How and to what extent does Shakespeare create sympathy for the character of Shylock in The Merchant of Venice?
In the Merchant of Venice, Shakespeare depicts Shylock as a complicated character whom is easy detest due to his headstrong, money-hungry and vengeful nature. However, there are many instances in which sympathy for Shylock is generated, especially when he is pushed around and abused by the Christians and when he deals with losing his daughter. Shakespeare gives an insight into all these aspects of Shylock’s character through the exploration of the themes of social injustice and revenge, the motifs of the law and gold and the relationship between Shylock and Jessica.
Throughout the play, there is constantly strong prejudice against …show more content…
Shylock and Antonio’s bond can be reasoned against through the use of morals, but Shylock is resolute in using the Venetian law to seek justice, which evokes feelings of animosity towards him. Shylock uses Venetian law to seek what he views as justice and in Act 3, Scene 3, he says, “The Duke shall grant me justice.” This short sentence between longer sentences emphasises his desire for his bond to be fulfilled as he knows, pragmatically and objectively, Antonio is at fault. However, this makes him seem cold hearted and unlikeable as morally, it is clear that he is in the wrong. In the court scene, Shylock backs up his bond by bringing in the city’s laws saying: “If you deny it, let the danger light/Upon your charter and your city’s freedom!” The use of an exclamation mark emphasises his point of how he is in the right and denying him goes against the law. If Antonio or anyone were to reject the bond, the law would be broken and the city is left with the possibility of being subjected into anarchy. Shylock also uses the short but concise phrase of “I stand for judgement” which shows how judgement is linked to his view of the world in concrete terms. This enforces how he will use the Venetian law to assert his bond and pursue what he defines as justice, making him seem callous as he disregards the moral argument. Furthermore, Shylock says: “I crave the law,/The penalty and forfeit of my bond.” The word ‘crave’ in this decisive statement has connotations of strong desire, suggesting that he is willing to go great lengths just to see his bond
In the Merchant of Venice, Shakespeare depicts Shylock as a complicated character whom is easy detest due to his headstrong, money-hungry and vengeful nature. However, there are many instances in which sympathy for Shylock is generated, especially when he is pushed around and abused by the Christians and when he deals with losing his daughter. Shakespeare gives an insight into all these aspects of Shylock’s character through the exploration of the themes of social injustice and revenge, the motifs of the law and gold and the relationship between Shylock and Jessica.
Throughout the play, there is constantly strong prejudice against …show more content…
Shylock and Antonio’s bond can be reasoned against through the use of morals, but Shylock is resolute in using the Venetian law to seek justice, which evokes feelings of animosity towards him. Shylock uses Venetian law to seek what he views as justice and in Act 3, Scene 3, he says, “The Duke shall grant me justice.” This short sentence between longer sentences emphasises his desire for his bond to be fulfilled as he knows, pragmatically and objectively, Antonio is at fault. However, this makes him seem cold hearted and unlikeable as morally, it is clear that he is in the wrong. In the court scene, Shylock backs up his bond by bringing in the city’s laws saying: “If you deny it, let the danger light/Upon your charter and your city’s freedom!” The use of an exclamation mark emphasises his point of how he is in the right and denying him goes against the law. If Antonio or anyone were to reject the bond, the law would be broken and the city is left with the possibility of being subjected into anarchy. Shylock also uses the short but concise phrase of “I stand for judgement” which shows how judgement is linked to his view of the world in concrete terms. This enforces how he will use the Venetian law to assert his bond and pursue what he defines as justice, making him seem callous as he disregards the moral argument. Furthermore, Shylock says: “I crave the law,/The penalty and forfeit of my bond.” The word ‘crave’ in this decisive statement has connotations of strong desire, suggesting that he is willing to go great lengths just to see his bond