Is Shakespeare Predjudiced Essay Research Paper Is

Is Shakespeare Predjudiced. Essay, Research Paper

Is Shakespeare Prejudiced. In Shakespeare’s play, The Merchant of Venice, the one character that is truly hardto figure out is Shylock. Shylock is an old, greedy, villainous man, but he is also a Jewwho loses everything. It’s hard as a reader or audience to know whether you are supposeto feel sorry for this man or greatly dislike him. It’s also hard to figure out if Shylock isplaying the villain role in the play or if Shakespeare could be showing discrimination. Inthis paper, I am going to explore the character of Shylock and try and decide just exactlywhat kind of character he is. Act I, Scene 3 is the first introduction to the character of Shylock. Bassanio needsmoney and because all of Antonio’s ships are out to sea, he goes to Shylock for a loan. Shylock says to himself: “I hate him for he is a Christian; But more, for that in lowsimplicity He lends out money gratis, and brings down the rate of usance here with us inVenice. If I can catch him once upon the hip, I will feed fat the ancient grudge I bear him”(Barnet 16). Because of this statement, my first impression of Shylock is Shakespeare istrying to portray him as a stereotypical Jewish man. During this time, it was against theirreligion for Christians to charge interest, but it was not for Jewish people. Shylockobviously hates Antonio because he is Christian, but also for the fact that he doesn’tcharge interest. Usually, people think of Jews as being greedy. Some feel thatShakespeare is definitely portraying that through Shylock. He is an angry, prejudiced,greedy man, which at that time was not atypical for Christians to think of as Jews. However, a person could also look at this scene and feel that this is Shakespeare’sway of setting up who is going to be the villain in the play. When Shylock says he hatesAntonio because he is Christian, some people automatically feel as if that is just ludicrous,and Shylock is just an old, greedy man, Jewish or not. Shylock obviously is well-off as faras money goes, and it seems he just wants to take revenge on any Christian because of thepersecution he’s been through. Also, Antonio and Shylock were never friends to beginwith, so Shylock has no reason to be nice or like Antonio. After the introduction to Shylock, we also get introduced to Shylock’s daughter,Jessica, in Act II, Scene 3. Some people believe this scene also seems as if Shakespeare isshowing his discrimination towards Jewish people. Jessica’s first words are spoken toLauncelot after he tells her he’s leaving: “I am sorry thou wilt leave my father so; Ourhouse is hell, and thou a merry devil Didst rob it of some taste of tediousness. Butfarewell to thee; there is a ducat for thee” (Barnet 30). Jessica also goes on to say toherself after Launcelot leaves: “Alack, what heinous sin is it in me To be ashamed to bemy father’s child! But though I am a daughter to his blood, I am not to his manners. OLorenzo, If thou keep promise, I shall end this strife, Become a Christian and thy lovingwife!” (Barnet 31). So, it is quite obvious that Jessica is very unhappy living with herfather, and it seems as if the only way she can be happy is if she converts to Christianity. Shakespeare very well could be saying through Jessica that the only way a Jewish personcan ever be happy is by leaving the Jewish religion and becoming a Christian. If their”house is hell” than once again Shylock is portrayed as an evil, Jewish man who hascreated an atmosphere that no one would want to live in, whether it be Launcelot orJessica. On the other hand, this scene may have nothing to do with the fact that Shylockand Jessica are Jewish. Shakespeare could just have Jessica being unhappy becauseShylock is the villain character who is not a thoughtful, loving father. Jessica could bemore ashamed to be of her father’s blood because of the man he is, and not because of hisreligion. She also could be wanting to change religions strictly because she is in love andwill do anything to be with the man she wants to marry. In the very next scene, Shylock is leaving his house to Jessica, and Shakespeareseems to be presenting the stereotypical Jew once again. Shylock says to Jessica, “Lockup my doors; and when you hear the drum And the vile squealing of the wry-necked fife,Clamber not you up to the casements then, Nor thrust your head into the public street Togaze on Christian fools with varnished faces; But stop my house’s ears–I mean mycasements; Let not the sound of shallow fopp’ry enter My sober house” (Barnet 34). Thispassage shows that Shylock is very concerned with his belongings, so much that he’shaving a hard time leaving them. Stereotypically, Jewish people are very obsessed withmoney and their possessions, and have a hard time trusting people. Shylock is definitelyconcerned with his house, and he doesn’t seem to trust Jessica all that much. In contrast, Shylock did have a bad dream and that is the reason he could be

worried about leaving. He has worked hard for his money, and he may feel as if he can’ttrust anyone because he is one of the only Jews in this Christian country. Shakespearemay also be setting up the fact that Jessica can not be trusted because she does end uptaking a lot of her father’s money and betraying him. In Act II, Scene 8, Shylock learns that Jessica has run off with Lorenzo, aChristian, and has taken a lot of his money. I believe this is the only scene where it canonly be argued that Shak