Shylock A Ruthless Villain or a Persecuted Victim.

A villain in a play is a â€Å"character whose evil actions or motives are important to the plot† and a victim in the terms of this play is â€Å"a person who has come to feel helpless and passive in the face of misfortune or ill-treatment†. Shylock in Merchant of Venice is a Jewish moneylender and Jewish people during Shakespearean time were looked down upon, treated unfairly with no respect. Shylock in Merchant of Venice is portrayed as how a stereotypical Jew would be portrayed as, a villain and an antagonist. In Act 1 Scene 3, Shylock is presented as clannish and austere because of Antonio’s and the Christians unfair and ill treatment towards him, Shylock accuses Antonio for calling him a â€Å"misbeliever, cut-throat dog†, Shakespeare’s use of the phrase â€Å"dog† has a negative connotation which indicates to the reader that Shylock is seen as being beneath the Christians and shows the ill-treatment and discrimination that Shylock endures where he is treated like an animal instead of a human. This clearly portrays to the audience the day-to-day problems a Jew would encounter and the phrase is effective because it makes the audience feel sympathy for Shylock. However the sympathy for Shylock is short-lived as Shylocks greedy and villain side makes an appearance. Shylock is furious with Antonio as he â€Å"lends out money gratis and brings down the rate of usance†, â€Å"usance† is commonly known as interest, this shows the audience how profiteeri ng and greedy Shylock is for money, as he alwaysShow MoreRelatedEssay about Shylock in The Merchant of Venice by William Shakespeare1704 Words   |  7 PagesShylock in The Merchant of Venice by William Shakespeare William Shakespeares The Merchant of Venice contains an array of interesting and complex characters. From the alternately generous and grasping Antonio to the alternately love stricken and exploitative Bassanio to the vulnerable and manipulative Portia, this play has an abundance of multi-layered personalities. However, one of the most intriguing characters is also the most oft-vilified and minimized in the work. This characterRead MoreShakespeares Presentation of Shylock in the Merchant of Venice1458 Words   |  6 PagesShakespeares Presentation of Shylock in the Merchant of Venice In the Merchant of Venice, Shylock is continually involved in the bond plot. This plot is probably the most intense story-line in this Shakespeare play. Bassanio borrows money from Shylock in Antonios name in order to impress Portia, however after a tragic incident involving all of Antonios ships crashing; the money has failed to be returned. According to their bargain Antonio must now give Shylock a pound of hisRead MoreWilliam Shakespeare s The Merchant Of Venice2269 Words   |  10 Pages12.15.14 The Question of Shylock It is hard to read The Merchant of Venice without finding at least one character to sympathize with. The unforgettable villain Shylock as well as Portia, Shakespeare’s first and one of his most famous heroines are arguably some of this plays most beloved characters. But, is Shylock really the villain? Or is he a victim of circumstance? Shylock’s insistence for a pound of flesh has made him one of literatures most memorable villains, but many might be inclined