Tuesday, December 17, 2019

Shylock in William Shakespeares The Merchant of Venice Essay

Shylock in William Shakespeares The Merchant of Venice I am a Jew a famous saying from Shylock in Merchant of Venice that clarifies the merchant brotherhood of a wealthy city. Merchant of Venice contains rascals and heroes. The audiences will soon realise that Shylock, the Jewish money lender, is shown as a villain within the wealthy city. Is this really what Shakespeare had intended? This testimony given proposes that Shylock is more of a deceitful character than what the Christian colony wants us to comprehend. In my essay I intend to explore if Shylock is really a villain or a victim of his society. Shylock is a Jew, which is why the Christians of Venice dislike him. This is shown†¦show more content†¦This is going to bring shame on Shylock in front of everyone. This is shown by Jessica saying Our house is hell (Act 2 Scene 3 Line 2) and Shylock saying She is damnd for this (Act 3 Scene 1 line 29). These quotations tell you that Jessica thinks that the rivalry of Jews and Christians is tedious. While Shylock is telling Salanio and Salarino that if Jessica runs away with Lorenzo, a Christian trader, it will bring shame on the Jewish people. The reason for this is because Shylock believes in his Jewish roots that Jews will be Jews and Christians will be Christians. A further reason why Shylock is shown as a villain is because he is intending on revenge against Antonio. The reason for this is because of the loan Shylock gave Antonio. I know that Shylock wants revenge by saying The pound of flesh which I demand of him (Act 4 Scene 1 line 99) and Ill have my bondà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ (Act 3 Scene 3 line 4). I choose these quotations because it shows you that Shylock set a three-month deadline to pay back three thousand ducats, and then he could have a pound of flesh from Antonio if he did not pay it back. The reason for taking Antonios bond its to do with the ill-treated manner Shylock had received from the Christians. This had made Shylock become bitter towards Christians of Venice, but instead Shylock decided toShow MoreRelatedShylock in William Shakespeares The Merchant of Venice1401 Words   |  6 PagesShylock in William Shakespeares The Merchant of Venice The play begins in Venice where the wealthy merchant Antonio is talking to his young friends about the reasons for the depression. Antonio claims not to understand himself his sad nature. Bassanio arrives with the news that he wishes to court a wealthy, beautiful heiress named Portia. In order to present himself to Portia he wants to borrow 3000 ducats. 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