Shylock Character Study #3

Shylock Character Study #3

Many characters hold anti semitic views, but in places
Shakespeare lets Shylock speak from the heart and suddenly
we see him as a human, not a stereotype.

• when Shylock offers to lend money without interest some argue that he is being kind, do you agree? I think that nice becuase he would give the money to another person

• In A3S1 Shylock suffers great losses. Look for suggestions of his sorrow, loneliness and feelings for his dead wife. when shylock says "why, there, there, there, there! A diamond gone cost me two thousand ducats in Frankfurt- the curse never fell upon our nation till now! I never felt it till now- two thousand ducats in that, and the other precious, precious jewels. I would my daughter were dead at my foot and the jewels in her ear! would she were hearses at my foot the ducats in her coffin! No news of them? Why, so. and I know not whats spent in the search. Why thou, loss upon loss! The thief gone with so much, and so much to find the thief- and no satisfaction, no revenge. no nor ill luck stirring but what lights o' my breathing, no tears but o' my shedding."

• In A4S1 when Shylock is sentenced, we again feel pity for him. Why is this an achievement for Shakespeare (consider his audience) I feel like he wants us to feel like we are there in the story to.

• The Merchant of Venice is considered a comedy,

however the character of Shylock makes it feel more of a tragi-comedy.

Do you feel he is portrayed more as a villain or victim. Write a paragraph

explaining your thoughts with supporting evidence from the play.

I think shylock is more a victim then a villain. Shylock made a bond and Antonio said yes to it

• It has been argued that the play should be renamed ‘The Jew of Venice’. Why do you think this is? Would it change your initial view of the play? Would it be a more suitable name?  The story is based off a Jew who wants to cut a pound

of flesh out of Antonio so yes i think 'the jew of venice'

is a better name for this play.