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! At this time, Jews were treated very badly and were frequently excluded by their community. The last words of Shylock are really quite heartbreaking. Merchant of Venice: Is Shylock a Victim or Villian? The audience would not enjoy Shylock attaining power especially over Bassanio , who is a Christian. Shylock is persecuted by the Christians in Venice, because he is a Jew. When Tubal brings news of Jessica to Shylock, Shylock says “Two thousand ducats in that, and other precious, precious jewels! Such as “penalty and forfeit”. Shylock is clearly portrayed here as the villain as he is refusing every offer Bassanio is throwing at him. 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. He hath disgraced me, laughed at my losses, mocked at my gains, scorned my nation,” The quote clearly portrays Shylock remembering every single thing that Antonio has done to him. “If I am dog beware my fangs”. Shylock as a character represents the Old Testament, Judaism, which is the belief of justice, retribution and following the law by the letter. Shakespeare’s language here is purposeful as he has used rhyming couplets for dramatic effect and also to stress the importance of these words. 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. At the time the Merchant of Venice was written, Jews were neglected and abused by Christians. How does the change in appearance, clothing, body language, and tone affect how the audience views Shylock? Shylock endured much of Antonio’s abuse, overt a long period of time. Weighing up all you know about Shylock, do you consider him to be more avillain or a victim? In the following situations Shylock is victimized by others around him because he is Jewish. Victim or villain? Shylock has spent his life receiving abuse from Christians. This play has numerous themes embedded into it and possibly the most important is friendship. 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. But, within the Jewish culture and the time period, his response was appropriate. Shakespeare has cleverly carried out this contrast for effect because he wanted to make it clear to the audience who the villain really is. 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” This is a very contentious phrase in the play. in conclusion i believe shylock is the victim and the villian. 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. 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. One of the strongest themes in William Shakespeare’s The Merchant of Venice is revenge.Shylock is a greedy Jewish moneylender who has been insulted, spit on, harassed, and made to … Shylock is in the street by himself, whereas Solanio and Solario are together. This would have an inducing effect on the audience because this phrase would leave them to answer this question in their own mind. This is extreme dramatic irony. While Antonio speaks from his personal opinion, readers become aware that many others feel this way about Shylock. ” overall i think Shylock is both a villain and a victim. While no consensus has been reached on whether Shylock is a tyrannical villain or a tragic victim, evidence indicates he is a bloodthirsty villain. These are the characteristics of a stereotypical villain. 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. He often speaks prose in the play, which marks him out as an outsider. … This quote shows the opinion the others have of Shylock. These quotations are all important because it shows how Shakespeare has presented shylock as both a villain and a victim. Discusses whether he was subjected to problems at the time, or if he caused problems for other people. Shylock: Victim or villain? 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 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 . In this essay I aim to show the truth about Shylock, if he is a victim or villain of his religious prejudice. This phrase would cause high dramatic tension. This leaves the audience feeling sorry for Shylock and therefore leaving the image of Shylock as a victim. “forfeit”, “sworn”, “cat” and “rat”. The fact he used to have a wife is subtly mentioned makes him be seen as a victim underneath the mask of a villain. Here is evidence of how bitter Shylock has become and the tone in which he would say it would be sarcastic. My paper on history has never been so good. Our paper writers are able to help you with all kinds of essays, including application essays, persuasive essays, and Shylock Villain Or Victim Thes so on. Thirdly, Shylock is shrewd. “Out upon her! Essays are the most common type of academic paper – and Shylock Villain Or Victim Thes sometimes, you are assigned just too many of them. 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? English Language. Is shylock a victim or a villain essay - romeo and juliet literary analysis essay. "You must agree to out terms of services and privacy policy", Don't use plagiarized sources. This unrhymed verse is striking to the audience for various reasons. 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. “The villainy you teach me I will execute”. The word “bond” is a key word used consistently through the play especially by Shylock. our expert writers, Please indicate where to send you the sample, Hi, my name is Jenn So this could infer how he likes his money more than his daughter. 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. I would my daughter dead at my foot, with the jewels in her ear! Is shylock a villain or a victim essay. Shylock is malevolent to his servant Lancelot and extremely commanding: The way that Shylock said this was in a mean manner and is harsh towards Lancelot. If it is a long quotation, you miss a line and indent. This can be seen by the sheer volume of disgraces he has bore. Antonio’s counterpart, Shylock, is the most noteworthy figure in Shakespeare’s comedy, The Merchant of Venice. The atmosphere is drastically tense, Shakespeare uses hyperbolic language to express emotional sadness. After his daughter ran away, she was, for all intents and purposes, disowned. 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. In the film, the court scene is incredibly well directed because as in the play, there is a hostile reception for Shylock and he is constantly being jeered at. 592 completed orders . “I thank God, I thank God. The utilisation of a rhetorical question has enabled Shylock to communicate indirectly to the audience, which could influence their opinion of him. The villany you teach me, I will execute, and it shall go hard but I will better the instruction. At this stage, we feel extremely sympathetic for Shylock, as he does not know that he is going to lose his daughter. “, If he had been treated better by them he may not have wanted to cut of a pound of Antonios flesh of after being offered six times the amount he wanted, “If every ducat in 6 thousand ducats were in 6 parts,and every part a ducat,I would not draw them. Retrieved from https://graduateway.com/shylock-villain-or-victim/, This is just a sample. Examples: Shylock is persecuted by the Christians in Venice, because he is a Jew. Looking for a flexible role? The fact that Antonio is nearing death makes the audience feel for him as his life is on the line. The animal imagery is crude and based on vermin which makes Shylock seem uncanny in the eyes of the audience. 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. The word “bond” is powerful language of the law and portrays Shylock as a dignified human being. Sorry, but copying text is forbidden on this website. This is a powerful monologue for the audience who want salvation. The Duke shows deep emotion for Antonio at the start, he refers to Antonio as “thee”. 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? In conclusion Shylock is interpreted as an unfortunate victim but also as a vindictive villain. hath not a Jew hands, organs, dimensions, senses, affections, passions? so in someways he is a victim but sometimes a villian I think Shylock is a villain because of his actions and emotions. The way Shakespeare brings the knife into this is he cleverly uses light relief from a minor character to bring this about. They treat him like he is an outcast as we can tell when Gratiano says to Shylock ” O thou be damned, inexecrable dog “. The atmosphere is drastically tense, Shakespeare uses hyperbolic language to express emotional sadness. Disclaimer: This is an example of a student written essay.Click here for sample essays written by our professional writers. The word “devil” adds to the running motif in the play as Shylock is always referred to as devil-like. ” 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. 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” Evidently, Shylock is repetitive and he is controlling the dialogue. 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. To integrate quotations properly, you need to introduce them and use the correct punctuation. “. I think shylock is a victim because he thinks that he should have every right to fulfill the bond, even if it is a little extreme. With this said, Shylock is driven to into such a state of rage that he seeks to take Antonio’s life. The imagery created by this is powerful in the sense that Antonio is like a fruit which is slowly buthylock, “O learned judge”. 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 Duke shows deep emotion for Antonio at the start, he refers to Antonio as “thee”. Get Your Custom Essay on, By clicking “Write my paper”, you agree to our, By clicking Send Me The Sample you agree on the. At the end of The Merchant of Venice, Shylock has been both a victim and a villain. The imagery is revolting. Shylock speaks carelessly about the loss of Antonio’s fortunes and sailors as sea, which demonstrates the spitefulness of Shylock. 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. f you poison us, do we not die? Do you think this is this a sign of strength or foolishness? This is a very contentious phrase in the play. I am a Jew. if every ducat in six thousand ducats, were in six parts and every part a ducat, i would not draw them”. The way Shakespeare brings the knife into this is he cleverly uses light relief from a minor character to bring this about. 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”. 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. Loyalty is a major theme of the play and there is none between these two characters. Paper Outline. 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. But yet I’ll go in hate to feed upon The prodigal Christian. think shylock is a victim because if antonio and the others hadn’t treated him differently just because he was a jew he would have probably given them fairer treatment. Portia pleads powerfully in her speech and uses two types of images to persuade him religious and monarchy. The word “devil” adds to the running motif in the play as Shylock is always referred to as devil-like. When she runs away, he seems as upset about the loss of his money as her: “My daughter! In Conclusion... We Need Two Volunteers! Shylock’s bond has an extreme condition to it: This shows that Shylock wants revenge if his money is not repaid. In the film, Shylock especially in the court scene is portrayed as a villain as the director shows him lurking in the background as if he is drawing up a plan in the court scene. 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. He is verbally abused and bullied by most characters in the play and is called cruel names including “villain with a smiling cheek, cut-throat dog, bloody creditor, damned inexecrable dog”. Company Registration No: 4964706. A quote made by Antonio states “the devil can cite scripture for his purpose”. deadline. “what wouldst thou have a serpent sting thee twice”. He is a Jewish moneylender who earns his living by charging interest on money he loans (like modern banks). The themes of the play are revenge, mercy, and justice. O my ducats! Shylock’s speech is in prose which makes it clear and it is from the heart. At this time, Jews were treated very badly and were frequently excluded by their community. He is arguing for common humanity as he feels alienated and vulnerable. Shylock, in my opinion, is a bloodthirsty villain. 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. Throughout the play, Shylock is portrayed as many things, both victim and villain, therefore making him an extremely ambiguous character. Unfortunately, at the time of the play it was common for Jewish people to be insulted in this way. However the question still remains: Shylock victim or villain? Firstly Shakespeare has used alliteration so the audience can clearly hear the words especially “daughter” and “ducats” as they are important here. “this shows antonio mistreets shylock for no real reason exept his religion. 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). 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. Shylock only seems to remember the bloody details of his bond, “I cannot find it”. In addition, Jessica is taking all Shylock’s wealth and money is a big theme of the play, which Shakespeare exploits here. This adds to Shylock’s vulnerability as he is alone with no friends and friendship is a vital theme of the play. This clearly makes the link between Shylock as someone akin to the devil. Is Shylock a Villain or Victim? In the Merchant of Venice Shylock is portrayed as both a victim and a villain. Published: 1st Jan 2015 in Shakespeare has cleverly included Lancelot in this scene so the audience can get a perspective of what Shylock the man is really like. Dogs as animals were at the bottom of this chain so this insult is even worse. The definition of victim is a person who dies or suffers as a result of voluntarily undertaking some enterprise or pursuit. “The Merchant of Venice” is one of Shakespeare’s most well known comedies and was written in the late 1590’s. However, they proved Shylock Villain Or Victim Thes to be professional on every level. 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. A “cut throat dog” suggests death and execution which would make the audience shiver. 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. No consensus has been reached on whether Shylock is a tyrannical villain or a tragic victim. The language is simple, but effective. ), and the characters blew up his minor errors when they themselves had large sins of their own (Bassanio lived off of others, Jessica is an ungrateful daughter who steals from her father and runs away, Lorenzo is a hypocrite… So, enough about my opinions. He is a victim of his religion, and a victim of his greed and overwhelming need for revenge. Our attitudes to Shylock change throughout the play, and he is one of Shakespeare most complicated characters. 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. This kind, forgiving heart can be seen in Act 1 Scene 3 beginning with line 148: “Why, look how you storm ! This simple language is monosyllabic which shows Jessica’s lack of happiness. We’re committed to protecting your privacy. Shylock is introduced into the plot of ‘The Merchant of Venice’ by Antonio and Bassanio. 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”. Is it true, is it true? If we are like you in the rest, we will resemble you in that. After his speech Shylock becomes intrigued when he hears news that Antonio’s ships are sinking, “I’ll torture him”. In the play the ‘Merchant of Venice’ by William Shakespeare the antagonist Shylock is both the victim and the villain. Evidently, this shows that Shylock does not want justice but revenge and the audience would see that clearly. As we are focusing the point on whether Shylock is a victim or a villain, let’s see first why Shylock is a villain. Study for free with our range of university lectures! But is he really a victim or a villain? Unfortunately, at the time of the play it was common for Jewish people to be insulted in this way. I will now look at the reasons as to why Shylock is the victim of this play. 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. and if you wrong us, shall we not revenge? He is arguing for common humanity as he feels alienated and vulnerable. As an Elizabethan audience would suddenly conclude that Shylock is a villain, an audience from Britain in the days of the Holocaust would have the greater part saying he’s a victim. ” 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. They describe him as “dog Jew,” automatically we see him as the bad man of the play. Line 104: “I stand for judgment” Line 213: “I crave the law” Line 257: “O Noble judge! fed with the same food, hurt with the same weapons, subject to the same diseases, healed by the same means, warmed and cooled by the same winter and summer, as a Christian is? cut throat dog”. The Merchant of Venice. However the question still remains: Shylock victim or villain? Shylock is also an honest, law abiding citizen of Venice, before the very end. Shakespeare’s purpose here is to show the audience what Shylock’s own blood and flesh thinks of him, evidently deep loathing. Is Shylock a villain or victim? This is where Shylock starts to act out on his villainous side. Torture is a powerful word and very horrific, which shows deep desire to get revenge on Antonio. If a Christian wrong a Jew, what should his sufferance be by Christian example? 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. Shylock repeats himself for revenge again and has many horrific ideas such as the “pound of flesh”. This is why Shakespeare uses unrhymed iambic pentameter to stress the significance of this.
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