The Merchant of Venice June 8th, 2011 In the play The Merchant of Venice Shylock is supposed to be the protagonist, the definition of protagonist is; the leading character or a major character in a drama, movie, novel, or other fictional text. He is emulating the behaviour of his people's oppressors in demanding Antonio's pound of flesh in payment of his debt. At the start of Act1 Scene3 shylock loses sympathy of the audience when he says to Bassanio: “Oh, no, no, no, no: my meaning in saying he is a good man is to have you understand me that he is sufficient” This quote shows that Shylock is a typical Jewish stereotype by putting money above everything else. “I will buy with you,” says Shylock, “sell with you, talk with you, walk with you, and so following; but I will not eat with you, drink with you, nor pray with you.” Had Jesus held aloof from the afflicted they never would have trusted Him. do Belmont, the actions of Shylock appear risible and obscurantist. This famous speech allows the readers to feel sympathy for himIt revealed both Shylock and Antonio’s second faces – Antonio, that he was such a racist to Shylock and Shylock, that he did have a reasonable motivation to be so cruel to Antonio (although it still can’t be justified entirely). iii. Readers and audiences feel pity and compassion rather than contempt. Support your answer with reference to the play. Prejudice is a train wreck waiting to happen. Shylock, a Jewish moneylender, agrees to loan Bassanio three thousand ducats for a term of three months. In Michael Radford's film The Merchant of Venice, Shylock and other Jews are shown being spat on, neglected and treated as second class citizens in a way that makes the viewer feel sympathetic for them. And you have to see things that perhaps you have never seen before, or people behaving in ways that you have not understood, trying to explain them. I’ll explain why when you’ve answered my questions, Mrs Birling. "They love you to owe more than you can pay; it's not their principal that they care about nearly so much as your interest; what they hate is to lose you when once they've got you. What time period is The Merchant of Venice set? For they were *innocent victims* of the forced famine. In line 139 Shakespeare makes the audience feel sorry for Antonio by making the other characters in the court refer to him as ‘a pound of flesh’ and a ‘bond’. A court of justice. Therefore, when Shylock says of Antonio “I hate him for he is a Christian,” he would immediately alienate most of the audience and again fails to stimulate any sympathy for himself. This is a trick question, as all three answers are possible. You just make stuff up." I do not think that his own mistreatment excuses his vengeful attitude and actions but it does serve to explain them and to make him a tragic figure, after a fashion. Shylock, in William Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice, is a complicated character.While it is possible to feel some sympathy for him, he does create many of his own problems. By signing up you are agreeing to our, 20 Years of Change: Joe Biden on the Violence Against Women Act, How We Can Learn to Live with COVID-19 After Vaccinations. The way Solanio calls Shylock ‘the dog Jew’ shows the hate the Christians had for Jews in Shakespearian times. / You take my house when you do take the prop / That doth sustain my house; you take my life /When you do take the means whereby I live" (4.1.369-373). CHAPTER II. ‘Enter Bassanio with Shylock the Jew’, why wasn’t ‘Enter Bassanio the Christian with Shylock … In court Shylock is defeated because of his selfishness. 3. Why does the Duke feel sorry for Antonio? However, though… The play was first printed in 1600 and was first seen as a copy of the play “Jew of Malta”. ACT 4. Antonio haslaugh?d at [his] losses, mock?d [his] gains [and] scorned [his] nation (III, I, 49-50),? extract to justify why Shylock was against Antonio.Shylock asks",the jailer to guard Antonio closely and … It was very normal of Shylock to avenge these insults, thought he went too far, he deserves all the sympathy. I have possessed your grace of what I purpose, And by our holy Sabbath have I sworn To have the due and forfeit of my bond. At this point we might feel some sympathy for Shylock because he has lost something of sentimental value. It's the most amazing, encompassing feeling ever. If we do not learn about the influences that cultural groups have had on our mainstream history and culture , we are all missing out … What impact will Jessica's running away with the Christian Lorenzo have on Shylock and his bond with Antonio? ), graphic novel, or related literary work (one of the Tempest poems, A Tempest, etc.) New York: D. Appleton and Company. The villainy you teach me, I will execute." Don't hate the actor that plays Shylock, hate (or, hey, maybe love) the way that actor is told to play Shylock.. Shylock is a Jewish moneylender, father to Jessica, enemy to Antonio, and one of the most complex characters of The Merchant of Venice—and arguably of all of Shakespeare's works. On the other hand, a modern audience could certainly appreciate Shylock’s point of view, given the treatment he suffers at the hands of the Christians. (30) Plan: 1.!Name play and playwright. Loren June 23, 2008 @ 6:47 pm. Introduction If you discuss literature enough, eventually you will hear variations of the following: "English is such an easy major. A Venetian Jewish moneylender, Shylock is the play's principal antagonist. As he is not tolerated, Shylock is determined to get justice by any means possible, including revenge on Antonio, who has taught him the attitude he now holds. of mind helps explain, for instance, why he later so readily surren-ders his life to Shylock: "I am a tainted wether of the flock, / Meetest for death," he says in Act IV, "the weakest kind of fruit / Drops earliest to the ground, and so let me" (IV.i.114-116). If I were a Hollywood movie producer, and I were remake this Shakespeare video for a 21st century audience, I would use a celebrity person named Johnny Depp cast as the speaker, and I would set the scene in Denver, Colorado The “Seven Ages of Man,” by William Shakespeare. Too often is Antonio victimised by Shylock because Shylock feels he has a hold over Antonio because of the bond he agreed to. Through most of the play he seems selfish, and it seems in some parts of the play as though he doesn't care about his daughter. Shylock … Shakespeare brings out these human qualities by causing us to feel sympathy for him. ... , he doesn't actually explain why we should ignore the speech. When V accepts, he then "innocently" slips in a remark about V's hair, weight, choice of clothes, etc., which is designed to infuriate V, and who then says something like, "Well, if that's the way you feel, why don't you just go out by yourself! “The Merchant of Venice” makes us more aware of racism and xenophobia in today’s society and how greed effects all of us, and also the basic, raw message in most of Shakespeare’s plays, that love and grow and conquer any situation. This may also explain why Chester Himes used Portia's "The quality of mercy" speech as the epigraph to his first autobiography, but then titled the volume The Quality of Hurt (1972). The centralizing concepts for the semester’s readings—texts that are basically canonical works for courses in the Humanities and Social Sciences—are risk and reward. You need to be The Merchant of Venice. We feel pity and sympathy for the things he has had to endure which means we cannot cling to a unique view of Shylock as a villain. It is believed to have been written between 1596 and 1598. Shakespeare's manipulation of our emotions regarding Shylock is a testament to his genius as a creator of character. The reader is compelled to feel sympathy towards Shylock, but is somehow still expected to be happy for Bassanio and Antonio’s crew. Listening task. One of the most interesting passages in The Merchant of Venice is Antonio’s letter to Bassanio (III. I’ll not answer that But say it is my humour. You’ll remember that Mr Croft told us – quite truthfully, I believe – that he hadn’t spoken to or seen Eva Smith since last September. His defeat and conversion to Christianity form the climax of the story. All Acts and Scenes are listed on the The Merchant of Venice text page, or linked to from the bottom of this page. Shylock, he knows, is a divisive figure: “No two people feel the same about him. Shylock instead asks the Duke to kill him, saying, "Nay, take my life and all, pardon not that. Anybody can break the rules, but Portia’s effectiveness comes from her ability to make the law work for her. Debate the idea that perhaps Shakespeare presented this aspect as a tragedy for Shylock in order to show his understanding and possibly sympathy towards the Jewish situation. Signior Antonio, many a time and oft In the Rialto you have rated me About my monies and my usances. He wants people to respect him and like him yet he cannot show any affection or respect towards his own daughter. The Duke tries to reason with Shylock, asking him to have mercy in order to gain mercy, but Shylock argues that, since he has purchased his pound of flesh, it is his to do with as he likes.Portia and Nerissa show up disguised, respectively as a young lawyer and a clerk, just as the Duke is ready to allow Shylock to claim his bond. Students feel more accepted, they feel part of the school community, they work harder to achieve, and they are more successful in school. The villainy you teach me I Will execute, and it shall go hard but I will better the instruction.-Shylock (act 3, scene 1) Let's not beat around the bush: The Merchant of Venice is an antisemitic play. Shylock isn't a character for whom we can feel much sympathy for because he always seems to be thinking about himself and his money rather than other people around him. Most of it simply feels comedic. It’s in those quiet moments when I’m not working, tackling homework, or reading articles that startling questions are given the opportunity to spring to mind. We feel Jessica is justified in running away because of the way she is treated by her father, she has no freedom and clearly feels embarrassed to be his daughter. Of course, emotion is a delicate thing, and it’s important that as you pursue empathetic writing, you’re also considering humane storytelling. SALANIO : And Shylock, for his own part, knew the bird was ready to fly; and then it … Introduction . It also makes the audience feel sympathy towards Shylock because he is facing having to lose everything or to change his beliefs. Shylock is never seen again. Shylock uses this argument to explain why he wants to get revenge on the people who have wronged him. - English - Essay 879 words - 4 pages Free The Merchant of Venice – Exam Essay Act 4 Scene 1: Does Shakespeare make it possible for you to have any sympathy for Shylock at this moment in the play? We love the intense emotional energy. Discuss Shylock's character, pointing out how within one play Shylock can be a comic figure, a villain, and additionally, a character for whom we can feel sympathy. You call me misbeliever, cut-throat dog, And spit upon my Jewish gaberdine, And all for use of that which is mine own. What impressions of Shylock’s character do you have from the above extract? Three Interpretations of Shylock From Shakespeare's The merchant of Venice by Richard Jones and Franklin T. Baker. But you need to be there to see it and, though you're only a bit-player in the enfolding disaster, you need to feel its consequences. Do we agree with Lear here; has he been a good and selfless father? Have any of you watched the YouTube video clips of the President’s personal body guards being instructed to stand down off the rear plates of the Presidential vehicle? “David, do you ever feel that the longer you… Do you feel that mother’s love is different from father’s love? Yet we cannot feel deep sympathy for him — some, perhaps, but not much. Whatever is … ABSTRACT Death of a Salesman, produced in 1949, has become a classic of modern American theatre. That's why the play has that title. To an extent, we feel sorry for Shylock’s victimization based solely on his Jewishness. Although anti-Semitism is totally unacceptable today, it was quite normal in Shakespeare's time. In answer to the title I do feel that Shakespeare portrayed Shylock in … We feel protected and loved when you do this - especially when you're possesive of us. 2. ). Or is this line simply meant to be read, “whatever I did in the past, I finally gave you all my land, so what more do you want?” Do we have any sympathy for the daughters here? Is there any reason why my wife should answer questions from you, Inspector? For instance in this play, I don't think you could see a production of The Merchant of Venice without being embarrassed about prejudice and question whether you have any yourself. ... A must see if you feel like wanting to protect your family. Finally, when Bassanio comes to take the test – and Portia clearly prefers him from the get-go – she presents it as an opportunity for him to show his love to her: ‘I am lock’d in one of them: / If you do love me, you will find me out’ (3.2.40-1). If so, what difference do … Antonio, Shylock says, is a Christian who lends money without interest, which makes more difficult the practice of usury, in which money is lent out at exorbitant interest rates. Someone’s going to give you shit for putting Shylock in Neutral Evil. ” (Act 4, Scene i) Despite pleads from the Duke, Bassino and Portia for pity on Antonio’s life Shylock insists on his pound of flesh. Shylock, Villain or victim? It is hard to say weather a father loves child the most or a mother. That's why the play has that title. Yet modern audiences have a definite tendency to view Shylock favorably. Shylock then points out that there are people in the courtroom who own slaves. The reader is compelled to feel sympathy towards Shylock, but is somehow still expected to be happy for Bassanio and Antonio’s crew. Shylock definitely deserves sympathy, although he has done a terrible thing it was all in revenge, which is a normal human trait. Venice. Vahni Capildeo is prolific—a new pamphlet, Odyssey Calling, falls unfortunately outside the purview of this essay—and poets so restlessly generative are often animated by a nexus of idea-feelings they return to and augment. He does not feel … The Merchant of Venice is a 16th-century play written by William Shakespeare in which a merchant in Venice named Antonio defaults on a large loan provided by a Jewish moneylender, Shylock.It is believed to have been written between 1596 and 1599. The relationship between Antonio and Bassanio is similar to the relationship between Portia and Nerissa; both Antonio and Portia seem to be uncertain characters, while Bassanio and Nerissa act as the advisors to Antonio and Bassanio. In what light do you see Shylock on this occasion? A letter is such an awkward feature to represent on the stage, that the fact of a letter being read aloud in the course of a play is significant. His desire must be Shylock’s complete defeat. Shylock is seen to … ‘ Shylock is an orthodox Jew, this means that he is Jewish by both race and religion. It is, after all, little things that indicate either sympathy or antipathy. When Shylock leaves the courtroom in Act IV, Scene 1, he is stripped of all that he has. My guess is, JFK’s murderers do not wish to draw the public’s attention to EO 11110 and by extension, to who plotted his assassination, and for what reasons. but his only reason is that Shylock is a Jew. Some sympathy for the character must seep in. Just take for an example the earth quake that happened in Japan ,an American made a head-Line just because his American parents thougt he was dead in Japan. This is in part because of the way he construes ethics, as a rather narrow set of moral precepts (be nice to other people, feel sympathy with their pain, don't insult downtrodden groups, etc. Within much of the mainstream of the West-Asian civilizations (our own), the difference between Law and Love has been one of the constitutive boundaries of our theological, political, social and communal identities. “Why, I can smile, and murder whiles I smile, And cry ‘Content’ to that which grieves my heart, And wet my cheeks with artificial tears, And frame my face to all occasions.”-Richard, Duke of Gloucester “I’m confused just saying it, so I can only imagine how you must feel, hearing me talk. In return he wants blood. Launcelot Gobbo and his father are comic figures that are not unlike comic figures seen in other plays of Shakespeare. However, it is too eloquent to be merely the distorted reasoning of a villain. But no matter how the actor plays him, who but a Nazi could ignore the "If you prick us, do we not bleed speech?" But the Jews do not deserve the world’s sympathy as the Ukrainian Christian clergy and peasants deserve it. Order now. To Washington, Shylock's plea on behalf of Jews and brotherhood had an echo in the appeal of blacks to be treated as men and brothers" (Friedman 1995, 35). tell me that. It is also why Shylock appears too grand to fit in a single drama. Explain. This is the first time I have read The Merchant of Venice, and in the first act, I am noticing similarities in character tendencies and relationships. Here again, Antonio … Shylock want revenge for the loss of his daughter through the fulfillment of the bond. This is because he declares "There is no power in the tongue of man to alter me: I stay here on my bond." Student’s activity. He talks about the common humanity of both Christians and Jews. His sympathy for Shylock, after all, is no different from his sympathy for Edgar in “King Lear,” or even for Richard III; a plausible villain should always have plausible-sounding motives. Shylock repeats himself for revenge again and has many horrific ideas such as the “pound of flesh”. Despite his hard heartedness, he never appears less than devoted in his faith. Shylock also does not like how there is a big difference between Jews and Christians: ‘If you prick us do we not bleed’ Shylock has a lot of anger in him and has expressed himself very emotionally here. You’ll ask me why I rather choose to have A weight of carrion flesh than to receive Three thousand ducats. Prove your answer with an example taken from the story “An Excellent Father” Answer: Children are always loved by their parents. Shylock, burning for revenge against the Christians generally, now serious about the ‘merry sport’, takes Antonio to court to claim his pound of flesh. (2) The narrator hasn’t seen his family since she was a child. Shylock's repetitions of "O my ducats! Answer: Shylock here appears to be a pathetic figure. But he also appears here in a comic light. Whatever you do, just make sure you don’t diminish the other person’s experience or make it all about you. (ii) Provide two reasons why you say this? Mr. Jaworski may well decide not to prosecute, but he cannot do so inconspicuously, without giving his reasons. Given these points, it can safely be stated that the Merchant of Venice is an odd combination of happiness and sadness created by blending the joy and misery of different characters in different scenarios. We first encounter Shylock in act 1 scene 3. Accordingly, Bassanio focuses his answer on … Shylock can not let any of Antonio's blood spill because of the wording of the bond Only and exactly a pound of flesh can be cut off from his body Since Shylock is an alien, he cannot attempt to kill a citizen We would like to note, however, that we do not guarantee any grades, since we do not know your instructor, do not know your school, do not know you situation and your academic background. Although anti-Semitism is totally unacceptable today, it was quite normal in Shakespeare's time. Apart from Jessica who converts to Christianity, he is the only Jewish character and it feels he is somewhat ganged up on by all of the other characters. It’s not the ducats that Shylock minds, it’s the daughter. Shylock refuses to explain why he wants a pound of flesh rather than money. Why do you think there is no Biblical imagery, only mythological imagery, in this scene? Shylock Deserves Sympathy and is not to blame for his own downfall.Shylock is a complex character and he has suffered, still suffers and is one of a people who have suffered over centuries. Prejudice is a train wreck waiting to happen. Not 'Shylock… As a result, The Merchant of Venice is often classified as one of … He says that some men do not like pigs, some do not like cats, and that he does not have to explain himself any further than by saying that he hates Antonio. He asks if he should tell them to let the slaves go. It has informed our vision of both perfect order and of the overcoming of all order. Why do you think both the girl and the elf ask questions? Shylock insists that he wants his "bond," and that if the Duke refuses him it will make a mockery of Venice and its entire justice system. Shylock is very much the villain of the piece, and is intended to be so, and yet he still manages to earn the audience’s sympathy. The duke asks how Shylock could ever hope for mercy from the court if he is unwilling to provide mercy to Antonio. Our heart felt sympathy goes to the family of the deceased, and to the nation of Israel as a whole,may the God of Israel be with you. Still have I borne it with a patient shrug 5 For suff’rance is the badge of all our tribe. Sometimes, it’s okay to simply admit you don’t know what to say or that you’re having a hard time imagining what it would be like to experience what the other person is going through. Adam Seligman Boston University . We actually have to find a right answer." Salerio sadly reports there's still a rumor out there that one of Antonio's ships has been wrecked, and he hasn't been able to find anyone to disprove it. Don't be afraid to give it all you got. Give a reason to justify your opinion. It would be hard not to feel sympathy for Shylock. i am not sure how many sourse i need so feel free to to add a few. You have 3 free articles left. Empathetic writing is one of the most powerful tools a writer can employ, crafting a world and a cast of characters who evoke genuine emotion. An icon used to represent a menu that can be toggled by interacting with this icon. Shylock definitely deserves sympathy, although he has done a terrible thing it was all in revenge, which is a normal human trait. / You take my house when you do take the prop / That doth sustain my house; you take my life /When you do take the means whereby I live" (4.1.369-373). SCENE 1. Antonio, Shylock says, is a Christian who lends money without interest, which makes more difficult the practice of usury, in which money is lent out at exorbitant interest rates. Shylock is a victim of betrayal, injustice, and prejudice. every thing that i need for my paper is written below. Last year, I wrote an article extolling the joys of teaching Shakespeare to learners of English and outlining the reasons why teachers should bring the Bard into the classroom. Furthermore, he will not show any mercy, “On what compulsion must I? Shylock is a fictional character in William Shakespeare's play The Merchant of Venice (c. 1600). Or even "You have it so easy, unlike us math majors. Because mercy is an attribute of God, Portia reasons, humans approach the divine when they exercise it. Shakespeare’s intention was not to make Shylock a tragic figure; instead, Shylock was meant to function as a man who could be vividly realized as the epitome of selfishness; he must be defeated in this romantic comedy. It is also ironic that Antonio and the other Christians despise Shylock because he lends money for profit, because they do … Of course, emotion is a delicate thing, and it’s important that as you pursue empathetic writing, you’re also considering humane storytelling. We do not feel sympathy for Shylock, in fact we are complicit in his defrauding. The National Theatre production of The Merchant Of Venice starring Laurence Olivier (1973). The following is a lecture I wrote in December of 2014 and delivered on February 4, 2015 before the s tudents and faculty in a course called “Culture and Expression,” in my university’s Honors College program. Read the full text of The Merchant of Venice Act 3 Scene 1 with a side-by-side translation HERE.. Solanio and Salerio meet again in the Venetian streets to gossip. Harmony As you read the play, you may find sub-themes which contrast other sets of values, in … Equally truly, Shylock sees the Christians as heartless, bent on the destruction of everything he holds dear. Antonio fails to repay the loan on the stipulated date, and so is brought for trial at which Shylock … It has this very raw, real feel … Shylock's deep-rooted hatred for Antonio and his determination to have his bond per the agreement are shown in this extract. This is because he is a daily victim of anti-Semitism. Shylock want revenge for the loss of his daughter through the fulfillment of the bond. If I were a Hollywood movie producer, and I were remake this Shakespeare video for a 21st century audience, I would use a celebrity person named Johnny Depp cast as the speaker, and I would set the scene in Denver, Colorado The “Seven Ages of Man,” by William Shakespeare. SHYLOCK : You knew, none so well, none so well as you, of my daughter’s flight. Tutor and resource writer Genevieve White comes to the rescue, in time for Shakespeare Day and English Language Day today. However since the most of play is deal with the question of who is Shylock, we can rightfully say it’s not Antonio, the play belongs to Shylock. A deal had been made; If Antonio can't pay back the money he owes Shylock, he has to allow Shylock to take a pound of flesh as payment instead. It is clear none of the characters feel any sympathy towards Shylock, simply because he is a Jew. 314-320). The following is from Howard Jacobson's novel, Shylock Is My Name.Jacobson has written fourteen novels and five works of non-fiction. Shakespeare brings out these human qualities by causing us to feel sympathy for him. Forced to agree, Shylock begs leave to return home, swearing he will sign all the promises there. Something at once more primitive and deep of Antonto" ** mUSt ** responsiblc for Shylock’s inhuman hatred exf.li de "/i° f ( * hiS Ca " a ! why Shylock is a complex character. Shakespeare also shows the human qualities of Shylock throughout the play. the explication is about william blakes " a poison tree" poem.please let me know if this can be done by the due date and with the specifications stated below. He is a defeated man. Even those who unreservedly despise him, despise him with different degrees of unreservation.” It turns out that Strulovitch and Shylock share a long history of trouble with their daughters. 3. As this monologue is from a first person point of view, it will be more convincing to the audience as why Antonio and Shylock despise each other, …

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