Shylock is a Jewish moneylender in Venice. … When Antonio’s ships and wealth are lost, Shylock
demands his pound of flesh
. The character of Shylock has been performed in many different ways. He is sometimes portrayed as evil and other times his behaviour is shown as the result of the bullying he suffers in Venice.
How is Shylock described in The Merchant of Venice?
Shylock is the antagonist and a tragic character in William Shakespeare’s The Merchant of Venice. A Jewish merchant living in a Christian city, he
comes across as greedy, jealous and vengeful
. As opposed to his anti-Semitic nemesis and fellow businessman, Antonio, Shylock charges interest on his loans.
How is Shylock presented as a villain?
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
. He is described by other characters as obsessed with money, and a cruel father to his daughter, Jessica.
How is Shylock presented as a victim?
Shylock is a
victim of harassment by the Christians
, a victim of betrayal by his own daughter, and a victim of prejudice because he had to give up his religion due to wanting Antonio’s flesh. … Antonio insults Shylock verbally by calling him names, like a cutthroat dog, and by spitting on his Jewish gabardine.
What impression do you form of Shylock in the play The Merchant of Venice?
After reading the play Merchant of Venice, I felt that Shylock was
a cruel and selfish character
. He trapped Antonio into signing an evil bond demanding a pound of flesh. He repeatedly refused offers from Bassanio and other merchants to show mercy on Antonio.
How does Shylock’s speech reflect his character?
How do his speeches reflect his character as a whole?
Shylock’s wit and rhetoric are exceptionally good and sharp edged.
… He makes an impression with his rhetoric right with his entry. He mixes sarcasm, rebuke and counsel in his words to make stunning arguments.
How Is Shylock a sympathetic character?
Shylock Deserves Sympathy
‘ This is where Shakespeare evokes our sympathy, by making us realise how Shylock has suffered because of the prejudices of the Christians around him. He
explains his motives for revenge in a rational way
, showing how his actions are no different from the Christians’.
Why is Shylock important in The Merchant of Venice?
Shylock is a Jewish moneylender in Venice. He is unpopular with other characters who accuse him of practising usury. This means
lending money
with outrageously high rates of interest . The merchants, such as Antonio, curse and spit at Shylock because they believe this way of making money is immoral.
Was Shylock a victim or villain?
At the end of The Merchant of Venice, Shylock has been
both a victim and a villain
. He is a victim of his religion, and a victim of his greed and overwhelming need for revenge.
Why does Shylock hate Antonio in Merchant of Venice?
Shylock hates Antonio
because Antonio has the privilege of being a wealthy Venetian who charges no interest on his loans
, and he also hates Antonio for being a Christian. … Antonio not only loans money interest-free to many, he has also covered the loans of Shylock’s victims without charging them interest to repay him.
Who has insulted Shylock and in what manner where does the scene takes place?
Antonio insults Shylock for
his business deals and for earning profit by lending money on interest
. 6.
Is Shylock treated fairly or unfairly in the court of Venice?
Yes, he
is treated fairly
in the sense that when he arrives in the court and makes his case, he insists on the letter of the law. He will accept no other form of “payment” for Antonio’s debt to him other than what his contract (bond) states.
Is Shylock a hero or villain?
ince the first staging of Shakespeare’s The Merchant of Venice, the character of Shylock was depicted as
the play’s antagonist, or villain
. However, in the 400 years since the play’s conception, increasingly critical scrutiny and modern thought have focused on this character.
Which character traits of Shylock is shown in this scene?
- A Famous Shakespearean Character: A Villain Deserving Some Sympathy. …
- A Usurer. …
- His Intolerance of Christians; and His Extreme Miserliness. …
- His Deceitful and Crafty Dealings. …
- His Revengeful and Blood thirst Nature. …
- His Suspicious Nature. …
- His Redeeming Qualities.
Why does Shylock tell the audience he hates Antonio?
Shylock explains his enmity for Antonio.
He has a bias against Antonio as a Christian
and hates him even more for Antonio’s practice of lending money without interest, undermining Shylock’s usury business. Shylock wants revenge for years of Antonio’s mistreatment.
What impression of Shylock character do you have from the extract?
Answer:
Shylock want to take revenge in any way from
Antonio, as Antonio is not able to give 3000 ducats hence as per promise he wants his flesh which is nearer to his heart. It shows that he was a revengeful person. He is selfish and doesn’t care about others.
How does Shylock view himself?
Though the Christian characters of The Merchant of Venice may view Jews as evil, Shylock does not see himself in that way. His views of himself and others are
rational, articulate, and consistent
. … Shylock, on the other hand, is an outcast even before the play begins, vilified and spat upon by the Christian characters.
Who is the real villain in The Merchant of Venice?
Shylock
is a fictional character in William Shakespeare’s play The Merchant of Venice (c. 1600). A Venetian Jewish moneylender, Shylock is the play’s principal antagonist. His defeat and conversion to Christianity form the climax of the story.
What are the good qualities of Shylock?
In addition to his baser traits, Shylock is
proud and has deep religious instincts
. Although clearly portrayed as a vengeful villain for insisting on his rightful payment of Antonio’s debt to him, it is clear that Shylock’s acts at least in part because of the way he himself has been mistreated by Christians.
What is Shylock speech?
To bait fish withal
. If it will feed nothing else, it will feed my revenge. He hath disgraced me, and hindered me half a million; laughed at my losses, mocked at my gains, scorned my nation, thwarted my bargains, cooled my friends, heated mine enemies, and what’s his reason? I am a Jew.
Do you feel pity for Shylock?
He does not interpret Antonio’s actions as kindness when he loans to friends without charging any interest. Shylock sees this as robbing him of business. Antonio attacks Shylock’s honor and dignity and any man would retaliate in an attempt to regain some measure of respect. Therefore,
we should feel pity for Shylock
.
How would you describe Shylock in the first two scenes of the play?
Question: How would you describe Shylock in the early scenes of the play? Answer: In the first two scenes in which Shylock appears,
he is as hard, as cold, and as keen as glittering steel.
Why Shylock is a complex character?
Shylock is a psychologically complex character ; discuss with regard to these headings :
His All-consuming Passion for Revenge
. His Inhumanity and Bad Traits. His Hatred for Antonio.
Was Shylock’s end justified?
He is a wealthy, moneylending Jew who practices usury.
He’s revenge is justified for many reasons
, these reasons include him being abused for being a Jew and a moneylender at the same time. … Shylock was a victim of an unjust trial which leaves Shylock’s will to live demolished as he is bloodthirsty for revenge.
How did Portia plead Shylock?
Portia’s plea for mercy is, in fact, directed at the whole society and the ideas in the play. Salvation will follow mercy,
not justice
. However, Shylock is a non-changing character, and her speech does not impress him that much. He replies, “My deeds upon my head!
What insults has Antonio heaped upon Shylock?
What insults has Antonio heaped upon Shylock?
‘The Sacred Nation’
is a reference to the holy Jewish race. Antonio insults Shylock for his business deals and for earning profit by lending money on interest.
Where is Shylock at this moment whom is Shylock speaking to who else is present?
Answer: Shylock Is talking to
Launcelot, the clown who used to be with him
, till recently. Shylock is telling the clown that he’ll see with his own eyes that how different it will be to work with him and the new master.
Why does Shylock hesitate money to Bassanio?
Shylock is hesitant about lending Bassanio the money. He knows for a fact that
Antonio is a rich man
, but he also knows that all of Antonio’s money is invested in his merchant fleet. At the present time, Antonio’s ships are bound for distant places, and therefore vulnerable to many perils at sea.
What according to Shylock is the cause for which Antonio has been abusing Shylock?
Answer: Antonio has been abusing Shylock
for charging interest on the money which belonged to him and which he gave loan to others
. In what tone does Shylock talk while considering Antonio’s request for money?
How does Shylock justify his decision to take revenge?
Shylock feels deeply pained by the inequality. He says
when a Jew offends a Christian,the Christian’s kind and gentle reaction is revenge
. So, if a Christian offends a Jew, the punishment that the Jew will come up with,if he follows this example of the Christian,is revenge.
Is Shylock a victim or a villain free essay?
Just because Shylock has acted on revenge as most of us do, it doesnt make him
a villain
. He is simply just a victim to human emotions. After so much suffering, Shylock took Antonio to court so that he could get his part of the bond. … Even more evidence to why Shylock should be classified as a victim, not villain.
What Judgement is the Shylock expected to give?
How does to Duke expect Shylock to conduct himself in regard to the demand of a pound of flesh? Answer: The Duke thinks that Shylock will exempt Antonio from the penalty of a pound of flesh.
He will also remit a part of the principal amount of the loan of three thousand ducats
.
What did Shylock demand in the court of Venice?
In the court in Venice, Shylock demands
his pound of flesh
. … Bassanio offers his wife’s money, which would more than pay the debt, but Shylock refuses to accept. Antonio’s death is only prevented as Balthazar explains the bond is for flesh but not for a single drop of blood. So Shylock cannot collect the pound of flesh.
Did Shylock receive fair trials?
Shylock does not receive a fair trial
. The Duke, who acts as judge, shows immediate bias when he describes Shylock.
What has Shylock Dreamt of what does it indicate about his character?
Shylock has had a dream, or rather a nightmare, involving moneybags. To him, they represent
a bad omen
, a premonition that something terrible is about to happen. As Shylock’s moneylending business is the most important thing in his life, we can safely assume that he’s worried about the potential loss of his trade.
How Is Shylock a cunning man?
3) CUNNING AND GREED MAN : shylock is
a very cunning and greedy man
. Very cunningly he makes Antonio to sign the bond. He loves money very much. … 5) HIS LOVE FOR MONEY : shylock is hungry for money his mind is filled with tricks and techniques for earning money wealth.
