The Merchant of Venice coursework
Is Shylock a villain or victim?
For centuries, Shylock has been one of the most complicated and unique
characters created by Shakespeare. He was theis a Jew among Christians; the,
a sufferer among victors; the and a revenger among forgivers. Among the
myriad controversies surrounding him, one question that holds longstanding
appeal is Constant arguments between audiences in different eras made him
a fascinating figure whereas the pondering toon a question has never stopped
-- “Is Shylock a villain or a victim?”. In From my perspective, Shylock’s role is
both a villain and a victimalters between different scenes.. Despite being
positioned as Antonio’s (the eponymous hero of the play) antagonist, and
displaying behaviours of villainy, he is arguably a victim of prejudice: he is a
victim of institutional prejudice within society and the law; he is a victim of
anti-Semitic attitudes held towards Jews from Christians, and he is a victim of
his own daughter’s betrayal.
He is both a villain and a victim.
In Act 1 Scene 3, Shylock agrees to lend money to Bassanio with Antonio’s
guarantee while he asks to speak with Antonio. In the conversation, Antonio
humiliates and discriminates against Shylock and Shylock also expresses the
injustice he has suffered from. In this scene, shylock is depicted as a victim of
anti-Semitic attitudes universally held towards Jews from European
Christians.owing to Antonio’s attitude towards him and the discrimination he
suffered from him while some of his villainy is also built owing to his craftiness
presented over the scene.
Firsty, of all, Antonio constantly acts as a superior over Shylock even if
heAntonio himself is actually the inferior one in need according to the
situation (he needs to borrow ed money from Shylock). Even though he has
once called Shylock names (谩骂), he goes straight to Shylock and asks (if not
commands) commands him to lend him money, as complained by Shylock
“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!”. After shylock
agrees to lend the money, Antonio says: “and say there’s much kindness in
the Jew”, his wordswhich shows a sense of arrogance and discrimination
prejudice as he was is suggesting that “Jews” are generally not “kind”. The
stereotype here is stemmed from the fact that Jews followed the Old
Testament, where God was always vengeful, rather than the New Testament
where he was kind. Antonio was is supposed to appreciate Shylock, but he
speaks like it is Shylock’s obligation to lend the money. That This abnormal
relationship between Shylock and Antonio in negotiation gives meoffers an
, insight of into Jews’s status in Shakespeare’s time which makes me
sympathize with Shylock. Although it is debatable whether Shylock’s business
practices are up to a high moral standard, the fact that he is judged merely by
his race makes Shylock is the bullied one in this situationin the conversation
which make him a victim in my view.
SecondSecond, throughout the scene, Antonio presents a naturalized and
deeply ingrained discrimination against Shylock due to his race which is unfair
to Shylock, making him a victim. At first, as as shylock mentioned mentions in
his speech, Antonio used to “spit on him”, “spurn him” and “call him dog”. He
He has suffered from all these and Antonio once again still says: “I am as like
to call thee so again, to spit on thee again, to spurn thee too”. The repetition
of the word “again” gives a sense of scorn against for shylock and
carelessness on hishis being unconcerned about negative impacts of his
words on discrimination against Shylock. It can be noticed that Antonio does
not view Shylock equally as a human but more like an inferior subject.
Moreover, he seems not to regret it at all. he holds a prejudice against
Shylock for no apparent reason. His highly stereotypical impression of Shylock
as an unfeeling, spiteful and avaricious businessman Shylock is more of a
victim in this scene seems deep-rooted which makes Shylock the one who
suffered between their relationship. The villainy of the Antonio is built here
which develops Shylock’s role as a victim. This scene reflecteds the ingrained
Anti-Semitism in society at that time. In the middle ages, large numbers of
Jews lived in England. The King allowed them to stay mainly for financial
reason. Thus, after being impoverished by high taxation, most of them were
expelled by King Edward I in 1290 and not allowed to return to England since
the 17th century.
At the beginning of Act 1 Scene 3, Salarino and Solanio discuss the rumours
that yet another of Antonio’s ships has been wrecked. They are joined
by Shylock, . Shylock then confirms that Antonio will soon be bankrupt and
swears to collect his bond. He then gives an extremely powerful and
emotionally-charged speech in which some reader’s sympathy is recalled
(view him as a victim) as Shylockhe narrates all the inequalities he has
suffered from owing to his race while his almost crazy desire to revenge in the
speech gradually 似乎此处看不出 builds up his villainy. His furious reaction on
her daughter’s betrayal strengthened this. Despite all the sympathy he gains
from the reader, his reaction and responses to his daughter’s escape and
Antonio’s accident makes him more of villain in the scene.
