Shylock is a character from a play written between the years 1956 to 1958 called “The Merchant of Venice”. It was written by a famous English poet and playwright Shakespeare. Just to introduce the story, the play was actually intended as a tragic comedy written for the entertainment of the audience. To point out the main themes of the play: Prejudice, Mercy and Judgement, as well as the prospect of Money.
Shylock is a Jewish moneylender from a city-state Venice. Due to the prejudice against Jews by the mainly Christian-populated Venice at that time, a tragic portrayal of Shylock was written on purpose by Shakespeare for the entertainment of the people simply for the fact that Shylock was a Jew. Prejudice for Jews turns a tragic ending for Shylock into a funny and entertaining scene for the audience.
In my personal opinion, I believe that Shylock was a victim. I know there’s a difference in time, but if I were to step into the shoes of a Jew in the 14th and 15th century I would become a victim as well mainly due to the prejudice from the Christians. In the story, there is solid evidence of how the Christians have bullied him, both in social and daily life and in court.
For a start, Shylock has mentioned (and Antonio has confirmed) of how the Christians have been treating him. In Act One Scene Three, Antonio and Bassanio are attempting to borrow money from Shylock, and a speech by Shylock shows that the Christians call him “misbeliever” and “cut-throat dog”, and they spit on him as well. Antonio, as a non-profit moneylender criticizes Shylock’s way of earning money (to charge interest in moneylending). However he failed to think about the fact that Shylock is a Jew and hence unable to work or be employed anywhere in Venice. Shylock then has no other alternative to make money. Almost everywhere in the story where Shylock is mentioned there is always a relation to insults, even between Salerio and Solanio who called Shylock a ‘dog Jew’, and gave him a social standing where even beggars are fit to compare to him. Even the Duke calls Shylock a ‘stony adversary’ and an ‘inhuman wretch’. Constant mockery and insults would be what Jews in those years have to endure from the Christians. How are they then not victims? As for Shylock, things were worse as his only relative, Jessica his daughter eloped with a Christian, the people he had hated and loathed all his life. With no more joy and love of a family member, how could life be for Shylocks’ remaining years?
In the trial of Shylock, Antonio and their bond (Act Four Scene 1), Shylock is again a victim. The lawyer (Portia) had actually lured Shylock into a trap, and after playing with the words in the bond she managed to bring down Shylock and prevent him to getting a pound of flesh from Antonio. However, the conditions then would be to split Shylock’s properties in two, giving half to Antonio and half to Lorenzo and his daughter Jessica. The Christians actually felt that they were already merciful and hence were hypocritical of Shylock when they called him cruel for repeatedly attempting to gain a pound of flesh from Antonio. Another condition to let Shylock go was for him to convert to Christianity. To Shylock, this is horrendous and outrageous as Shylock was forced by the Christians to abandon and betray the principles and beliefs with which he had lived by since he was born. Not only was this very desolating for Shylock, it also cages and forces him to a corner in life. As a converted Christian, the Jews will no longer regard him as a friend and instead perceive him as an enemy. Similarly, as an ex-Jew the Christians of Venice will not accept him into society either. When the Christians decided to take away Shylock’s property, they are actually ruining his future life due to this change in social standing: Shylock is an ex-Jew, he will still have to burden the consequences like a Jew and be unable to work, etc, and therefore unable to earn money by working. Such were the cruelty and lack of mercy from the Christians towards Jews such as Shylock. It was a tragedy - Shylock was a victim.
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