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Shylock and History by Jami RogersTowering over Shakespeare's romantic comedy The Merchant of Venice is the tragic figure of Shylock. Before we can begin to understand Shylock, though, we must understand the historical and dramatic influences under which Shakespeare wrote
Although Shakespeare wrote possibly the most famous Jew in English literature, there were virtually no Jews in England during his lifetime. It isn't known whether Shakespeare would have come into contact with anyone who was Jewish. It would also be impossible to surmise how detailed his knowledge of the historical facts about Jews in England was, but fact and myth were certainly handed down through the ages, and it is safe to assume that he would have been aware of his country's historical folklore.
Shakespeare and ShylockWilliam Shakespeare, being a man of the theatre, would have been heavily influenced not only by history, but also by the theatre that had preceded him. He was also an exceptionally good businessman with a keen sense of what his audience wanted. Portrayals of Jews in drama were a long-standing tradition by the time Shakespeare wrote The Merchant of Venice. The Jew seems to have been the guy audiences loved to hate in medieval and Renaissance drama.
Source:http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/merchant/ei_shylock.html
Shylock gets what he deserves in The Merchant of Venice Discuss.
Kathryn FrameIn Shakespeare's play The Merchant of Venice, Shylock, a wealthy Jew is one of the main characters. During the play his merciless and uncompassionate nature is revealed. He seeks the life of another man because he is bent on revenge. One of the main themes of the play is anti-Semitism. Most of the main characters show some hostility towards Shylock because of his religion, including Antonio - the merchant of Venice - his Christian enemy. However this is balanced, to an extent, as Shylock frequently and openly admits that he hates Antonio, "For he is a Christian.'' Act 1, scene 3, Line 39. He will not rest until Antonio is dead and in my opinion this is indefensible.
Shylock is presented with an ideal opportunity to kill Antonio when Bassanio goes to his friend Antonio for a loan of money. He needs the money so that he can go to Belmont and try for the hand of Lady Portia - a wealthy and beautiful heiress. Antonio has no money at present, so he suggests that Bassanio borrows from Shylock. The three men meet and agree to a bond which states that Bassanio will have a loan of 3000 ducats for three months, but if Antonio fails to repay Shylock, Shylock will claim a pound of his flesh.
Shylock's daughter - Jessica - has also fallen in love, with Bassanio's friend Lorenzo, and has eloped with him, stealing money and jewels from her father. They arrive in Belmont with news from Antonio that his ships have been lost and that Shylock is going to claim his bond. Bassanio and Gratiano leave for Venice immediately and so too do their wives, in secret, disguised as a lawyer and clerk.
As Shylock is preparing to take his pound of flesh, Portia, acting as Antonio's lawyer, announces that under Venetian law, no more, nor less than a pound can be taken. No blood can be spilled or he will face a penalty of death. Also, because he tried to kill Antonio, one half of his wealth will be given to Jessica and the other half to Antonio. He must also become a Christian. Portia and Nerrisa demand their husbands' rings as payment for their services and reluctantly Bassanio and Gratiano part with them. Later, when everyone returns to Belmont, they confront their husbands about the missing rings then reveal that they were actually the lawyers.
Jessica is pleased to hear of her new found wealth and everyone is happy, apart from Shylock.
In my opinion, every thing that happened to Shylock, was self inflicted. He was a man who had a blatant disregard for the value of human life. When he learned of Antonio's misfortune he sneered and told one of his servants, ''I am glad of it. I'll plague him, I'll torture him. I am glad of it.'' Act 3, Scene 1, Line 110. His reason for this bitter hatred of Antonio was the difference in their religion.
He accused him of spitting on him and cursing him but Shylock was just as resentful towards him because he chose to follow the Christian faith and often insulted his beliefs. He referred to Antonio's friends as, ''Christian fools" Act 2, Scene 5, Line 33 and dismissed one of their religious festivals as ''Shallow foppery", Act 2, Scene 5, Line 35. Shylock also held a grudge against Antonio because he lent out money, without charging interest, as this was forbidden according to Christian faith and this had and adverse effect on Shylock's business. He was therefore driven by greed and religious prejudice to catch Antonio out so that he could, "feed fat the ancient grudge" he bore him. Act 1, Scene 3, Line 44.
He and Antonio agreed to a bond which was impossible to keep. It was through his own carelessness that he did not include a clause about the accuracy of the weight of flesh or the spillage of blood. He was so desperate to seal Antonio's fate that he didn't even pause to ensure that what he intended to do was legal. Portia summed up the situation perfectly with these words, ''The Jew shall have justice - soft, no haste - He shall have nothing but the penalty........ Just a pound of flesh." Act 4, Scene1, Line 320 ... 325.
Even when Bassanio offered Shylock three times the original amount of money in exchange for Antonio's life, he was not swayed and continued to refuse pleas for mercy. This does not surprise me in the slightest, as it is typical of his heartless and unfeeling nature. In the court he stated that he was not compelled to show mercy, therefore he would not show any. This proves that he thought only of himself. Portia went to great lengths to persuade him to accept the money Bassanio was offering, but every time he refused and demanded his bond.
When Shylock realized his mistake and discovered that his life was in the hands of the judge, he was the first to beg for mercy. By doing this, he went against all that he had campaigned for. His cries for ''Justice" Act 3, Scene 3, Line 8 could no longer be heard and he was exposed as a hypocrite. Here we see the flaw in his moving speech about religious equality. "Hath a Jew not eyes? Hath a Jew not hands, organs, dimensions, senses, affections, passions?'' Act 3, Scene 1, Line 54. While it is true that both were physically the same, the one difference between Shylock and his Christian enemies was their willingness to spare his life, despite all he tried to do to Antonio. Shylock was even given back half of his wealth, which in my opinion, was more than he deserved. Mercy and forgiveness were, and still are both fundamental parts of Christianity; if nothing else Shylock should have learned the importance of these from his enemies.
In the Merchant of Venice, Shylock got exactly what he deserved - Mercy. Everyone, no matter their crime, deserves at least that. "The quality of mercy is not strained, it droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven upon the place beneath. It is twice blest, it blesseth him that gives, and him that takes." Act 4, Scene 1, Line 184. This is what Shylock could not accept, and that is what ultimately led to his downfall.
Source:
http://www.sol.co.uk/forthvalley/larbert-hs/mag/writing/shylock.htm 
الأحد فبراير 19, 2017 9:16 am من طرف elrayek
موضوع: Shylock 
