The victimized villain: Shylock

Extract

[...] Predominantly here, as Shylock shifts his focus from physical qualities to those more personal and intangible, one can grasp the effect that the unrelenting inferior treatment has on Shylock. He then questions the treatment that he frequently must face and, suitably, concludes that the only reasonable response to Christian cruelty is its just return. All in all, Shylock's disturbing lines in Act III scene one are an eloquent reminder that he, although not of the same faith as the majority of the Venetian culture, is a human. [...]

[...] Nonetheless, Shakespeare's depiction of Shylock establishes him as anything but a likeable character; still, the actions taken against Shylock are often more than excessive. As seen repeatedly, the characters of the play often call Shylock a “damned and “currish Jew.” One of the many reasons why Shylock is so eager to retaliate is because Antonio has “disgraced hindered [him] half a million, laughed at [his] losses, mocked at [his] gains, scorned [his] nation, thwarted [his] bargains, cooled [his] friends, heated [his] enemies” and all because of religion (III -54). [...]

[...] Although Shylock shares the same capitalist drive, his divergent religious affiliation is enough to instantly set him as a complete outcast. am a he states and therefore, whether in beliefs or persona, he is different from the others (III Moreover, most of the major characters refer to Shylock as villain showing his distance from those who surround him as well as their refusal of his faith (II Furthermore, there is not a single positive reference about him and the other individuals in the play identify him by his name a mere three times. [...]