Shylock - Character Sketch and Analysis II Merchant of Venice - Summary II Shakespeare's Shylock

CHARACTER OF SHYLOCK

The Merchant of Venice

 

INTRODUCTION:

William Shakespeare is indeed a master in the art of characterization. He has drawn innumerable memorable characters in all his plays. As in case of heroes, Shakespeare has presented the cruelest villains too. Following are some of his immortal antagonists:

 

Claudius in ‘Hamlet’

Lady Macbeth in ‘Macbeth’

Iago in ‘Othello’

Shylock in ‘The Merchant of Venice’

Caliban in ‘The Tempest’

 

Shylock is one of the most remarkable characters in the entire range of Shakespearean drama. He is a complex and controversial character. He has many hateful traits which make him a villain. However, he wins our sympathy too. Let’s discuss the traits of Shylock as a villain as well as as a sympathetic character.

 

SHYLOCK AS A VILLAIN:

1. A SELFISH AND MISER JEW:

 

Shylock who is a money lender is a selfish Jew who hates the Christians fiercely. He hates Antonio mainly because the latter is a Christian. He hates all the Christians as they are pork eaters. He does not like his daughter to love a Christian. Like a true Jew, he is a miser. The rate of his interest is very high. He hates Antonio for giving people money without charging any interest. Thus, Shylock is a selfish Jew who aims at collecting money from the people but ironically at the end of the drama, he is punished to convert himself into a Christian.

 

2. REVENGEFUL AND BLOOD THIRSTY:

Shylock is a revengeful and blood thirsty man. He plans to take revenge upon Antonio. Antonio’s need for a loan gives him an opportunity for his purpose. The Trial Scene shows him a blood thirsty person. He does not show any mercy for Antonio. Even the Duke cannot move him away from his cruel wish. Portia’s plea for mercy fails to have any effect on him. Bassanio is ready to offer him ten times more amount for the life of his friend. But Shylock remains stuck to his purpose. He tells the judge that there is no power in the tongue of any man to alter his decision to take a pound of flesh.

 

3. DECEITFUL AND CRAFTY:

Shylock is a deceitful and crafty man. First, he is not willing to lend any money to Antonio as he hates him. But soon he becomes ready on the condition of taking pound of flesh from Antonio’s chest. He also says that the clause is simply a joke as a pound of human flesh is of no use for him. Thus, he uses his cunningness for getting the bond signed with Antonio. He is cunning enough to know that Antonio would fail to return his money within the prescribed time. Thus, the whole scene in which the dealing takes place reveals Shylock as a cunning and crafty man. 

 

4. HIS SUSPICIOUS NATURE:

Shylock is suspicious by nature. He can neither trust his servant nor his daughter. However, he is fully justified in his suspicions. His servant cheats him and so does his daughter. His servant leaves his service and his daughter runs away with a Christian after taking with her his money and jewels. Thus, Shylock proves to be a suspicious father and master.

 

5. His Passion for His Race:

Shylock has a strong passion and love for his race and religion. His hatred for the Christians is racial rather than personal. He always utters the phrases like “Our Nation”, “Our Holy Sabbath” and “Our Holy Abraham”. He hates Lorenzo. He insults and abuses Antonio only because he is a Christian. He also causes him much financial loss. For him Antonio stands for the whole Christian community. Shylock fights for the rights of the entire Jewish race. He demands justice not only for himself but also for his people.

 

SHYLOCK AS A SYMPATHETIC CHARACTER:

Though Shylock is a villain, he has a few redeeming qualities too which arouse love and sympathy among the readers.

 

1. A CHAMPION OF THE JEWS:

First, Shylock is shown as a champion of the Jews. He speaks convincingly about the injustice, which the Jews have suffered at the hands of the Christians. He says:

 

“Hath not Jew eyes?

Hath not a Jew hands,

Organs, dimensions, senses

Affections, Passions?”

 

These words show Shylock as the representative of the oppressed people. He feels sad for the suffering of his race.

 

2. A TOWERING PERSONALITY:

Secondly, Shylock has a towering personality. Here, he can be compared with Satan, the villain in Milton’s epic Paradise Lost. He has physical and mental ability to fight with the Christians. He hates Antonio much and says with confidence:

 

“This pound of flesh which I demand of him

Is dearly bought; its mine and I will have it.”

 

Thus, Shylock’s argument is quite strong. He knows what is right and just. He has the strength of character enough to assert it fearlessly. No one can persuade him to give up his decision.

 

3. AS A LOVING HUSBAND:

One more good quality found in Shylock is that he is an affectionate husband. He is devoted to his dead wife. He is struck to the heart when he hears that Jessica has given her mother’s ring in exchange for a monkey. He says that he would never have parted with the betrothal ring given by his wife, Leah. This fact makes Shylock one of the most emotional characters of Shakespeare.

 

4. AS A TRUE FATHER:

Shylock is a true father. Though he seems to be a harsh and strict father, he actually loves and trusts her. Being a rigid Puritan, he merely warns Jessica not to have anything to do with the pleasure-loving Christians. He does not want her to be corrupted by the wicked Christians. He would have given Jessica a handsome dowry if she had married a Jew with his blessings. His concern for his daughter equals his anguish for his loss of ducats (gold coins). He is heard crying:

 

“O my ducats! O my daughter!

O my Christian ducats!”

 

5. AN INTELLECTUAL PERSON:

Shylock is certainly one of the most intellectual characters ever drawn by Shakespeare. He is clever and strong-minded. He has knowledge of his religion and of the Old Testament. Like a true moneylender, he is shrewd and wise. He can be compared with the clever businessman of today. He speaks cleverly in the Trial Scene. He is aware and clever enough to think that his daughter might fall in love with a Christian.

 

6. A SYMPATHETIC FIGURE:

In spite of his villainy, Shylock finally becomes a pathetic figure. He wins our sympathy. Many factors contribute to make him a pathetic figure.

Antonio has spoiled his business by lending money without interest.

·     His daughter runs away with a Christian after taking his money and jewels.

·     Portia defeats him in the Trial Scene. Nobody takes his side. He is punished to convert himself into a Christian.

·     His property goes to his daughter who has married a Christian.

·     Thus, though the play ends happily, Shylock is shown almost as a tragic figure. He is sinned against more than sinning.

 CONCLUSION:

Thus, Shylock remains Shakespeare’s memorable character. He is striking, original and many-sided. He is cruel, comic and even tragic.

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