Perspectives on Shylock from Shakespeares Merchant of Venice Essay

Shylock is a character famously known as being the antagonist of Shakespeares guide merchant of Venice. In this play, Shakespeare portrayal of Shylock the moneylender is one of anti-Semitic stereotype. Shylock is depicted as a typical bloodthirsty Jew who lives a support void of any depth or meaning. His sole purpose for living seems to be to amass wealth and vengeance as seen from his adamant claim for his cram of flesh. Despite Shakespeares attempts to humanize Shylock at points in the story, it appears that his primary focus is to steer the audience against Shylock, painting him as being a cruel, bitter and inaffable figure. It is clear that in both Shakespeares merchant of Venice and Grace Tiffanys Turquoise Ring, Shylock exposes his dark side of hatred and contempt. However, by providing penetrative insight into Shylocks personal life prior to the events of the court case, Grace Tiffany adds a complexity and depth to Shylock, which exclusivelyows the reader to sympathize an d understand what compelled him to be the man he was.The novel begins by describing Shylocks relationship with his wife Leah and the events leading up to there subsequent marriage. In so doing, it shows an aspect of Shylock not seen in the merchant of Venice. It reveals Shylocks sense of kindness and sensitivity through his romance with Leah. Never in this ordeal is Shylock portrayed in a invalidating light. This point is best illustrated in the incident where Shylock returns from being interrogated by two men from the Christian brotherhood. Although Shylock tells his wife the events which transpired, seeing that his wife was already in a fragile state of shock, he refrains from mentioning the harsh details of their threats, as it says he said nothing to Leah of the c... ...esses the fact that he recognizes that not all Christians are inherently evil as he says good gentiles live. As well, he obviously had the generosity to lend Bassanio money in the send-off place, despite the apparent risk of nonpayment which proves that he could not have hated them. Shylock even states that he has no real intentions of enforcing his bond. It is only because of the expression Antonio persecutes him both verbally and physically, which evokes past memories of Christians abuse, that his tolerance is pushed to the limit so that he is forced to act the way he does. Shylock is generally a kind, caring, and slender person as seen through his relationship with his wife. His ability to mask his anger was the means by which he thrived. It is only through cumulative stress that he explodes, a common human flaw which is understandable and somewhat pardonable.