Shylock is a bloodthirsty villain who ultimately gets what he deserves.
Express your views on the statement with specific textual evidence and
analysis.
I think Shylock is wronged in MOV. While his actions are not blameless and hold
weight, calling him a bloodthirsty villain ignores the nuances of his character and the
complexity of the situations he faced. Merchant of Venice is a play that explores themes
of prejudice, discrimination, and the consequences of societal norms. The character of
Shylock, a Jewish moneylender, is often seen as the archetypal embodiment of greed and
vengefulness in the play. Lets start by taking a look at what makes people believe
Shylock is a bloodthirsty villain. What acts of villainy has he committed for him to be
known as such a ruthless and callous character?
First and foremost, we see Shylock painted in the light of someone who is untrustworthy
and of treacherous nature, because of the nature of his religion ; he is a Jew. We see quite
the opposite happening with our characters on center stage, Bassanio and Antonio, who
are Christians, and hence depicted as the good samaritans for this play. This
characterization, present all throughout the book, contributes to Shylock being seen as a
villain. The Christians are depicted as people who can and generally don’t do any wrong
in this book, while Jew’s, loyal and proud of their religion are presented as deceitful and
traitorous people, demonized for their Jewishness. This characterization also potrays the
anti- semitic sentiments of the time, leading to mistreatment of Shylock from society.
Secondly, we see that Shylock, in specific, is detested because of the conditions of the
bond he proposes, that if Antonio were unable to pay back 3000 ducats in 3 months, he
would be entitled to a pound of Antonio’s flesh. This is seen as an attempt to take
Antonio (a Christian)’s life, and shows Shylock’s vindictive nature.
Allow me to deconstruct these claims. Firstly, the discrimination on the basis of religion
against Shylock is wrong on all grounds. He is ridiculed throughout the play, and a victim
of abuse and mistreatment from the Christian characters, who mock him, his religion and
profession. We see numerous instances of this i.e in Act 1, Scene 3 when Shylock is spit
on by Antonio: “You call me misbeliever, cut-throat dog, And spit upon my Jewish
gaberdine.” We also see the disrespect and appalling behavior by the Christian characters
when Antonio states in response: “I am as like to call thee again, To spit on thee again, to
spurn thee too.” They also call him other names throughout the play such as: "The devil
can cite Scripture for his purpose." (Act 1, Scene 3), implying that Shylock is the devil in
human form, capable of using religious language for his own selfish means. All these
references prove that Shylock is subjected to extreme maltreatment as well as insults and
slurs from the Christian characters, and thus, whatever actions he takes against the
Christians are well deserved.
The perception made on Shylock’s character simply because he asked for a pound of
flesh if the ducats are not paid in duly time is unjust. Shylock was well within his right to
request for a pound of flesh in return, because this was a lawful agreement between two
parties, which Antonio could have broken off at any time had he felt the conditions were
unsuitable or too much. He was simply protecting himself in the event that Antonio was
unable to repay the loan. A pound of flesh is but a small pittance for the discrimination
and cruelty Shylock faces from society throughout the play.
However, it is also important to note that Shylock is not without fault in play. There are
times where his actions towards Antonio are vengeful and cruel, and are disproportionate
to the harms done to him. Having said that, it is crucial to understand that the reason
Shylock acts this way is because of the mistreatment he faces. It is a response to the acts
of cruelty he faces at the hands of the Christian characters, and an attempt to level the
playing field and hold his own.
As established previously, Shylock’s desire for revenge is not unjustified, and while his
actions may be disproportionate to Antonio and other Christian characters at times,
Antonio and his friends are not innocent bystanders either. They actively participate in
the mistreatment of Shylock, and openly express their sentiments towards his religion.
We can see that the Christian characters in the play do not view Shylock as their equal,
and do not give him the same respect they give others.
Lets also look at the context in which Shylock operates. As a Jew, he is an outsider to
Venetian society, subjected to constant discrimination and prejudice from the Christian
characters. This mistreatment and oppression Shylock faces throughout the play leads
him to develop a hardened demeanor, which contributes to his portrayal of someone who
is greedy and vengeful. He has been forced to live in the shadows, hiding his true
identity. This constant insecurity and danger has led him to prioritize his own interests
over others, further adding to his portrayal of a ‘bloodthirsty villain.’
Furthermore, it is important to note that the play itself provides a critique of the society
that has driven Shylock to such extremes. Shakespeare portrays the Christian characters
in the play as hypocritical and morally ambiguous, despite their purported virtues.
Antonio, for example, borrows money from Shylock despite his open disdain for him,
and then refuses to repay the loan when he is unable to do so. This behavior is a clear
violation of the principles of fairness and justice that the Christian characters claim to
uphold. By contrast, Shylock, who is often demonized and ostracized by the Christian
characters, is shown to be a victim of the society in which he lives, driven to desperate
measures by the constant discrimination and persecution he faces.
In conclusion, while Shylock is not without fault in "The Merchant of Venice," it is
important to understand the context in which his actions take place. Shylock is an
outsider in Venetian society, subjected to constant discrimination and persecution, which
contributes to his portrayal as greedy and vengeful. His demand for a pound of flesh can
be seen as a way of seeking justice for the harm that has been done to him, as well as a
means of protecting his own financial interests. The play itself provides a critique of the
society that has driven Shylock to such extremes, portraying the Christian characters as
hypocritical and morally ambiguous. Ultimately, the character of Shylock serves as a
reminder of the destructive power of prejudice and discrimination and the need for
greater empathy and understanding towards those who are different from us.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
1. Shakespeare, William. "The Merchant of Venice”.
https://shakespeare.mit.edu/merchant/full.html
2. "The Merchant of Venice - Shylock: Victim or Villain?" BBC Bitesize.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/guides/z6f2pv4/revision/2
3. "Shylock." Encyclopaedia Britannica.
https://www.britannica.com/topic/Shylock
4. "The Merchant of Venice - William Shakespeare." SparkNotes.
https://www.sparknotes.com/shakespeare/merchant/
5. "The Merchant of Venice: A Study Guide." ThoughtCo.
https://www.thoughtco.com/the-merchant-of-venice-study-guide-2984620
6. "Understanding 'The Merchant of Venice': A Student Casebook to Issues,
Sources, and Historical Documents."
https://books.google.com/books/about/Understanding_The_Merchant_of_Veni
ce.html?id=TGhZAAAAMAAJ
7. "Shylock and History by Jami Rogers." The Folger Shakespeare.
https://www.folger.edu/shylock-and-history-by-jami-rogers
8. "Shakespeare's Shylock: Character Sketch, Analysis & Monologue." Video.
Study.com. https://study.com/academy/lesson/shakespeares-shylock-character-
sketch-analysis-monologue.html
9. "Shylock in 'The Merchant of Venice': Character Analysis & Quotes."
https://study.com/academy/lesson/shylock-in-the-merchant-of-venice-
character-analysis-quotes.html
10. "The Merchant of Venice: Shylock." https://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=x5i5mXu5q5c
INDEX
I. Introduction
A. Context on "The Merchant of Venice"
II. Analysis of Shylock's character
A. Shylock's portrayal as greedy and vengeful
B. Shylock's motivation for seeking a pound of flesh
C. Shylock as a victim of discrimination and persecution
III. Critique of Venetian society in the play
A. Portrayal of Christian characters as hypocritical
B. Christian Character's violation of principles of fairness and justice
C. Shylock's demonization and ostracization by Christian characters
IV. Conclusion
A. Reminder of destructive power of prejudice and discrimination and it’s impact
on society
V. Bibliography
