Merchant Of Venice Shylock Character Analysis - 762 Words

The Merchant of Venice is one of Shakespeare’s most widely known and controversial comedies. Written in the late 1590s, its’ controversy stems from the modern mindset between tolerance and prejudice. Shylock, who was â€Å"at once a fabulous monster, the Jew incarnate, and also a troubling human uneasily joined with the monster in an uncanny blend†, is now looked at as a victim in light of the prejudice bestowed upon him now being recognized. Shylock’s character is so stereotypically Jewish that he becomes known as villainous instead of a victim. (1, Pg. 1) At this point of time, Jews were treated harshly and were ostracized by Christians. Shylock, because of his religion, is frequently looked down upon, spit at, and called derogatory terms.†¦show more content†¦Shylock is in the middle of lending Bassanio money, but, he requests â€Å"three thousand ducats for three months, and Antonio bound.† This is the first time Shylock mentions Anton io and it is with a negative connotation. He requests that Antonio be bound to the gamble. After a few moments, Antonio walks in and Shylock makes a speech in which he declares his hatred for Antonio. â€Å"How like a fawning publican he looks. I hate him 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.† 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.Show MoreRelatedCharacter Analysis of Shylock from The Merchant of Venice469 Words   |  2 PagesWilliam Shakespeares The Merchant of Venice is a classic play that has also brought about some issues revolving around the antagonist of the story Shylock. The purpose of this essay is to discuss the character of Shylock in the play and also introduce the uses of that name throughout history down to the present day. Shylock in Shakespeares work is a money lending Jew who pursues money with strong vigor and attachment. Shylock is also portrayed as literally bloodthirsty as he demands punishmentRead MoreThe Merchant of Venice939 Words   |  4 PagesContrast of Shylock and Claudius Introduction This essay looks into the lives of Shylock and Antonio. These are two of Shakespearean antagonists of all time. They are alike in more ways than one. Shylock in Merchant of Venice is a Jewish moneylender based in Venice. He has been tormented and repressed mainly by the Christian population. One finds it easy to sympathize with him mainly because he has his own reasons to be loathing, greedy, and miserly. This ends up making the entire ‘Merchant of Venice’Read MoreRacism And Prejudice By William Shakespeare s The Merchant Of Venice Essay1699 Words   |  7 Pagesreligion and what they believe in, however there is racism and prejudice present in the world. William Shakespeare’s The Merchant of Venice is one of his most controversial plays. Written in the 16th century England, the play poses many questions concerning racial, religious and human differences due to anti-semitism being very common at the time. The story is set in Venice where a merchant named Antonio lived. His poor friend Bassanio wants to charm and marry a lovely, rich girl of Belmont called PortiaRead MoreWilliam Shakespeare s The Merchant Of Venice2059 Words   |  9 Pagesin The Merchant of Venice resembles a folktale known as â€Å"A Pound of Flesh† (325). Artese supports his supposition with background context and parallels between the two story lines. Literary versions of the pound of flesh story circulated during the sixteenth century and were collected since the nineteenth century because of the plot’s longevity and populairity Shakespeare would have been familiar with pound of flesh stories (326). Human commodification is a central issue in both The Merchant of VeniceRead MoreWilliam Shakespeare s The Merchant Of Venice989 Words   |  4 PagesThe Play Analysis of The Merchant of Venice The Merchant of Venice is one of Shakespeare Comedy’s published in the First Folio. (McDonald 212) This analysis will review the written work of the play and the production from the Sweet Tea Shakespeare Theater Group. An overview on a few on the main stories within the play: the animosity in the relationship between Antonio the merchant and Shylock the Jewish moneylender, the courtship of Bassanio and Portia, and the secret eloping of Jessica and LorenzoRead MoreMerchant of Venice - Plot Structure1714 Words   |  7 Pagesof ‘The Merchant of Venice is apparently fanciful but in reality exactingly structured./b/center br brThe Merchant of Venice is a fairy tale. There is no more reality in Shylocks bond and the Lord of Belmonts will than in Jack and the Beanstalk. brH. Granville-Barker, in Prefaces to Shakespeare. br brThis is one way of looking at the play, reading it or enjoying the performance. But it can be a contradiction to our actual feelings about this complex play. ‘The Merchant of VeniceRead More Shakespeares Presentation of Shylock in The Merchant of Venice831 Words   |  4 PagesShakespeares Presentation of Shylock in The Merchant of Venice This essay is an analysis of how the character of Shylock, in the play The Merchant of Venice, is presented to the audience, by Shakespeare, in different ways. The riveting play shows the best and worst aspects of human nature and contains one of Shakespeares most reviled, complex and compelling characters. Love and romance end this play, yet before that come bigotry, racism, hatred, death threats andRead MoreMerchant Of Venice Essay Outline956 Words   |  4 Pages The Merchant of Venice Essay Outline Introduction: Hook: The theme is the main subject or message of a story. It is used to give depth and enhance the plot. The themes of The Merchant of Venice are used throughout the story of the play to make the plot move along and to encourage the characters into action. Bridge: When you read The Merchant of Venice by William Shakespeare there are many themes throughout the play and many lessons to be learned. Main Ideas: The most important themes are hatredRead MoreIs Shylock The Villain Or Victim In The Merchant Of Venice By William Shakespeare1411 Words   |  6 PagesCharacter Analysis Shylock Is Shylock the villain or the victim in the Merchant of Venice? 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 toRead MoreAnalysis of The Merchant of Venice Essay513 Words   |  3 PagesAnalysis of The Merchant of Venice William Shakespeares play The Merchant of Venice is based on a simple enough plot, but it gives a more complex view of the characters involved. It portrays each characters attitude, opinions and actions and shows how they affect the other characters. ====================================================================== Shylock is perhaps the most noteworthy character. He is centred on most of the plays events. Throughout the