He calculates what Antonio has done to him and tries to revenge the wrongs done to him by murdering Antonio. All you need to do is fill out a short form and submit an order. I am not bid for love. The Merchant of Venice’s character “Shylock the Jew”. This clearly makes the link between Shylock as someone akin to the devil. To integrate quotations properly, you need to introduce them and use the correct punctuation. He resolutely refuses to listen to all the pleas for mercy during the trial scene (from the Duke, Bassanio and Balthazar), insisting all the time on justice and his pound of flesh. If it is a long quotation, you miss a line and indent. I think Shylock is a villain because even though people are not nice to him that doesn’t give him the right to kill one of them one piece of evidence that shows he is a villain is he doesn’t give a reason for wanting to take a pound of Antonio’s flesh we know this because he says “some men there are love not a gaping pig; some that are mad if they behold a cat” this tells us he has no reason for taking his flesh. Shylock is begged by everyone to show Antonio mercy. 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”. Shylock has spent his life receiving abuse from Christians. In Act 2 Scene 3 we see Shylock’s daughter Jessica who does not like her own house, “Our house is hell” “Hell” is a strong word in the play and this image of Shylock recurs throughout the play. The utilisation of a rhetorical question has enabled Shylock to communicate indirectly to the audience, which could influence their opinion of him. In the courtroom when Shylock replies he uses quite vengeful and powerful language and he uses a lot of language associated with animals. Shylock has been called a dog, an insult for a Jew, “…. Furthermore, whenever Shylock talks to either Bassanio or Antonio, he rarely uses gracious language. But the way Shylock is portrayed is more along the lines of being both victim and villain. Disclaimer: This is an example of a student written essay.Click here for sample essays written by our professional writers. Villain or victim, Shakespeare’s Shylock is a character to celebrate In his contemporary revision of The Merchant of Venice, Howard Jacobson set out to … The atmosphere is drastically tense, Shakespeare uses hyperbolic language to express emotional sadness. “The Merchant of Venice” is one of Shakespeare’s most well known comedies and was written in the late 1590’s. In The Merchant of Venice, Shylock does not have the biggest role in the play but he is the character that everyone remembers. Is Shylock a villain or victim? Loyalty is a major theme of the play and there is none between these two characters. Shylock takes the image of a dog and turns it around to the Christians. However the question still remains: Shylock victim or villain? Our attitudes to Shylock change throughout the play, and he is one of Shakespeare most complicated characters. ” 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. In the Elizabethan times, quotes like “ I hate him for he is a Christian”, would have provoked the audience. Shylock and Antonio in Merchant of Venice, Shylock was more sinned upon than he sinned, https://graduateway.com/shylock-villain-or-victim/, Get your custom In both cases the language is monosyllabic and commanding which shows the audience that Shylock believes he has power over everyone. I would my daughter were dead at my foot and the jewels in her ear;” portraying Shylocks’ treatment of his daughter, after she ran away, is manipulated to make Shylock seem beastly. Antonio and Bassanio interprets Shylock bond at first as a bit of a joke. To attempt to take a man’s life is a lot more serious than simply calling him names or spitting on him. This is extreme dramatic irony. He is vengeful, materialistic and shrewd. Is shylock a villain or a victim essay. However, they proved Shylock Villain Or Victim Thes to be professional on every level. 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? In Act 3 Scene 3, Antonio has been arrested. Shylock does not appear at the start of the play for one key reason I believe, which is Shakespeare wanted the audience to see Shylock enter by himself for dramatic effect. He cleverly argues in Act III, scene 1 that he is as much a man as a Christian is and so will follow the example the Christians set by seeking revenge. What do you think? There are quite a few reasons for Shylock being a villain in my opinion supported by text from the play. The fact that the Duke addresses him as “thee”, is quite significant as “thee” is used intimately. Throughout the play: The Merchant of Venice, Shakespeare juggles with the idea of Shylock being either a villain or a victim. Shakespeare’s purpose here is to show the audience what Shylock’s own blood and flesh thinks of him, evidently deep loathing. They describe Shylock as “the dog Jew,” an example of how Bassanio and Antonio believe Shylock to be beneath them and how Christians thought themselves better than Jews. This would make the audience laugh as Shylock previously was in a happy mood and said a similar phrase. Get Your Custom Essay on, By clicking “Write my paper”, you agree to our, By clicking Send Me The Sample you agree on the. If it is a short quotation, keep it on the same line. 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. The language is monosyllabic but awfully potent. I think Shylock is a victim because throughout his life he has been treated badly but just because Antonio has hurt him and Shylock doesn’t want him to do it again, we know this because he says, “wouldst thou have a serpent sting him twice? At this time people believed in the chain of being which was a hierarchy of beings. The word “devil” adds to the running motif in the play as Shylock is always referred to as devil-like. 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. Shakespeare’s language here is purposeful as he has used rhyming couplets for dramatic effect and also to stress the importance of these words. Such as “penalty and forfeit”. 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. By continuing we’ll assume you’re on board with our cookie policy, The input space is limited by 250 symbols. Back in the days, Jews were strongly disgraced because of their religion. 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. Shakespeare has cleverly carried out this contrast for effect because he wanted to make it clear to the audience who the villain really is. 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? In addition, Jessica is taking all Shylock’s wealth and money is a big theme of the play, which Shakespeare exploits here. Shylock as a character represents the Old Testament, Judaism, which is the belief of justice, retribution and following the law by the letter. The dictionary defines a villain as “a cruelly malicious person” and a victim as “a person who is deceived or cheated”. Shylock has been called a dog, an insult for a Jew, “….cut throat dog”. However I believe the modern day audience would probably understand that the law is imperative to abide by due to the modern day society are very aware of the consequences if laws are not followed. This is why Shakespeare uses unrhymed iambic pentameter to stress the significance of this. Examples: Shylock is persecuted by the Christians in Venice, because he is a Jew. Is it true, is it true? Shylock admittedly says he hates Christians, which is very racist: Clearly this language shows that Shylock is prejudiced and this quotation would shock the contemporary audience, as they would be predominantly Christian. This phrase would cause high dramatic tension. and if you wrong us, shall we not revenge? While no consensus has been reached on whether Shylock is a tyrannical villain or a tragic victim, evidence indicates he is a bloodthirsty villain. Essays are the most common type of academic paper – and Shylock Villain Or Victim Thes sometimes, you are assigned just too many of them. In both cases the language is monosyllabic and commanding which shows the audience that Shylock believes he has power over everyone. I am a Jew. The themes of the play are revenge, mercy, and justice. The word “bond” is a key word used consistently through the play especially by Shylock. 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? Further on in the Act Shylock is really eager, that he has bought his own scales to measure the “pound of flesh”, “I have them ready”. In case you can’t find a sample example, our professional writers are ready to help you with writing Thou torturest me, Tubal: it was my turquoise; / I had it of Leah when I was a bachelor: / I would not have given it for a wilderness of monkeys”. if you tickle us, do we not laugh? We’re committed to protecting your privacy. The audience would not enjoy Shylock attaining power especially over Bassanio , who is a Christian. Shylock’s first appearance is in Act 1 Scene 3, which is set in Venice. He also makes a religious joke at Shylock’s expense. ” He goes to far because he believes that the pound of flesh belongs to him, even when the duke said that this was going to far. Evidently, this shows that Shylock does not want justice but revenge and the audience would see that clearly. He made the deal with Antonio because he believed Antonio’s ships would come back. This throws Shylock into a state of rage. Additionally in Act 2 Scene 2 we see an insight into Shylock’s domestic life from his servant Lancelot: “the Jew is the very devil incarnation”. “. Shylock is introduced into the plot of ‘The Merchant of Venice’ by Antonio and Bassanio. As a Jew, in the play Shylock is the victim of racism, at this time, it is the 1500s so Jews were persecuted most of the time. Shylock is the main Jewish character in the Merchant of Venice who is often treated unfairly by Christians. Next, Shylock is very materialistic. Namely, he is vengeful, very materialistic and shrewd. Dogs as animals were at the bottom of this chain so this insult is even worse. Summary: Shylock, is the most noteworthy figure in Shakespeare’s comedy, The Merchant of Venice. I personally think Shylock, from The Merchant of Venice, was the victim. Two thousand ducats in that and other precious,, jewels! “and what’s his reason? All work is written to order. His daughter hates him and calls him a “devil”. During the court scene, it is astonishing how Bassanio manages to insult Shylock, “cruel devil” This is a recurrent motif throughout the play but what is important about the timing of this insult is that it is in a court room which is supposed to be fair to all parties. Shylock was willing to loan money to one who totally ruined him in public, on terms that were nicer than his normal business terms. Is shylock a victim or a villain essay - romeo and juliet literary analysis essay. 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. He is a victim of his religion, and a victim of his greed and overwhelming need for revenge. Shakespeare has cleverly written this sentence so that every word, bar, Christian has one syllable whereas the word Christian has two. Firstly he demands his “pound of flesh” and this is a recurring theme throughout of the play. This provokes him into craving his bond and truly becoming villainous. Furthermore, whenever Shylock talks to either Bassanio or Antonio, he rarely uses gracious language. The imagery created is extremely efficacious because Shylock has an extremely valid point and has divulged this with a rhetorical question. Sorry, but copying text is forbidden on this website. O my daughter! So they are trying to play mind games with Shylock , these tactics would be viewed as unfair by the contemporary audience. The animal imagery is crude and based on vermin which makes Shylock seem uncanny in the eyes of the audience. We will happily write your homework even with 3 hrs. English Language. This can be seen by the sheer volume of disgraces he has bore. The audience would feel sympathetic towards Jessica as she is alone with Shylock who in the eyes of the audience is portrayed as a monster. Jessica when running away is very deceitful and takes all her father’s wealth: “Here, catch this casket, it is worth three pains” This is tremendously emotional for the audience because here they are seeing a daughter running away from home and they know that regardless of what has happened that Shylock will be upset. The dictionary defines a villain as “a cruelly malicious person” and a victim as “a person who is deceived or cheated”. This adds to Shylock’s vulnerability as he is alone with no friends and friendship is a vital theme of the play. Act 4 Scene 1 is the central and most dramatic part of the play where both Shylock and Antonio settle their differences in a courtroom. If you need a custom written essay, term paper, research paper on a general topic, or a typical high school, college or university level assignment, you can place an order right away without prior inquiry. Gratiano in the court mocks Shylock, “O learned judge”. 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 Lorenzo addresses Shylock as “Jew’ which is prejudiced, whereas he uses words such as “heaven” and “gentle” to portray Jessica. 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. Shylock also does not like how there is a big difference between Jews and Christians: Shylock has a lot of anger in him and has expressed himself very emotionally here. This is extreme dramatic irony. Merchant of Venice: Is Shylock a Victim or Villian? Shylock, with Antonio is the major character in the play, at times referred to as a villain and sometimes a victim. ’ This quote clearly shows his desire for wealth rather than love or family. He is arguing for common humanity as he feels alienated and vulnerable. Also just because Shylock wants to get back at Antonio and fails, he gets most of his things taken off him (because he’s a Jew). I think that Shylock is a villain. Another reason to support the view that Shylock is a victim is in the court scene. 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. But on the other hand he refused to take any sum of money, even six times the original amount. Shylocks’ daughter, Jessica elopes with Lorenzo and takes his money, jewels and family honour. 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. The dictionary defines a villain as “a cruelly malicious person” and a victim as “a person who is deceived or cheated”. The utilisation of a rhetorical question has enabled Shylock to communicate indirectly to the audience, which could influence their opinion of him. In the following paragraphs, it will be shown that Shylock is a villain in every sense of the word. He is Jessica’s father. While Antonio speaks from his personal opinion, readers become aware that many others feel this way about Shylock. Lancelot wants to run away from Shylock, his master: “I will run as far as God has any ground” which shows deep hatred for Shylock, and leaves him believing that Lancelot is running away because Shylock is treating him badly. At this time, Jews were treated very badly and were frequently excluded by their community. At this stage, we feel extremely sympathetic for Shylock, as he does not know that he is going to lose his daughter. The atmosphere is drastically tense, Shakespeare uses hyperbolic language to express emotional sadness. Here at the end of the speech I believe the audience would have been silenced as Shylock touches on some sensitive topics. This is why in the end he seems to be portrayed as a villain. I also noticed when depicting this was the arrangement of the words and I saw that the word “ducats” is before “daughter”. Study for free with our range of university lectures! Lancelot wants to run away from Shylock, his master: I will run as far as God has any ground” which shows deep hatred for Shylock, and leaves him believing that Lancelot is running away because Shylock is treating him badly In Act 2 Scene 3 we see Shylock’s daughter Jessica who does not like her own house, “Our house is hell” “Hell” is a strong word in the play and this image of Shylock recurs throughout the play. One I also feel that he is treated unfairly when Antonio makes im “presently become a Christian” as , in my views, a persons religion is something that you should not tamper with. Shylock can be seen as a villain in the Merchant of Venice because he can respond so quickly to the insults thrown at him throughout the play. 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. He often speaks prose in the play, which marks him out as an outsider. 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. Shylock is in the street by himself, whereas Solanio and Solario are together. I am a Jew. My paper on history has never been so good. Meaning someone who dies or suffers as a … VAT Registration No: 842417633. A quote made by Antonio states “the devil can cite scripture for his purpose”. Shylock’s bond has an extreme condition to it: “for an equal pound of your fair flesh” This shows that Shylock wants revenge if his money is not repaid. 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. this is what makes him the villain because he has crossed the line of being a moral person. This is a powerful monologue for the audience who want salvation. The language is simple, but effective. Paper Outline. Shylock as being a character symbolizes the Old Legs, Judaism, which can be the belief of justice, retribution and following the law by letter. Shylock is a victim of business due to the fact that Antonio lends out money gratis. Shylock is rather teasing as he makes Bassanio sweat for a simple one-word answer: “Three thousand ducats for three months, and Antonio bound”, “Three thousand ducats: I think I may take this bond”. He is approached by them when they are in search of money. Because Shylock ends up being a greedy man, audiences remember Shylock as more of a villainous character than a victim, especially because he tried to kill Antonio. The word “bond” is powerful language of the law and portrays Shylock as a dignified human being. This leaves the audience feeling sorry for Shylock and therefore leaving the image of Shylock as a victim. in conclusion i believe shylock is the victim and the villian. The way Shakespeare brings the knife into this is he cleverly uses light relief from a minor character to bring this about. ” This clearly shows that Shylock would prefer to have his money and jewels than his daughter’s return. So they are trying to play mind games with Shylock , these tactics would be viewed as unfair by the contemporary audience. I am a Jew. Nevertheless, the power has moved from Shylock so he is not in a good mood anymore so Gratiano’s tone would be sarcastic. Shylock victim or villain essay introduction In the play, The Merchant of Venice, by William Shakespeare, Shylock is a villain because in the play Shylock uses deception and his knowledge of Antonio to exact his revenge, Shylock also shows that anger, revenge and hate has clouded his mind and so he chooses to show no forgiveness or mercy towards Antonio.. Shylock, in my opinion, is a bloodthirsty villain. "You must agree to out terms of services and privacy policy", Don't use plagiarized sources. Shylock is a very controversial character as he in cases is a villain in some cases a victim and even in some cases both. ” It would seem that Shylock cares for money more than anything else. Act 3 Scene 1 was set in Venice, which was the place of business. By Shakespeare . Retrieved from https://graduateway.com/shylock-villain-or-victim/, This is just a sample. Do you have a 2:1 degree or higher? so in someways he is a victim but sometimes a villian I think Shylock is a villain because of his actions and emotions. He could have pardoned Antonio and shown himself to be morally superior – but would this have done him any good in the long run? This kind, forgiving heart can be seen in Act 1 Scene 3 beginning with line 148: “Why, look how you storm ! Shakespeare sets up numerous cases of Shylock being victimized than those previously stated. However the question still remains: Shylock victim or villain? We never find out what happens to him. Free resources to assist you with your university studies! Therefore when he calls Shylock a devil the audience knows that Lancelot does not have any respect for him. Certainly after World War II there is a more sympathetic view towards Shylock, comparative to the 1500’s where the majority of the audience would have been against Shylock regardless of the abuse he has to tolerate during the play. 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! Line 104: “I stand for judgment” Line 213: “I crave the law” Line 257: “O Noble judge! Firstly, Shylock is extremely vengeful. Shylock endured much of Antonio’s abuse, overt a long period of time. Shakespeare’s purpose here is to show the audience what Shylock’s own blood and flesh thinks of him, evidently deep loathing.