Which, like your asses and your dogs and mules, Because you bought them. After reading the play I can also see how other readers would view Shylock as a victim because he has lost everything including his family and he is the only character who ends of up with less than he started with. Shakespeare first introduces Shylock in Act1: Scene3. ” On one hand i think Shylock is a victim as he is bullied by Antonio and other Christians in Venice. Solanio and Salerio taunt Shylock in Act 3 Scene 1 to make him feel worse than he is already. I believe this is a very clever way to try to get the people on his side. hath not a Jew hands, organs, dimensions, senses, affections, passions? However in this scene Shakespeare portrays Shylock as a villain in the way he talks about the flight of his Daughter. I also noticed when depicting this was the arrangement of the words and I saw that the word “ducats” is before “daughter”. Shylock has been deserted by his own flesh and blood, abandoned and robbed of his most precious possessions. The atmosphere is drastically tense, Shakespeare uses hyperbolic language to express emotional sadness. Shylock repeats himself for revenge again and has many horrific ideas such as the ”pound of flesh”. The tables have trned and now after Shylock showed no mercy he is now made to plead for it. In conclusion Shylock is interpreted as an unfortunate victim but also as a vindictive villain. By reading just this quotation, in my opinion Shylock’s behaviour later on in the play is somewhat understandable. I was extremely lucky to be able to see the film of ”The Merchant of Venice”. This play, Merchant of Venice, was written for an audience and Shakespeare creates suspense extremely well. But as the plot unfolds and his plan comes to action, he is more of a villain. The users without accounts have to wait due to a large waiting list and high demand. As a modern audience we feel sickened when we think and watch this happening yet to the Elizabethan audience this would have only greatly added to the humour of the play. This might suggest that he has been quite a bad father to her for Jessica to want to insult him. s1.setAttribute('crossorigin','*'); No plagiarism, guaranteed! (2010, 10). While no consensus has been reached on whether Shylock is a tyrannical villain or a tragic victim, evidence indicates he is a bloodthirsty villain. This is a sign of villainy in my opinion. Is Shylock really a victim or a villain? In the film, the court scene is incredibly well directed because as in the play, there is a hostile reception for Shylock … Shylock is malevolent to his servant Lancelot and extremely commanding: “I do not bid thee call” “Do as I bid” The way that Shylock said this was in a mean manner and is harsh towards Lancelot. Shakespeare has cleverly included Lancelot in this scene so the audience can get a perspective of what Shylock the man is really like. In case you can’t find a sample example, our professional writers are ready to help you with writing This sudden change of feeling and thought gives the audience a suspicion that he is planning something. Our sympathy grows as Shylock is portrayed as a victim but is stripped away when we learn he is more interested in his precious stones and jewels that have been taken: “My daughter! They have not had an official country until recently, and had to settle down in tight-knit communities, in foreign countries. This adds to Shylock’s vulnerability as he is alone with no friends and friendship is a vital theme of the play. On anther occasion the audience do not know something untill the characters themselves see it, as in the choice of the caskets. 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. Get Your Custom Essay on, By clicking “Write my paper”, you agree to our, https://graduateway.com/shylock-villain-or-victim/, Get your custom Furthermore Shylock asks many questions making people think if they were in his shoes would they not do the same: “What wouds’t thou have a serpant sting thee twice?” every time he makes a point he justifies it and compares it to the Christians around him. It hard to decide whether Shylock is a victim or villain when he is first introduced as we learn about what he has had to put up with, being called a “misbeliever”, “cut throat dog” and others spitting on his beard for the reason that he is a Jew. The last words of Shylock are really quite heartbreaking. In the film, the court scene is incredibly well directed because as in the play, there is a hostile reception for Shylock and he … 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? If it is a long quotation, you miss a line and indent. Blablawriting.com provide for you a wide variety of top-notch essay and term paper samples on any possible topics absolutely. She plans to take a lot of gold and jewels from her father and cause him great pain. Would you like to get such a paper? Solanio and Salerio, in my opinion, represent the general Christian point of view, which is complete hatred. Shylock has been discriminated on and betrayed by others all his life but when his own daughter does the same, is this the point when he decides to take his revenge and relieve is anger? “Never did I know/A creature that did bear the shape of a man/So keen and greedy to confound a man. A diamond gone cost me two thousand ducats in Frankfurt! “. Shylock’s victimization is also contrary to the fact that Shylock can also be seen ass a villain. Through a more careful examination it can be determined that Shylock was an upstanding member of his community, who endured abuse, forgave easily, and upheld the customs and law. In court after Shylock loses his case, part of his punishment as well as monetary Owings is to become Christian. Sorry, but copying text is forbidden on this website. 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. His character's contrary attributes mean that one moments sorrow for Shylock can turn to hate in the blink of an eye. “If I am dog beware my fangs”. He knows that the Venetian justice system will have to support him and so relishes beating Antonio at his own game. He is arguing for common humanity as he feels alienated and vulnerable. The whole doc is available only for registered users. All you need to do is fill out a short form and submit an order. Shylock’s response to this was extremely important. This would make the audience laugh as Shylock previou Shylock is a victim as the only reason he wanted to take a pound of Antonio’s flesh is because he was mocked and “stung” by him. Through Jessica we see Shylock as an old, cruel man. People to this day have acted because of the way they have been treated or how they have been bought up. Revenge. “Shylock the world thinks”, this shows how they are trying to isolate Shylock. ‘Let them be free, marry them to your heirs. The language is simple, but effective. Retrieved from https://graduateway.com/shylock-villain-or-victim/, This is just a sample. He describes his ill-treatement at the hands of Antonio in Act 3, Scene 1, when he says, ‘he hath disgraced me’. The fact that Antonio is nearing death makes the audience feel for him as his life is on the line. They would have though of him to be a stereotypical villain yet he is not Shakespeare has added complexity to his character. Furthermore, whenever Shylock talks to either Bassanio or Antonio, he rarely uses gracious language.”Curs’d”, has unpleasant connotations which show the audience that Shylock does not have any respect. However we later find out that money is not the only thing on his mind but his longing hatred for Antonio. In both cases the language is monosyllabic and commanding which shows the audience that Shylock believes he has power over everyone. “An inhuman wretch, incapable of pity, void and empty”. 16th century Venice was largely Roman Catholic and Christian. Overall Shylock is a character who in my opinion is too diverse and complex to be judged simply as a victim or a villain. The contemporary audience would sympathise with Shylock as he is being mocked behind his back. How about getting this access immediately? This also, in my view makes Shylock look a victim, as he has done nothing wrong except to be a Jew. Reference this. But is he really a victim or a villain? The way Shakespeare brings the knife into this is he cleverly uses light relief from a minor character to bring this about. “. 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? The Elizabethan audience would have loved this, as they would be in the shoes of Salerio and Salanio, mocking Shylock about his loss. 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. Also in my opinion, what Lorenzo says at the end of the scene makes him look a villain. At the end of the scene the arrival of Prince Morroco is announced, but we have to wait whilst Shylock and Antonio agree a bond before we are taken back to learn the outcome. Although he may have deserved a chance to get revenge he refused an offer of six times the original amount of ducats saying “If every ducat in six thousand ducats were in six parts and every part a ducat, I would not draw them, I would have my bond. They treat him like he is an outcast as we can tell when Gratiano says to Shylock ” O thou be damned, inexecrable dog “.