Book: The Merchant of Venice
Essay type: Characterisation
Themes mentioned: discrimination, persecution, discrimination, religion
34/40 typed essay. on the presentation of Shylock with moment included and EBI at the end. This is a level 9 essay written by me.
How does Shakespeare present Shylock here and elsewhere in the play? Consider at least
one other moment in your exploration of Shylock’s character.
Mark: 34/40 (85%--Level 8/9 border)
Moment
SHYLOCK
Signor Antonio, many a time and oft
105In the Rialto you have rated me
About my moneys and my usances.
Still have I borne it with a patient shrug,
For sufferance is the badge of all our tribe.
You call me misbeliever, cutthroat dog,
110And spet upon my Jewish gaberdine—
And all for use of that which is mine own.
Well then, it now appears you need my help.
Go to, then! You come to me and you say,
“Shylock, we would have moneys.” You say so!—
115You, that did void your rheum upon my beard
And foot me as you spurn a stranger cur
Over your threshold! Moneys is your suit.
What should I say to you? Should I not say,
“Hath a dog money? Is it possible
120A cur can lend three thousand ducats?” Or
Shall I bend low and in a bondman’s key
With bated breath and whispering humbleness
Say this:
Essay:
Shylock is a Jewish man and is the main antagonist in The Merchant of Venice. He
is a victim of physical and verbal harassment due to his religion. Perhaps toughened
by this abuse, Shylock is also portrayed to be a wicked man as he is miserly,
duplicitous and vengeful.
Shylock falls victim to physical and verbal harassment of the Christians in play, most
notably by Antonio. When Antonio goes to hm to ask for money, Shylock reminds
him of the abuse he has received by stating, “You call me misbeliever, cut-throat
dog.” As Shylock is a heavily religious, for him to be called a “misbeliever” is a highly
offensive invalidating nsult to not only him but his religion too. In addition, Shylock is
deraded to a dog that is “cut-throat”, an adjective used to describe violent imbeciles
and outcasts. The victimisation of Shylock is further emphasised when Shylcok goes
on to exclaim about Antonio previously spat at him through “You, that did void your
rheum upon m beard.” Antonio’s other forms of physical abuse towards Shylock are
highlighted when he cries “You foot me as you spurn a stranger cur.” Here Antonio’s
mistreatment towards Shylock is compared o that of a man towards a stray dog,
which implies that Antonio “spurn[s]” and mistreats Shylock to the point where it is
dehumanising.
The reason why Shylock is mistreated is because he is hated for his religion. When
Lancelot Gobbo—his ex-servant—debates internally about whether or not he should
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