Complex Characterization In The Merchant Of Venice

Character Analysis Of Shylock In Venice
No one can argue that Shylock is one of the most complex and intriguing characters ever created in literature. He has unique traits that make him who
he is. Shylock is a Jewish man in a majority Christian city named Venice. In the Middle Ages usury was banned to Christians by the church and for that
reason usury or the illegal act of lending money, was controlled by the Jews. Shylock was one of the most prominent moneylenders in Venice.
However in the play Shylock is portrayed as an angry man who is hated by the Venetians. They are not a fond of his angry mannerisms, despise him
for his religion, occupation, etc. No one can deny that Shylock is motivated by money, but one can argue that he is also motivated by vengeance....show
more content...
Anther example where Shylock fits his archetype perfectly is in Act IV, Scene 1. As we know, Shylock is the antagonist in the play and as we
know, all villains must pay for their heinous actions eventually. In this scene Shylock is essentially stripped of everything he owns. Half of his
wealth must go to the city of Venice while the other half ends up going to his daughter Jessica. While some might feel bad for him at this moment,
we must think of the saying "what comes around goes around." In Act III Shylock is merciless and refuses to take any form of payment in exchange
for Antonio. All he cares about is getting a pound of Antonio's flesh. Keeping Antonio in a cell and essentially embarrassing him completely, even
though Antonio is on his knees begging for mercy, Shylock refuses to let go of what he wants, the pound of flesh. Like Amanda Bailey says in her
work Shylock and the Slaves: Owing and Owing in The Merchant of Venice, Shylock sees "the desperation of an insolvent debtor [Antonio]" (Bailey).
He is merciless and essentially wants to prove a point. However, this merciless act comes back to haunt Shylock when Portia goes after him in court.
In the end, Shylock loses and is miserable, something that happens to all villains and antagonists. That's why he fits so perfectly with that villain
archetype. We spoke about how Shylock fits his archetype
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Essay On Shylock In The Merchant Of Venice
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. In the beginning of the play Shylock is a money
lender, a profession that is highly frowned upon in the Christian faith, even though he is very successful in his craft he's hated by society because of
his faith and profession. Due to both of these, Shylock faces persecution from the community. One person who Shylock seems to really hate is
Bassanio, a Venetian Noble who constantly belittles him and in one instance spat on Shylock. In the play Bassanio along with his companion Antonio
come to Shylock in a request for a loan. As Shylock thinks on whether or not to accept their request we begin to see his hatred root for Antonio and
Bassanio as he says to Antonio:
Signor Antonio, many a time and oft / In the Rialto you have rated me / About my moneys and my usances. / Still have I borne it

The Merchant Of Venice Is Shylock A Villain
You can find a villain in almost every story. In the play The Merchant of Venice, by William Shakespeare, there is definitely a villain. He is a greedy
money lender, who is merciless and focused on revenge. Shylock is a villain.
Shylock is very greedy. He loves money. He even dreams about money. And he tells his daughter Jessica, "... For I did dream of money
–bags tonight."
(II.v.18). It is part of his everyday life. He relates almost every aspect of his life to money, including his daughter, Jessica. WhenShylock finds out that
Jessica has eloped with a Christian named Lorenzo and has taken money and jewels from him Shylock is mostly concerned about his possessions, not
his daughter. Solanio tells Salerio that he heard Shylock yelling in the streets,
"My daughter! O my daughter
Fled with a Christian! O my Christian ducats!
Justice! The law! My ducats, and my daughter!
A sealed bag, two sealed bags of ducats,
Of double ducats, stol'n from me by my daughter!
And jewels! Two stones, two rich and precious stones, by my daughter! Justice! Find the girl!
She hath the stones upon her, and the ducats."
(II.viii.12–22).
In addition, Shylock is less than pleased with Antonio because he is Christian and most importantly, because he lends money and does not charge a
fee. Shylock sees this as harming his own business and he is very angry with Antonio. The first chance he gets, Shylock tells Antonio that he is costing
him money. "How like a fawning publican he looks!
I hate for he is a Christian;
But more for that in low simplicity
He lends out money gratis, and brings down
The rate of usance here with us in Venice.
If I can catch him once upon the hip,
I will feed fat the ancient grudge I bear him.
He hates our sacred nation, and he rails, Even there where merchants most do congregate,
On me, my bargains, and my well–won thrift,
Which he calls interest. Cursed be my tribe,

If I forgive him.
(I.iii.37–48).
Shylock only cares about Shylock's money. His greed is only one characteristic that contributes to him being a villain. He is also merciless.
A second villain trait of Shylock is that he has no mercy for anyone, not even his own daughter. He would not permit her to make her own

Merchant of Venice Essay: Shylock
The Merchant of Venice: Shylock– Antagonist or Victim?
In The Merchant of Venice, by William Shakespeare, there appears Shylock– a Jew. As the play unfolds Shylock is seen to be the villain and is
portrayed as being cold, unbending, and evil. Shylock can easily be assumed to be the antagonist in this play or, after careful research and study, he can
also be viewed as persecuted individual who resorts to revenge as a last resort after he has been pushed too far.
To fully understand the character of Shylock we must first look at Elizabeathen attitudes towards Jews. In the sixteenth century Jews were rarely if ever
seen in England. In the Middle Ages Jews had fled to England to escape persecution in...show more content...
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 . . . CursвЂљd 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.

Shylock: Villain or Victim?
'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 the
beginning of the play Shylock makes an unsettling bond with a well–known, good and generous man named Antonio. Shylock has always had a grudge
against Antonio because he is trusting; he lends money without interest, taking away Shylock's business. He is also a Christian. We know that we can
never trust Shylock to have any feeling of consideration towards Antonio, when he says, 'If I can catch him once upon the hip, I will feed fat the ancient
...show more content...
However, although Shylock may be a merciless character, he is hated by everybody, discriminated against, spat upon, for his race alone; because he is
a Jew. Shylock's hatred for Antonio is somewhat justified when he describes how he has been treated by the Christian. 'You call me misbeliever,
cut–throat dog, and spit upon my Jewish gabardine.'
However all Antonio answers to this, is, `I am as like to call thee so again, to spit on thee again, to spurn thee to.'
He tells Shylock not to lend the money as a friend but rather as an enemy; that if he breaks the bond himself he will have no difficulty in taking the
penalty. After this scene we are left with a feeling of sympathy for Shylock and question whether he really deserves all the hatred he receives. When
Jessica, Shylock's daughter, is running away from him, we feel exhilaration in this escape from persecution; a belief that she is doing the right thing
and we urge her on. When Shylock first finds her missing, the play does not show Shylock himself in distress but rather Solanio describing the scene,
to encourage the audience to laugh at the old man. However, we should know that Shylock did feel this distress and later tells Solanio and Salarino
that, 'My daughter is my flesh and my blood.'
We also sympathise with Shylock when Jessica stole a ring given to him by his late wife and traded it for a monkey. 'It was a turquoise; I had it of
Leah when I

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Shakespeare
The Tragedy of Shylock
I had not read the _Merchant of Venice_ before this class. All of my familiarity with the play was based on hearsay, and for some reason I got the
idea in my heads that it was a tragedy. I thought that Shylock_did_ receive a pound of flesh from Antonio, but that it was just skin removed from his
back. This gruesome image was what I was waiting for during my entire reading of the play. But I was pleasantly surprised to find that this was not
the case. Also, I found out 'Comedy' means 'Happy Ending.' And that 'Happy Ending' means 'No One Gets Their Skin Cut off for Defaulting on a Loan.'
But I found the work to be not as comedic and happy as that ending implies....show more content...
He once more calls to light the numerous wrongs he has endured, thus explaining his actions. But most eloquently he reminds us all of the humanity
inside, that this is not some vile monster, but a man driven to the edge as any man, Christian or Jew, would.
This treatment of Shylock, even allowing for there to be cause for a sympathetic reading of Shylock, is testament to Shakespeare's unwillingness to
succumb to using stereotypes and caricatures. According to Fiedler, he was under a tremendous amount of pressure to create a Jewish scapegoat for
the stage for the community to vent its frustrations over a court scandal involving a Jewish physician. The fact that he has no other Jewish
characters in all of his plays raises a red flag to say that he did not want to create a monster out of Shylock, but by necessity, created half of one.
Through his writing he gave the people what they wanted, an easy villain to hate, but also a way to look at this character without utter contempt.
Shakespeare found a way to please his audience and also to leave room for a more charitable interpretation of Shylock.
If Shylock is to the hero, then, consequently, another character must be the villain. Because of the way the characters contrast with actual heroes,
particularly when they cite Jason and the Argonauts and Troilus and Cressida, it is easy to see these 'heroes' as farcical play–acting villains. The non
obstacles they must overcome for love and money contrast sharply with

Shakespeare's Presentation of Shylock in the Merchant of Venice
In the Merchant of Venice, Shylock is continually involved in the bond plot. This plot is probably the most intense story–line in this Shakespeare play.
Bassanio borrows money from Shylock in Antonio's name in order to impress Portia, however after a tragic incident involving all of Antonio's ships
crashing; the money has failed to be returned. According to their bargain Antonio must now giveShylock a pound of his flesh. Shakespeare uses
Shylock is this play in order to provoke feelings of sympathy but also of hatred towards the villain in this play– the Jew.
However you can't help but feel compassion for his situation as he is...show more content...
When Shylock accuses Antonio of spurning him, Antonio replies with 'call thee so again' and 'spit on thee again'. This, is my opinion, justifies the
revengeful side of Shylock. Shylock talks down the forfeit of a pound of flesh but Shylock really wants to profit from Antonio's death, as he will be
able to charge higher interest rates when Antonio can no longer undercut him. By the end of this scene we find Shylock bitter, greedy and also
intelligent, however his eloquent description of Antonio's abusive language and behaviour redresses the balance a little in his favour.
His daughter's elopement with a Christian and the theft of his money and jewels also give us pause for thought about our attitude towards him
(Act 2 Scene 5). Shylock leaves the house he gives Jessica the responsibility of being in charge of the house. He strictly instructs her to keep the
house and goods secure. This is quite ironic as whilst he is gone, she takes his wealth and disguises herself in order to elope with Lorenzo. This
isn't surprising as in Act 2 Scene 3, Jessica talk about how unhappy she is living with her father. Jessica is ashamed of Shylock, which congregates
feelings of compassion for him because of the fact that she is ashamed of him. However, the comic way in which he is displayed as reacting to this
event and his cry of

In many plays there are two types of characters, good and evil. Then there are those few who could be on either side of the fence. The character
could have both good and evil aspects, creating a complex personality. In The Merchant of Venice, by William Shakespeare, there is an example of one
of those characters. Shylock could be one of the most controversial characters ever created. Some people believe he is a victim, while others say he is a
villain.
In order to trace this idea we should know why people in the Elizabethan era hates Jews. Rodrigo Lopez was a Jew of Portuguese decent, who fled to
England in 1559 where he worked as a physician. His practice grew, and in time he was appointed physician to the Queen of England. But the...show
more content...
He says it aside when Antonio comes to him to borrow three hundred ducats. So he hates Antonio for no reason only because he is a Christian.
Moreover it may be understood further that Shylock accepts to give the money for Antonio only because he knows that he won't be able to pay it back,
therefore he will sue him to satisfy himself.
Another quote which shows how Shylock wants to exploit Antonio in order to humiliate him: ?Signior Antonio, many a time and oft?/you have rated
me/About my moneys and my usuances:/Still have I borne it with a patient shurg,/For sufferenace is the badge of all our tribe./You call me
misbeliever, cut–throat dog,/And spit upon my Jewish gaberdine,/And all for use of that which is mine own. Well then, it now appears you need my
help?.? (Shakespeare:I,III,106–114) This quote actually doesn't require explanation. It's very clear even to a blind man. After all what Antonio does to
Shylock, he lends him the money. What a kind of man who prefers money on the expense of his dignity. Antonio insults Shylock. He calls him a dog,
he spits on him and spurns him. But Shylock give him the ducats. A rational man would not even give him a penny if the other insults him in such way.
When Antonio goes to Shylock to ask for money. Shylock makes a contract but it seems strange, if Antonio doesn?t repay the money on time, Shylock
will get a pound of his flesh. He says: ?Go with me to a

Shylock: Cruel Or Unjust?
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

Shylock in The Merchant of Venice by William Shakespeare
William Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice contains an array of interesting and complex characters. From the alternately generous and grasping
Antonio to the alternately love stricken and exploitative Bassanio to the vulnerable and manipulative Portia, this play has an abundance of multi–layered
personalities.
However, one of the most intriguing characters is also the most oft–vilified and minimized in the work. This character, Shylock, is certainly just as
compelling as any of the aforementioned–if not more so, because he acts as the catalyst for the majority of the interesting sections of the play (i.e. The
flesh pact, the court scene etcetera). It is...show more content...
To prove this dichotomy, we will examine Shylock's statements to Salarino in Act 3, scene 1, lines 49–67. It can be said that, in regards to Antonio,
greed and petty revenge are all that interest Shylock. The lines preceding Shylock's statement consist of a question posed by Salarino. Essentially,
"why take Antonio's flesh?" Shylock responds with a predictably acerbic and inelegant answer: "To bait a fish withal. If it will feed nothing else, it
will feed my revenge." Here, Shylock shows himself the consummate villain. He has absolutely no use for Antonio's flesh yet he demands it in a
display of utmost sadism. He regards the man's flesh as nothing better than fish bait. He also admits that spiting Antonio will be the ultimate
satisfaction; by saying that the flesh would feed his revenge, he likened his vengeance to the appetite of a creature–one that would consume the flesh
the way a fish would consume bait...an extremely unsavory, yet telling, comparison. In lines 50 through 54, Shylock shares his motivations for
seeking the death of Antonio (because, of course, removing pounds of flesh from any creature is bound to kill it): Antonio has "disgraced" and
"hindered" Shylock (presumably from working his wiles on a would–be victim of his unfair lending practices), "laughed" at his financial losses,
"mocked" his successes, "scorned" his people (the Jews),

Over the years, William Shakespeare's work has been recognized as some of the best literature ever written in society. One can argue that one of his
greatest plays is The Merchant of Venice, a play about a merchant Antonio who defaults on a loan that he borrowed from a nasty Jewish moneylender
named Shylock. Nonetheless, this antagonist Shylock, who is looked down upon by many people in society, is arguably one of the greatest
characters ever created in literature. His motivations and personality are like ones never seen before. One can argue that Shylock both fits and defies
his archetype. I also think playing him in a theater would be interesting; you would have to use his emotions and demeanor to its full capacity.
Shylock is by far one of the most unique characters Shakespeare has ever written. No one can argue that Shylock is one of the most complex and
intriguing characters ever created in literature. He has unique traits that make him who he is. Shylock is a Jewish man in a majority Christian city
named Venice. In the Middle Agesusury was banned to Christians by the church and for that reason usury or the illegal act of lending money, was
controlled by the Jews. Shylock was one of the most prominent moneylenders in Venice. However in the play Shylock is portrayed as an angry
man who is hated by the Venetians. They are not a fond of his angry mannerisms, despise him for his religion, occupation, etc. No one can deny that
Shylock is motivated by money, but one can argue that he is also motivated by vengeance. Obviously money motivates Shylock because if it didn't
he would be lending money and charging an interest rate on it for a return. I argue that vengeance also motivates him in the end. When Antonio and
the court essentially beg Shylock to give in and offer to give him three times the value of his initial loan, he doesn't. He wants to prove a point and
essentially wants to get back Antonio. His vengeance seemed to be the biggest motivation in that moment. Throughout the play, it has become clear
that Shylock embodies his archetype perfectly. He is seen as a villain for the play, one who is greedy, selfish, and unforgiving. For example, when
people borrow money from Shylock

A villain in a play is a "character whose evil actions or motives are important to the plot" and a victim in the terms of this play is "a person who has
come to feel helpless and passive in the face of misfortune or ill–treatment". Shylock in Merchant of Venice is a Jewish moneylender and Jewish
people during Shakespearean time were looked down upon, treated unfairly with no respect. Shylock in Merchant of Venice is portrayed as how a
stereotypical Jew would be portrayed as, a villain and an antagonist.
In Act 1 Scene 3, Shylock is presented as clannish and austere because of Antonio's and the Christians unfair and ill treatment towards him, Shylock
accuses Antonio for calling him a "misbeliever, cut–throat dog", Shakespeare's use of the phrase "dog" has a negative connotation which indicates to
the reader that Shylock is seen as being beneath the Christians and shows the ill–treatment and discrimination that Shylock endures where he is treated
like an animal instead of a human. This clearly portrays to the audience the day–to–day problems a Jew would encounter and the phrase is effective
because it makes the audience feel sympathy for Shylock. However the sympathy for Shylock is short–lived as Shylocks greedy and villain side makes
an appearance. Shylock is furious with Antonio as he "lends out money gratis and brings down the rate of usance", "usance" is commonly known as
interest, this shows the audience how profiteering and greedy Shylock is for money, as he always

Shylock As A Villain Essay
Sympathetic Villain In William Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice, Shylock is instantly portrayed as a villain. Shylock, while making a deal,
crucially demands a pound of Antonio's flesh as interest. It is revealed that Shylock's villainous behavior stems from a history of constant torment
from characters in the play. In The Merchant of Venice, Shylock is a villain who acts out of revenge when he wants pay back for all the pain he
endured. Evidently, Shakespeare created the character Shylock with a sympathetic past in order to have the audience question Shylock's true nature.
Shylock is introduced as a greedy villain who craves nothing but revenge. The play begins with Antonio in need of three thousand ducats, he then turns
to...show more content...
He doesn't care to stop his cruel antics, rather he thinks he's doing everyone a favor by refraining himself from causing great harm. Shylock finds joy
when roles are reversed, causing people to beg for his mercy. Throughout the play, Christian characters were racist to him, they were constantly
disrespecting him due to his Jewish background. However, in Act III Scene III, roles are reversed when their racist antics turn into mercy. The
characters want to save Antonio from being harmed, and so they beg Shylock to change his mind: But–touched with human gentleness and love,–
Forgive a moiety of the principal, Glancing an eye of pity on his losses That have of late so huddled on his back Eno' to press a royal merchant down
And pluck commiseration of his state From brassy bosoms and rough hearts of flint, From stubborn Turks and Tartars never trained To offices of
tender courtesy. We all expect a gentle answer, Jew. (4.1.25
–34) The Duke wants Shylock to forgive Antonio with any ounce of humanity he has in
him. The Duke wants Shylock to take pity on Antonio and to act "gently." Shylock feels no remorse: "I have possessed your grace of what I purpose,
And by our holy Sabbath have I sworn To have the due and forfeit of my bond." (4.1.35–37) Shylock holds no mercy for Antonio or his friends.
Revenge is all Shylock cares about and he doesn't take other's feelings into consideration (just like they never did for him.) Shylock

Why Shylock Is a Complex Character
The way a character gets its reputation is affected by the way the reader and other characters view them, and that perspective can change at any point
throughout the storyline. In Shakespeare's play The Merchant of Venice, Shylock is presented as the most developed character. Shakespeare purposely
creates both an antagonist and protagonist in Shylock, by creating a change in view for the reader throughout the play. He can be viewed as a hated
Jew that is often referred to as a villain, a devil, and a money obsessed freak, but a sudden change of personality tends to always occur. We first see
Shylock as a person who chooses everything over money, but later we find out that there are in fact some things he places above money. In act one
...show more content...
Using fair to describe the flesh shows how valuable Antonio's flesh is to Shylock and that he is not only thirsty for the blood but for the revenge.
Hence the fact Shylock repeatedly brings up the word bond, shows repetition which impacts the way the reader looks at Shylock; viewing him as
obsessive with the fact there will be a possibility of receiving Antonio's flesh and a possibility of Antonio dying. A vicious and revengeful
perspective then comes out to the reader that eliminates any feelings of sympathy and increases a view of an antagonist. These two situations give a
sudden perspective twist of Shylock, both happening in the same scene. This is just proof that one slight change of behavior can change the readers'
entire interpretation of a character at any point throughout the play, and that Shylock can be viewed in two different sides. When Shylock responds to
his daughter Jessica's runaway, it seems as if he is only concerned about the money Jessica had ran away with than the fact his daughter is gone. When
Solanio discusses Antonio's ships and Jessica's elopement, he tells Salerio that Shylock screamed, "My daughter! My ducats! O my daughter!/ Fled
with a Christian! Oh my Christian ducats!/ Justice, the law, my ducats, and my daughter!/ A sealГЁd bag, two sealГЁd bags of ducats"(2.8.15–18).
The point that Shylock is trying to prove is that he is clearly devastated that his money and daughter

Is Shylocks Revenge Justified?
Is Shylock's Revenge Justified? Shylock is a major character in the play, most people consider him a villain. He is a wealthy, moneylending Jew
who practices usury. He's revenge is justified for many reasons, these reasons include him being abused for being a Jew and a moneylender at the
same time. Another reason is that Antonio prevents him from doing business as he loans money interest free. Shylock was a victim of an unjust trial
which leaves Shylock's will to live demolished as he is bloodthirsty for revenge. He also complains that aren't Jews and Christians the same, if a Jew
were to do wrong to a Christian wouldn't a Christian want revenge? Despite all of this he uses his patience and lends 3000 Ducats to Antonio interest
free in...show more content...
He was abused verbally and physically, he also was prevented by Antonio from making business, he was a victim of an unjust trial and had no
retaliation towards Antonio despite all the abuse and harm he has done. Shylock never had the intention of harming Antonio therefore why shouldn't he
take revenge if he did nothing wrong. But only to take all the damage which was inflicted to him. After all, Shylock truly deserves to take revenge as
he never did anything

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...show more content...
The victimization of Shylock for being a Jew makes the reader sympathize with him and for the fact that he is Jewish. It lends an understanding as to
how Shylock cultivated a hate for Christians and his justification in doing so. In contrast, Shakespeare makes no mention of Shylock's past and uses his
Judaism as the sole means for his distinctive torment of Antonio.
The Turquoise Ring gives depth to Shylock's character by providing insight into his relationship with his daughter Jessica. While the merchant of Venice
seems to Portray Shylock as a hostile and overprotective father, the Turquoise Ring offers a different perspective on the matter. It gives an
understanding as to the reason for the constant contention seen between Shylock and his daughter. Shylock tells his daughter, "an angel were you,
that did preserve me", showing the central role Jessica plays in Shylocks life. After escaping the atrocities of his homeland in Toledo, Spain,
Shylock is left with nothing of importance in his life but his daughter Jessica. His concerned for her is what motivates Shylock to try and create a
very sheltered life for his daughter, fearing that he would lose the only thing he had left. After all that he had sacrificed, to lead for his family a Jewish
lifestyle in spite of the dangerous implications of doing so, Shylock would not allow his daughter fall to the hands of Christianity,

Merchant of Venice Shylock Analysis Essay
Robert F. Kennedy stated, "Each time a man stands up for an ideal, or acts to improve the lot of others, or strikes out against injustice, he sends forth
a tiny ripple of hope... and crossing each other from a million different centers of energy and daring those ripples build a current that can sweep down
the mightiest walls of oppression and resistance." In Shakespeare's Merchant of Venice,Shylock is the core of all ripples. He lashed out against the
prejudice that was thrust upon him and is considered evil for doing so. The Merchant of Venicebrought together different characters of different
religions. Shakespeare used characters in this play to reflect sixteenth century views on Christianity and Judaism. The character Shylock wass...show
more content...
This duality of Shylock being portrayed with positive points as well as bad was developed further at the end of act 1. Early on in the play Antonio
described Shylock as the Devil and stated, "The devil can cite Scripture for his purpose" (Act1 scene 3 line 107). The 'devil' is described in the
dictionary as, the supreme spirit of evil and nowhere in the text or in Shylock's actions does it suggest this. Clear resentment and tension was
shared between Shylock and Antonio. In one of Shylock's monologues he explained, "I hate him for he is a Christian" (Act 1 scene3 line 42). A
contemporary audience during Shakespeare's time would have been deeply offended at this attempt to degrade a Christian and this would have
easily made Shylock evil in their eyes. Due to Shylock's lower status in this scene he spoke in prose, whereas Antonio spoke in verse. This showed
the difference in position between the two characters and the wide gap linking Judaism and Christianity. Respect for Shylock may be less easily
attained when he doesn't offer any to Antonio. When the bond was made between Antonio and Shylock it is easy to see how Shylock's character
can be considered the devil as he binds Antonio to contract, "An equal pound/ of your fair flesh, to be cut off and taken" (Act 1 scene 3 line 161).
Requesting a pound of flesh was possibly a little too extravagant; it suggested that he was capable of and willing to take a life. Making Shylock more
a butcher of animals than of

Shylock : A Fair Trial
Antonio Cardona
English 315
Patricia Patrick
20 October 2017
Shylock, the vulture
Early in the early days of capitalism, William Shakespeare not only saw but also denounced in his comedy the usury, the rigidity and the threat of
disobedience to the laws. This was something that clearly scared any type of investor. The aggressive attitude of the one who fears by his business. The
hypocritical attitude of going ahead without measuring the consequences. The passivity of the State, or at least its ineffectiveness. All this in the dawn
of Capitalism where Shakespeare challenges the reader to think whether Shylock had a fair trial or not. I will prove that Shylock had a fair trial.
Shylock was dehumanized and diminished. The adjectives that...show more content...
Essentially, he tries to make everyone believe that as a follower of the law he would've let 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 true colors 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
Mercy plays an important role in this trial. Conversely, Shylock can only receive the mercy what he is willing to give. Portia warns Shylock about it.
She says, "For, as thou urgest justice, be assured Thou shalt have justice more than thou desirest" (4.1.1.314–315). Shylock has been given the
opportunity to show mercy towards Antonio. However, his hatred is impregnated so deep in his heart that is not willing to provide mercy.
Shakespeare does a great job to demonstrate that life can turn all the way around. Portia claims, "It is enacted in the laws of Venice, / If it be

The Character of Shylock in The Merchant of Venice
Victim or villain. These two words are the total opposites of each other. A victim is someone that 'we' in general should, or may, feel sorry for and
attempt to sympathise or empathise with. But a villain is the one person that people love to hate. The best example of this I feel is pantomime. The
victims or heroes are clear–cut and the audience willingly cheers them. But as soon as the villain walks on stage he is hissed and booed, unfortunately
it is not as simple as this in 'The Merchant of Venice' and how the audience react to the characters is all important in making the distinction between
victim or villain.
Although the title of the...show more content...
In contrast to this however, modern attitudes to racism, in particular anti–Semitism, are different. All throughout history Jews have been persecuted,
most recently in the Holocaust in Germany. I would think that many people today would be affected by this, that such persecution could happen just
because people stood up for their faith. It is this view that makes 'The Merchant of Venice', and particularlyShylock, so complex and still extremely
relevant to modern society.
Shylock is a Jew in a Christian city, isolated and vulnerable. This is a cause of great prejudice against Shylock and means his apparent villainy can
begin to be understood. But, interpretation of Act 1:3 and the lines therein and underlying meanings accounts for many things. For example, when
Bassanio invites Shylock to have a meal with them, "If it please you to dine with us", it can be read as a kind offer rejected by Shylock or ignorance
of the Jewish faith, either unintentionally or intentionally to patronise and provoke Shylock. But one point in this very important scene, Act 1:3, is
when Shylock recounts all he has suffered at the hands of the Christians, epitomised in Antonio. Shylock has "borne it with a patient shrug" and goes
on to demonstrate the hypocrisy of the supposed

Shylock's Complex Characterization In The Merchant Of Venice

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Shylock's Complex Characterization In The Merchant Of Venice