I share the sentiment that Shylock from William Shakespeare’s play “The Merchant of Venice” deserves more pity than condemnation. Throughout the play, Shylock finds himself entangled in various situations where it is ambiguous whether he is a victim or a villain. Through the use of literary devices and emotive writing, Shakespeare guides me to ultimately come to a conclusion regarding Shylock’s character. Specifically, I empathize with Shylock due to his loss of his only daughter, his marginalization as a Jew, and the deprivation of his possessions and religious beliefs.
One reason I sympathize with Shylock is because despite being complex and wise, he frequently faces torment, mockery, and humiliation in front of others. Shakespeare’s exploration of prejudice reveals the initial instance of victimization in Act one. Act one Scene three particularly highlights Shylock’s position as a victim rather than a villain. The mistreatment of Shylock becomes an addictive pursuit for many abusers, evident as it seems that everyone desires to partake in it. Throughout the play, Shylock endures public insults, spitting, and derogatory labels like “cut throat dog,” primarily from Antonio.
Shylock’s feelings of being belittled and ostracized by Antonio and other merchants for his religion and business are evident when he says, “You call me ‘misbeliever’, ‘cut-throat dog’ and spit upon my Jewish gabardine.” Antonio’s response, “I am as like to call thee so, to spit on thee again, to spurn thee too,” further highlights the ongoing disrespect. Witnessing Shylock’s incessant torment, mockery, humiliation, and physical assault, it becomes clear why I pity him. Society’s refusal to accept him and the horrifying experience of enduring such mistreatment are circumstances no one would want to endure.
Shakespeare employs emotive language in one of Shylock’s speeches to evoke sympathy towards him from the reader. During an argument, Shylock expresses his distress to Antonio and Bassanio, stating, “You come to me, and you say, Shylock, we would have moneys’; you say so; you that void your rheum upon my beard, and foot me as you spurn a stranger cur over your threshold.” This passage clearly illustrates the profound hurt and anger Shylock experiences due to Antonio and Bassanio’s actions. It becomes evident that he is fearful of them, and fear is a formidable force. Shylock must endure the constant dread of physical and verbal abuse every day. While words hold power, physical abuse exerts an even greater influence. Shakespeare conveys a message to readers that prejudice only leads to unfortunate outcomes, as Antonio’s prejudice nearly resulted in his own demise.
Shylock, a Jewish man, experienced discrimination based on his religious background and profession as a moneylender. Due to restrictions on Jews’ employment opportunities, they were only permitted to lend money—a practice forbidden for Christians. It is unjust to mistreat and show disrespect towards Shylock solely because he is striving to support himself and his daughter. It appears that individuals reject him and refuse association due to his Jewish identity and occupation. As another human being working towards making a living, I regard this treatment as extremely unfair, which is why I sympathize with Shylock.
One major reason why I sympathize with Shylock is due to the betrayal he experiences from his own daughter. Shakespeare introduces a theme of betrayal when Jessica secretly meets with Lorenzo and allows him to court her, steals from her father, lies to him, and ultimately leaves him. Jessica proves to be disobedient and deceptive. In Act 2, Scene 3, she confides in Launcelot about her plan to convert to Christianity like Lorenzo and marry him. This betrayal is disheartening as it involves going behind her father’s back. It is particularly harsh because Shylock had invested everything he had in her, leaving one to wonder how devastated he must have felt upon discovering this. Although Jessica expresses some guilt in her words, stating “Alack, what heinous sin is it in me to be ashamed to be my father’s child,” she ultimately rejects her father, his way of life, his religion, and steals a significant portion of his wealth.
The text reflects on the pain that Shylock experienced. In Act two Scene five, Jessica emotionally bids farewell to her father, expressing the possibility of being reunited in case luck favors her and robbing Shylock of his daughter. Jessica not only follows her father’s orders to close up the house but also takes his late wife’s precious turquoise ring and exchanges it for a monkey. Shylock is deeply hurt by this action, exclaiming to Tubal that the ring was given to him by Leah when he was single, and he would not trade it for anything. The image of a broken-hearted Shylock wandering the streets of Venice, lamenting for his daughter and his ducats, evokes sympathy for a diligent man who was stolen from and betrayed by his own daughter.
During the courtroom scene in Act four Scene one, Shylock is both pitied for his mistreatment and betrayal, as well as seen as a victim. The Duke’s criticism and insults towards Shylock, such as referring to him as a Jew, reveal a sense of ignorance and low opinion towards him. It is clear from the start that the Duke is biased towards Antonio, showing sympathy for him and aiming to undermine Shylock. However, at the end of Act 4 Scene 1, Shakespeare introduces an unexpected twist as Portia manipulates Shylock to prevent him from killing Antonio.
Although we may not agree with Shylock’s insistence on his pound of flesh, it is important to recognize that his bond holds legal validity. Hence, he had the rightful authority to demand what was agreed upon, and he would have followed through if he had not been deceived. Conditional bonds like Shylock’s were the foundation for numerous lawsuits in Shakespearean England and beyond. A bond served as a formal acknowledgment of debt, and Antonio willingly accepted its terms without any coercion. He believed confidently that his ships would return and enable him to repay the loan threefold. Therefore, Antonio’s fault lies in entering into such an imprudent agreement, allowing Shylock every right to claim a pound of flesh from him. The tragic portrayal of Shylock’s supposed motives clouded the audience’s judgment, leading them to pity the unfortunate moneylender. Ultimately, Portia’s manipulation of Shylock further contributes to this perception of sympathy.
In my opinion, Shylock deserves pity due to the society’s rejection of Jews. Any Jew in Shylock’s situation would likely react similarly. Overall, he is mistreated solely because of his Jewish identity. Additionally, his daughter disowns him and steals from him, causing him to lose not only the money owed by Antonio but also half of his fortune and, most devastatingly for Shylock, his religion.
In summary, Shylock is seen as both a victim and a villain, but he should be pitied rather than condemned. It is my personal belief that people were so overwhelmed by the mistreatment of Jews during that time that they failed to see the sensitive and caring side of Shylock, evident in his reaction to losing his late wife’s ring. Shylock is a deeply passionate person, whose exterior has hardened due to racial attacks, such as those from Antonio, who is portrayed as the supposed victim in “The Merchant of Venice.”
