Is Shylock A Victim Or A Villain Essay Example

this as an opportunity to get revenge on Antonio. Cutting a pound of flesh from Antonio's body is a serious consequence, not a joke. Shylock enjoys discomforting Antonio and Bassanio and pretends to be friendly and reconciliatory. He takes pleasure in seeing them beg for his help.

However, it is likely that Shylock's behavior is influenced by the racial and religious discrimination he has experienced from Antonio, a Christian, simply because he is a Jew. Antonio has disparaged Shylock's profession as a moneylender, considering lending money for profit to be morally wrong. Consequently, people prefer to borrow money from Antonio instead of Shylock. Antonio shows no remorse for his harsh treatment towards Shylock. Shylock strongly identifies with his religion and strictly adheres to its principles. He is a devout man who faces discrimination based on his faith. The feelings of isolation, sorrow, and hatred he endures drive him to seek revenge, which is a natural human reaction.

In Elizabethan times, Jews were viewed as inferior and faced persecution throughout Europe. Consequently, to an Elizabethan audience, Shylock would have been perceived as the ultimate embodiment of evil and instantly labeled as a villain. This perception was further reinforced in other plays like Marlow's Jew of Malta, which portrayed Jews as wicked villains. Shakespeare skillfully tapped into the audience's anticipation for a morally flawed character who is both amusing and cunning. In his comedies, Shakespeare often introduced an outsider to establish the societal norms. Discrimination and prejudice against Jews were considered normal and accepted during that era.

Currently, the Nazi Holocaust marks the termination of the history of anti-Semitism, and society has become more accepting of various races, genders, and

religions. It is challenging to immediately label Shylock as a villain solely based on his religion. This is because we have become more sensitive and mature regarding people's ethnic backgrounds.

In this scene, Shylock can be seen as both a victim and a villain. The mistreatment he has experienced has fueled his hatred towards certain individuals and driven him to pursue revenge.

In Act Two, Scene Five, Shylock demonstrates a controlling and self-centered nature as a father. He frequently issues orders to Jessica, instructing her to comply with his wishes. During a conversation with Jessica and Launcelot, Shylock harshly rebukes Launcelot for addressing Jessica, stating, "Who bids thee call? I do not bid thee call." This exchange underscores Shylock's belief in his own superior authority and his insistence that no one can act freely in his home without his permission.

Upon Jessica's arrival, Shylock reveals his plan to join the Christians for supper that night. He clarifies that his motive is not driven by love but rather by hatred. Reluctantly, he admits that he has no desire to attend because he had dreamt of moneybags that same night. This implies that Shylock's sole focus is on his wealth and he is disappointed to miss any potential gain on this particular evening.

A little later in the scene, Shylock orders Jessica to lock up the doors and not to climb up to the casements or look out into the street when she hears the sound of a drum and a shrill-sounding fife. He warns her not to gaze at the drunken Christians with their painted faces, referring to them as "Christian fools." Shylock instructs Jessica to close the casements and

prevent the noise of foolish behavior from entering his house. He does not want her to be influenced or exposed to the drunkenness of the Christians, showing his prejudice towards them. By referring to his home as a "sober house," Shylock emphasizes his desire to protect its purity and prevent it from being tainted by the presence of drunkards.

After Launcelot and Jessica have spoken, he cautions Jessica not to defy him because he could return immediately. He also instructs her to close the windows and doors, stating "Do as I bid you, shut doors after you, fast bind, fast find, A proverb never stale in thrifty mind."

At the start of Act Three, Scene One, Shylock appears to be caring and worried about his daughter as he tells Salarino and Solanio: "You knew none so well, none so well as you, of my daughter's flight", essentially meaning 'You were well aware that my daughter fled.' This statement by Shylock implies that he is concerned for his daughter and is angry that those who knew about her escape did not inform him.

Shylock expresses his anger towards his daughter and plans to teach her a lesson by saying, "She is damn'd for it." He also seeks revenge against Antonio, whom he believes has disgraced and humiliated him. Shylock describes how Antonio has laughed at his losses, mocked and scorned him, and ruined his relationships. He emphasizes that he is hurt and upset by Antonio's mistreatment because of his Jewish identity. Shylock asserts that he will seek revenge if that is how Christians retaliate, stating, "The villainy you teach me I will execute, and it shall go hard but

I will better the instruction". Despite his vengeful words, Shylock's actions and mindset are likely influenced by the terrible mistreatment he has endured from Antonio. Ultimately, Shylock is portrayed as a sensitive and isolated individual at heart.

When Tubal arrives, Shylock inquires if he has located his daughter yet, giving the impression that Shylock desires her return.

Shockingly, the true reason behind his desperation for his daughter is exposed in his subsequent remark, where Shylock essentially implies that his beloved jewels and gold hold greater importance to him than she does, and he would prefer to have them in his possession rather than his own flesh and blood. This portrayal of Shylock depicts him as an individual who is shallow, heartless, and excessively concerned with his appearance. He alleges that someone has potentially stolen his treasures, fueling his desire for revenge against them. Consequently, it becomes apparent that Shylock prioritizes his wealth over his own daughter, undoubtedly casting him as a villainous character.

Shylock becomes furious upon hearing from Tubal that his daughter has been squandering all his money, especially after learning that she exchanged one of her costly rings for a monkey! He declares that he would not have traded the ring for an "abundance of monkeys".

To summarize, Shylock threatens to take possession of Antonio's heart if he fails to repay him. In my perspective, Shylock is depicted as a villain because he values his wealth more than his daughter's happiness. His evil nature compels him to cause harm to others. Nevertheless, despite Antonio's disrespectful treatment towards him, Shylock should aim to overcome his ignorance.

In Act Four, Scene One of the court scene, Shylock has an obsession

with obtaining his bond. He refuses to provide a reason but claims that he follows a losing suit against Antonio due to a deep hatred and loathing. When Bassanio accuses him of cruelty, Shylock declines to justify himself, stating that he is not obligated to please Bassanio with an answer. Despite the money being doubled to six thousand ducats, Bassanio tries to persuade Shylock to accept the payment instead. However, Shylock rejects the offer, asserting that he would rather have his bond even if the money was divided into individual ducats. Shylock is resolute in seeking his bond as revenge against Antonio for the insults and mistreatment he has endured. He questions the crowd in the court, asking if they would set their bought slaves free and allow them the same luxuries and privileges as themselves. Shylock compares his ownership of Antonio's pound of flesh to their ownership of slaves, emphasizing that the pound of flesh he demands is rightfully his. When Portia intervenes in the court case, she directly addresses Shylock by his name for the first time, asking him if he is indeed Shylock.Shylock immediately develops respect for the lawyer and perceives them as an ally, despite their unexpected gender.

Shylock's desire for revenge on Antonio is so strong that he declares "My deeds upon my head, I crave the Law, The penalty and forfeit of my bond." It is evident that he is determined to kill Antonio.

Despite everyone's advice, including Portia whom he seeks sympathy from, Shylock remains resolute in his refusal to take the money. He adamantly declares that nobody can persuade him, asserting, "There is no power in the tongue of

man To alter me: I stay here on my bond."

However, what ultimately changes Shylock's mind is the realization that he cannot shed any of Antonio's blood. As the bond does not include Antonio's blood, any such act would result in the State of Venice seizing all of Shylock's land and possessions. Therefore, it becomes impossible for Shylock to enforce his bond, leading him to finally accept the money offered instead.

It is revealed that under Venetian law, all of Shylock's possessions can be seized, half by the State and half by the victim, as a consequence of his deliberate attempt to harm a citizen. This turn of events overwhelms Shylock, as the law now targets him. Remarkably, when asked if he will claim his share of Shylock's possessions, Antonio declines. This act of kindness prompts Antonio to make two requests: first, that Shylock convert to Christianity, and second, that upon his death, his belongings are to be given to Lorenzo and his daughter.

Shylock is portrayed as a villain in this scene due to his desire to commit murder. Although Antonio has previously insulted and belittled Shylock with derogatory terms such as 'dog' and 'misbeliever', these actions do not warrant taking his life. Instead of shrugging off the abuse, Shylock seeks vengeance that is significantly disproportionate. It is important to acknowledge Antonio's generosity as he agrees to let Shylock walk away with half of his wealth.

In order to determine whether Shylock is a victim or a villain, it is essential to understand the reasons behind Shylock's behavior and the emotions that drive him. The following two speeches shed light on some of the

emotions experienced by Shylock and illustrate the profound impact Antonio has had on him:

The first speech is presented in prose, as it allows Shylock's emotions to flow more freely. Using poetry in this instance would sound unnatural. By employing prose, this speech highlights the contrasting social classes, portraying Shylock as inferior to Portia and Bassanio. Additionally, the scene is intimate, involving only two individuals, thus justifying the use of prose. In a public setting, poetry would likely be employed.

Shylock's speech employs rhetorical questions to assert his identity and rights, questioning whether Jews possess the same physical and emotional characteristics as Christians. This serves to elevate his status by equating Jews with Christians in their reactions. Moreover, the speech reflects Shylock's intense self-focus and obsession, as he believes everything must relate to him in some manner. He is deeply hurt by the mistreatment he has endured, leading to a torrent of pent-up anger finally being unleashed.

Shylock is plagued by an insidious rationale that he is unable to refute despite his best efforts. He is able to rationalize his thoughts but cannot dismantle these rationalizations. The wickedness and fury within his mind are irreparable. In the final sentence of his discourse, Shylock holds the Christians accountable for his current state, attributing to them all the anger and malevolence within him. He accuses them of instructing him in the ways of evil and retribution, vowing to improve upon the villainy they have taught him.

However, Shylock's speech has a significant flaw. The power of choice is the main thing he possesses. He can decide to either ignore the mistreatment he receives or seek revenge. When he mentions how

Jews and Christians react in the same way, such as when he says 'if you prick us, do we not bleed? If you tickle us, do we not laugh? If you poison us, do we not die?' these reactions are involuntary. When pricked by a needle, bleeding cannot be stopped; it is a natural response. However, when treated poorly, one has a choice. Revenge is not an automatic response. Handling the situation according to one's own will is possible. Moreover, Christians are taught to forgive those who wrong them which ultimately undermines Shylock's argument. He has no one but himself to blame.

In his second speech, Shylock strongly believes that the Jews are treated unjustly and viewed as a separate race. He expresses his discontent with the way people consistently mistreat the Jews, contradicting his previous speech where he stressed equality and similarities between Jews and Christians. Now, he firmly asserts that they are entirely different races.

Shylock's preoccupation with money is evident, as it firmly holds him in its grasp. His obsession is such that he values his daughter's 'precious' jewels in her ears more than her own life at his feet. He considers the loss of his daughter to be less significant than the absence of his prized possessions. Furthermore, he is distressed by his inability to retaliate against the unidentified thief. It is evident that Shylock is a profoundly self-absorbed individual consumed by his fixation on wealth.

In my opinion, Shylock is primarily portrayed as a villain due to his wicked mentality. While seeking revenge is a natural human reaction, it is essential to exercise self-control and manage these emotions. It is understandable that Shylock

desired to retaliate against Antonio for the cruel mistreatment he endured. However, taking someone's life goes beyond reasonable bounds. If one were to be insulted and treated poorly, it would not necessarily provoke a murderous response. Although one might express the desire to harm the person, they would never truly carry out such an act. Shylock is clearly depicted as an extremely mentally unstable and wounded individual. He experiences deep feelings of isolation and agony, which drive his actions and fuel his unreasonable behavior.

Shylock's behavior may be attributed to how Antonio treated him. He is perceived as an outsider and constantly belittled, which must be challenging for someone who values their religion highly while it is often devalued. I sympathize with Shylock to some extent, as he likely experiences internal confusion, anger, and distress. However, it is essential to recognize that resorting to murder is entirely unacceptable. Instead of dwelling on ignorant individuals, Shylock should concentrate on progressing in his life. The way he handled the situation with Antonio was unquestionably wicked, evil, and scheming.