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.

• In A1S3 when Shylock offers to lend money without interest some argue that he is being kind, do you agree? Kind because he is offering to give someone money which not much people would do.
• In A3S1 Shylock suffers great losses. Look for suggestions of his sorrow, loneliness and feelings for his dead wife. Tubal says ¨one of them showed me a ring that he had of your daughter for a monkey¨. Shylock replies with ¨out upon her, thou tortures me tubal. it was my turquoise, i had it of Leah when i was a bachelor. i would not have given it for a wilderness of monkeys.¨

• In A4S1 when Shylock is sentenced, we again feel pity for him. Why is this an achievement for Shakespeare (consider his audience) Because they want us to feel bad and feel like we are in the strory.
• 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 he is a victim because shylock made a choice and antonio agreed.
• 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? Well it is about a jew but not really because the other characters make the story more fun and the title doesn't seem good but the merchant of Venice is a good name.