Torture is a powerful word and very horrific, which shows deep desire to get revenge on Antonio. This is quite ironic how Shylock was fussy about details about the “pound of flesh” but not when Antonio’s life is the issue. Caught out by Portia, by the end of the trial he has lost all his money and has to suffer the humiliation of being forced to become a Christian. In both cases the language is monosyllabic and commanding which shows the audience that Shylock believes he has power over everyone. The contemporary audience would sympathise with Shylock as he is being mocked behind his back. He made the deal with Antonio because he believed Antonio’s ships would come back. Why, revenge. This play has numerous themes embedded into it and possibly the most important is friendship. At this juncture the audience would have commiseration for Shylock because the contrast of how he is treated compared with Antonio, here Shylock is seen as a victim. Throughout the play, Shylock is portrayed as many things, both victim and villain, therefore making him an extremely ambiguous character. Shakespeare’s intention here is to show how Shylock constantly wants to be in control, but as we see later in the play this is not always the case. This quote tells us that Shylock’s villainous actions if acted out would benefit him greatly in his business. At this time people believed in the chain of being which was a hierarchy of beings. In Act 2 Scene 6 we see a different side of Jessica. To export a reference to this article please select a referencing stye below: If you are the original writer of this essay and no longer wish to have your work published on UKEssays.com then please: Our academic writing and marking services can help you! You can get your custom paper from This is why Shylock is regarded as a villain. Company Registration No: 4964706. In the following situations Shylock is victimized by others around him because he is Jewish. Shylock is introduced into the plot of ‘The Merchant of Venice’ by Antonio and Bassanio. He thinks this bond will make up for all the evil that antonio has shown towards him, “What, wouldst thou have a serpent sting thee twice? He is a victim of his religion, and a victim of his greed and overwhelming need for revenge. The atmosphere is drastically tense, Shakespeare uses hyperbolic language to express emotional sadness. “I thank God, I thank God. If it is a long quotation, you miss a line and indent. This is why Shakespeare uses unrhymed iambic pentameter to stress the significance of this. Any opinions, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of UKEssays.com. While no consensus has been reached on whether Shylock is a tyrannical villain or a tragic victim, evidence indicates he is a bloodthirsty villain. Shylock’s victimization is also contrary to the fact that Shylock can also be seen ass a villain. All you need to do is fill out a short form and submit an order. The way Shakespeare brings the knife into this is he cleverly uses light relief from a minor character to bring this about. We're here to answer any questions you have about our services. In conclusion, through analysing the play, in my opinion I believe Shylock is a villain for various reasons. He is clearly an intelligent businessman: He is very astute and is aware of other people’s concerns – he knows all about Antonio’s business ventures. This unrhymed verse is striking to the audience for various reasons. Registered Data Controller No: Z1821391. No consensus has been reached on whether Shylock is a tyrannical villain or a tragic victim. Is Shylock a Villain or Victim? But on the other hand he refused to take any sum of money, even six times the original amount. Examples: Shylock is persecuted by the Christians in Venice, because he is a Jew. Whereas Antonio’s language is noticeably simple and the audience would look at this, “I do”.This is significant because he knows that the end is approaching, so the audience would feel for Antonio because they know that Shylock is eager to kill him. Further, on in the court scene Antonio admits that he is doomed: “the weakest kind of fruit” This metaphor is compelling and would make the audience sad to see him scared. This seems fair because all his life he was being pushed around and then he has this chance to take out all those years of misery out on antonio, the cause, in a court. “Shylock the world thinks”, this shows how they are trying to isolate Shylock. They describe him as “dog Jew,” automatically we see him as the bad man of the play. This adds to Shylock’s vulnerability as he is alone with no friends and friendship is a vital theme of the play. Then it contains 10 syllables in the pattern of weak, strong, weak and it is extraordinary, how the strong stresses are on the key words of the phrase. Sorry, but copying text is forbidden on this website. As we are focusing the point on whether Shylock is a victim or a villain, let’s see first why Shylock is a villain. At the end of Act 2 Scene 5 we see Jessica privately mutter to herself the controversial truth: “Farewell, and if my fortune be not cross’d I have a father, you a daughter lost”. A good example is in Act 3 Scene 1, beginning with line 52: “He hath disgraced me half a million, laughed at my losses, mocked at my gains, scorned my nation, thwarted my bargains, cooled my friends, heated mine enemies… ” -Shylock Shylock had such a magnanimous spirit, that he even offered Antonio, who had abused him terribly, a loan, free of interest. In the next scene Lorenzo compares Shylock to his daughter and evidently shows more lovingness towards Jessica and disrespect to Shylock: “If e’r the Jew her father come to heaven, it will be for his gentle daughter’s sake” We can see here how there is a contrast in the language used when referring to Jessica and Shylock. The word “devil” adds to the running motif in the play as Shylock is always referred to as devil-like. I am a Jew. At this point, Shylock is basically defined as a villain, but because he is constantly ridiculed and humiliated by Antonio his revenge could be understood somewhat. Revenge. ...Shylock is a villain, because he denied twice the sum of the bond (6,000 ducats) so that he could attempt to kill Antonio. I am not bid for love. Salarino says to Shylock how different he is compared to his daughter, ‘Jet and Ivory’. Shylock’s speech is in prose which makes it clear and it is from the heart. These quotations are all important because it shows how Shakespeare has presented shylock as both a villain and a victim. When Salerio asks Shylock what good would Antonio’s flesh do Shylock if Antonio forfeits the bond, he replies, “If it will feed nothing else, it will feed my revenge. if you tickle us, do we not laugh? For these reasons i believe Shylock is an evil character I think that that Shylock is a victim because he is only doing what he feels necessary so stop people taking advantage of him again “wouldst thou have a serpent sting him twice? In Act 3 Scene 3, Antonio has been arrested. Additionally in Act 2 Scene 2 we see an insight into Shylock’s domestic life from his servant Lancelot: Shakespeare has cleverly included Lancelot in this scene so the audience can get a perspective of what Shylock the man is really like. Shakespeare uses an oxymoron to portray the contrast between them, which creates images in the audience’s heads which some may find funny an others ironic. But yet I’ll go in hate to feed upon The prodigal Christian. ” I will buy with you, sell with you, talk with you, walk with you, and so following; but I will not eat with you, drink with you, nor pray with you. ” On the other hand i think he is a villian as it is not right if you want to take a pound of someones flesh especially if you are not willing to break the bond for six times the amount. If a Jew wrong a Christian, what is his humility? Get Your Custom Essay on, By clicking “Write my paper”, you agree to our, By clicking Send Me The Sample you agree on the. The Duke shows deep emotion for Antonio at the start, he refers to Antonio as “thee”. Shylock: Villain or Victim. I will now look at the reasons as to why Shylock is the victim of this play. Shylock: Villain or Victim? Shylock is also an honest, law abiding citizen of Venice, before the very end. When Tubal brings news of Jessica to Shylock, Shylock says “Two thousand ducats in that, and other precious, precious jewels! ” It would seem that Shylock cares for money more than anything else. I think that Shylock is a villain. In early productions of The Merchant of Venice, actors played Shylock as either a monster or an evil clown, enforcing the idea that he is the villain of the play. Antonio describes Shylock as a “villain” who lies for his own purposes. He is thrilled to hear that another of Antonio’s ships is lost, making Antonio more vulnerable. The way Shakespeare brings the knife into this is he cleverly uses light relief from a minor character to bring this about. Throughout the play he is mocked and dehumanized (in the entire play, his name is mentioned by characters thrice; anytime else he is “the Jew,” or similar. Shakespeare uses alliteration to make the point “fair flesh” stand out. This is a very contentious phrase in the play. Paper Outline. In Act 3 Scene 3, Antonio has been arrested. If a Christian wrong a Jew, what should his sufferance be by Christian example? The imagery created by this is powerful in the sense that Antonio is like a fruit which is slowly but surely falling of the tree, this persuades the audience and reassures them who the villain is. deadline. English Language. Had Jessica not left he may have stayed within reason of right and wrong. Our academic experts are ready and waiting to assist with any writing project you may have. Evidently, this shows that Shylock does not want justice but revenge and the audience would see that clearly. He wants revenge: Perhaps it is the loss of Jessica as well as all the harsh treatment he has suffered from Antonio – and others – over the years that makes him bitter enough to ask for Antonio’s pound of flesh. everybody is treating him unfairly and he feels that to make it fair then he should be aloud to do it too, I feel that this is reasonable . Firstly Shakespeare has used alliteration so the audience can clearly hear the words especially “daughter” and “ducats” as they are important here. When Solanio finds outs that Shylock has lost his daughter and his money in Act 2 Scene 8 he teases Shylock but not to his face: “My ducats and my daughter” The structure of this sentence is clever. Shylock quotes that he would “have his daughter dead at his feet” if he could. This stresses the Christian part of the sentence so it will remain in the audience’s minds who they will be not pleased at Shylock. In these sets of examples, Shakespeare uses language and scenarios to suggest Shylock is a victimized character. I would be friends with you and have your love, forget the names that you have stained me with, supply your present needs and take no doit of usance for my moneys, and you’ll not hear me! Further, on in the court scene Antonio admits that he is doomed: This metaphor is compelling and would make the audience sad to see him scared. We never find out what happens to him. 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. At this stage, we feel extremely sympathetic for Shylock, as he does not know that he is going to lose his daughter. Loyalty is a major theme of the play and there is none between these two characters. The fact that Antonio is nearing death makes the audience feel for him as his life is on the line. At this time people believed in the chain of being which was a hierarchy of beings. We see him being impatient with her and ordering her around. After his daughter ran away, she was, for all intents and purposes, disowned. Thus, the theft of his jewels reduced her to the level of a thief, and so she deserved to be punished. They treat him like he is an outcast as we can tell when Gratiano says to Shylock ” O thou be damned, inexecrable dog “. In many ways he certainly seems to be the antagonist of the story: one of his primary functions is as the obstacle standing between Portia and Bassanio’s wedded bliss. The word “bond” is powerful language of the law and portrays Shylock as a dignified human being. Furthermore, whenever Shylock talks to either Bassanio or Antonio, he rarely uses gracious language. Act 3 Scene 1 was set in Venice, which was the place of business. The speech is noble and densely packed with images, ” throned monarch”. ” On one hand i think Shylock is a victim as he is bullied by Antonio and other Christians in Venice. Yet in an often forgotten moment when Shylock finds out his daughter traded his wife’s ring for a monkey he cares only for its sentimental value. Unique approach to your every order is our inviolable credo. ” Shylock the Jew, through a careful examination of The Merchant of Venice, is found to be an enduring, magnanimous, forgiving, and law abiding citizen of Venice. ’ This quote clearly shows his desire for wealth rather than love or family. “The Merchant of Venice” is one of Shakespeare’s most well known comedies and was written in the late 1590’s. Shakespeare doesn’t give Shylock any lines to tell us how he feels. So, why does he make such a strange agreement with Antonio, asking for a pound of Antonio’s flesh instead of interest if the loan is not repaid within the arranged time? This is reflected in the Merchant of Venice, although the audience of the play is made to feel sorry for Shylock at times, such as when Jessica, Shylocks daughter, elopes with a Christian. There are my keys.—But wherefore should I go? He knows that the Venetian justice system will have to support him and so relishes beating Antonio at his own game. However, I feel the modern day audience would perceive Shylock as a victim as today we live in an equal society where no one or faith is alienated from a community. Evidently, Shylock is repetitive and he is controlling the dialogue. He describes his ill-treatement at the hands of Antonio in Act 3, Scene 1, when he says: He hath disgraced me, and hindered me half a million; laughed at my losses, mocked at my gains, scorned my nation, thwarted my bargains, cooled my friends, heated mine enemies; and what’s his reason? I think Shylock is a victim as he is abused by the christians in Venice. So they are trying to play mind games with Shylock , these tactics would be viewed as unfair by the contemporary audience. The utilisation of a rhetorical question has enabled Shylock to communicate indirectly to the audience, which could influence their opinion of him. Shylock was willing to loan money to one who totally ruined him in public, on terms that were nicer than his normal business terms. What makes this more convincing is the fact that Jessica is saying this because she has known Shylock her whole life and she still hates him. Furthermore, whenever Shylock talks to either Bassanio or Antonio, he rarely uses gracious language. Antonio’s counterpart, Shylock, is the most noteworthy figure in Shakespeare’s comedy, The Merchant of Venice. These words are significant because they show his passion for revenge. He indicates to Bassanio that Antonio has offended him numerous times before and therefore refuses to free Antonio from the terms of the bond as shown when he says ” Wouldst thou have a serpent sting thee twice “. After his speech Shylock becomes intrigued when he hears news that Antonio’s ships are sinking, “I’ll torture him”. His daughter hates him and calls him a “devil”. The play is set mainly in Venice, which at the time was the city of trade, and which Shakespeare’s audience would have found exotic. The word “devil” adds to the running motif in the play as Shylock is always referred to as devil-like. How should he react? He describes his ill-treatement at the hands of Antonio in Act 3, Scene 1, when he says, ‘he hath disgraced me’. Do you think this is this a sign of strength or foolishness? This kind, forgiving heart can be seen in Act 1 Scene 3 beginning with line 148: “Why, look how you storm ! One Shakespeare intends this kind of as he gives Shylock emotive speeches about inequality, which will contradicts Shylock as being a villain. “. This would build up tension between the two characters and shows Shylock as dark and Jessica as fair. In the above essay, I have clearly shown that Shylock is a villain. Is it true, is it true? When Shylock first enters the room he is being questioned. The main reason he hates Antonio is financial: “I hate him for he is a Christian; / But more, for that in low simplicity / He lends out money gratis”. Shylock is a victim of business due to the fact that Antonio lends out money gratis. Published: 1st Jan 2015 in Even though Shylock refuses 6 times the original amount; ” if every ducat in six thousand ducats, were in six parts and every part a ducat, i would not draw them “, I still feel he is a victim as he has put up with a lifetime of abuse. The utilisation of a rhetorical question has enabled Shylock to communicate indirectly to the audience, which could influence their opinion of him. “Curs’d”, has unpleasant connotations which show the audience that Shylock does not have any respect. Shylock takes the image of a dog and turns it around to the Christians. Shakespeare uses an oxymoron to portray the contrast between them, which creates images in the audience’s heads which some may find funny an others ironic. Shylock admittedly says he hates Christians, which is very racist: “I hate him for he is Christian” Clearly this language shows that Shylock is prejudiced and this quotation would shock the contemporary audience, as they would be predominantly Christian. Shylock is definitely the most villainous character in the play, and only a few elements can show him as a victim overall, even then, his victimisation only seems to be a consequence of his own actions. Antonio becomes emotional, when he knows the end is near: “you may as well do anything most hard” This is a piece of rhetoric stressing the future of his cause. “He hath disgraced me, and hindered me half a million, laughed at my losses, mocked at my gains, scorned my nation, thwarted my bargains, cooled my friends, heated mine enemies. When Shylock first enters the room he is being questioned. I also see Shylock as a villain because when his daughter runs away he said he would rather her dead at his feat with the stolen jewels in her ear. Does he genuinely want to be friends with Antonio when he says “I would be friends with you, and have your love”? Copyright © 2003 - 2021 - UKEssays is a trading name of All Answers Ltd, a company registered in England and Wales. He is vengeful, materialistic and shrewd. The Merchant of Venice’s character “Shylock the Jew”. hath not a Jew hands, organs, dimensions, senses, affections, passions? I am a Jew. Shylock arrives as the only Jew present which isolates him more and shows the hostility towards Jews. this is what makes him the villain because he has crossed the line of being a moral person. This is my favorite play of all time the quote u are asking for comes form act 3 scene 1 and it states:”To bait fish withal: if it will feed nothing else, it will feed my revenge. these two quotes show us that he is a villain in many people’s eyes. He shows his excitment by sharpening the knife on his boots in court, ” not on thy sole, but on thy sole, harsh jew, thou mak’st thy knife keen. Pete, USA. He comes to do his part of the bond which was agreed by both Shylock and Antonio and approved by … Shylocks’ daughter, Jessica elopes with Lorenzo and takes his money, jewels and family honour. Shylock’s bond has an extreme condition to it: This shows that Shylock wants revenge if his money is not repaid. Act 3 Scene 1 was set in Venice, which was the place of business. ” overall i think Shylock is both a villain and a victim. In Conclusion... We Need Two Volunteers! The imagery is revolting. Shylock’s first appearance is in Act 1 Scene 3, which is set in Venice. It brings down the rate of interest in Venice and this means that Shylock is not able to make money because all the people who borrow it, end up going to Antonio instead. I would my daughter dead at my foot, with the jewels in her ear! At this time, Jews were treated very badly and were frequently excluded by their community. Antonio’s wishes are extreme, we see the extremeness when Antonio says, ” He presently become a Christian,The other, that do record a gift here in the court, of all he dies possessed unto his son Lorenzo and his daughter. If you prick us, do we not bleed? Discusses whether he was subjected to problems at the time, or if he caused problems for other people. We use cookies to give you the best experience possible. Shakespeare makes Shylock ruthless and cold in this act, which makes us think he truly is the villain of this play. Shakespeare has cleverly written this sentence so that every word, bar, Christian has one syllable whereas the word Christian has two.