Skip to main content

What are some reasons to have sympathy towards Shylock in The Merchant of Venice?

There are a number of reasons to sympathize with Shylock. For one, he is a Jewish man in the Catholic Venice. In a sense, he is a stranger in his own country. In the play’s conclusion, the Christian Antonio is referred to as a citizen, while Shylock is considered an alien. Shylock does not have the same rights as Christians do. Even though Shylock’s daughter Jessica marries a Christian, Launcelot Gobbo “jokes” that she will...

There are a number of reasons to sympathize with Shylock. For one, he is a Jewish man in the Catholic Venice. In a sense, he is a stranger in his own country. In the play’s conclusion, the Christian Antonio is referred to as a citizen, while Shylock is considered an alien. Shylock does not have the same rights as Christians do. Even though Shylock’s daughter Jessica marries a Christian, Launcelot Gobbo “jokes” that she will still be damned because her father is a Jew.


Jessica’s elopement with the Christian Lorenzo is another reason to pity Shylock. He is distraught that she has run off, especially with a man who is not of her faith. While the Christians consider her to be condemned for being Jewish, Shylock says that “she is damned” for marrying a Christian against his will. On top of that, Jessica stole some of Shylock's most prized positions. He values money above almost everything else, and Jessica spends it prodigally. Shylock is especially distressed to hear Jessica traded a ring for a monkey. He had the ring “of Leah when [he] was a bachelor;” it seems that it was a treasured gift from his deceased wife.


The Christian characters mock Shylock and gloat at his losses. When he laments the departure of his daughter, “his own flesh and blood,” Salarino replies, “There is more difference between thy flesh and hers than between jet and ivory.” Shylock mourns, “no sighs but of my breathing; no tears but of my shedding.” Numerous characters refer to him as a devil and hurl antisemitic insults his way. Antonio spat on him, kicked him, and called him “misbeliever, cut-throat dog.” Shylock’s powerful “Hath not a Jew eyes?” speech about the similarities between Jews and Christians falls on deaf ears.


No doubt, Shylock is a difficult and dangerous man, calculating and ruthless. Still, he is also a desperate and sympathetic character.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

What is the meaning of "juggling fiends" in Macbeth?

Macbeth is beginning to realize that the three witches have been deceiving him since he first encountered them. Like jugglers, they have kept changing their forecasts in order create confusion. This is particularly apparent when the Second Apparition they raise in Act IV,   Scene 1 tells him that no man of woman born can overcome him in hand-to-hand battle--and then Macbeth finds himself confronted by the one man he has been avoiding out of a... Macbeth is beginning to realize that the three witches have been deceiving him since he first encountered them. Like jugglers, they have kept changing their forecasts in order create confusion. This is particularly apparent when the Second Apparition they raise in Act IV,   Scene 1 tells him that no man of woman born can overcome him in hand-to-hand battle--and then Macbeth finds himself confronted by the one man he has been avoiding out of a sense of guilt, and that man tells him: Despair thy charm. And let the angel whom thou still hast serve...
Post a Comment
Read more

In Martel's Life of Pi, how does writing a diary help Pi Patel build on his leadership skills?

At the end of chapter 73, Pi first divulges the fact that he had started a diary after about a week alone at sea. Pi claims that he wrote about "practical stuff" (208) such as what he caught for food, foreseeable problems and solutions, Richard Parker, and reflections about specific events that occurred. In a sense, Pi is the captain of his ship; therefore, he must take responsibility for himself and his crew. He can... At the end of chapter 73, Pi first divulges the fact that he had started a diary after about a week alone at sea. Pi claims that he wrote about "practical stuff" (208) such as what he caught for food, foreseeable problems and solutions, Richard Parker, and reflections about specific events that occurred. In a sense, Pi is the captain of his ship; therefore, he must take responsibility for himself and his crew. He can do this by writing down events, problems and solutions, and reflections to look back on when confronted with repeated problems. It can ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Why did Tybalt attack and kill Mercutio instead of Romeo, who he had originally been targeting?

Though Tybalt's quarrel is with Romeo, he begins the momentous duel in Act 3 by fighting with and killing Mercutio instead. Tybalt ultimately attacks Mercutio because the garrulous and hot-headed character insults Tybalt and goads him into a duel to protect Romeo's honor. From the beginning of the encounter in Act 3, Scene 1, it's clear that Mercutio is itching for a fight. For instance, when Tybalt signals that he wants to talk to Mercutio... Though Tybalt's quarrel is with Romeo, he begins the momentous duel in Act 3 by fighting with and killing Mercutio instead. Tybalt ultimately attacks Mercutio because the garrulous and hot-headed character insults Tybalt and goads him into a duel to protect Romeo's honor. From the beginning of the encounter in Act 3, Scene 1, it's clear that Mercutio is itching for a fight. For instance, when Tybalt signals that he wants to talk to Mercutio and Benvolio, Mercutio responds "And but one word with one of us?/ Couple it w...
Post a Comment
Read more