Shylock as Villain

1. Shylock as Villain

2. He cunningly agrees to make the loan on condition of a ‘pound of flesh’, pretending not to be serious, while fully intending to exact the penalty if the chance arises.

3. Character • He’s a ‘Jew’ • He’s a money-loving userer • His daughter hates him • His servant hates him

4. Evidence • When Antonio appears, Shylock reveals his feelings in an ‘aside’ to the audience: ‘I hate him … Christian / … / He lends out money gratis, and brings down / The rate of usance here with us in Venice. If I catch him once upon the hip, I will feed fat the ancient grudge I bear him.’ (I:iii:36-42)

5. 2) He is clearly aware there is a possibility Antonio might fail to repay the loan: ‘Yet his means are in supposition … … But ships are but boards … … there is the peril of waters, winds, and rocks.’ (I:iii:15-22)

6. 3) He uses obvious bargaining tactics: ‘I cannot instantly raise up the gross … Tubal … Will furnish me.’ (I:iii:50-53)

7. 4a) Raises the subject of Antonio’s rejection of ‘interest’: ‘Methoughts you said you neither lend nor borrow / Upon advantage.’ (I:iii:64f) 4b) … thus providing himself with a reason for attaching a ‘non-financial’ penalty: ‘an equal pound / of you fair flesh’ (I:iii:145f)

8. Villainous intention recognised at the time Bassanio’s reaction: ‘I like not fair terms and a villain’s mind.’ (I:iii:175)

9. Expresses joy at news that Antonio cannot pay ‘I thank God, I thank God. Is it true, is it true?’ ‘ … good news, good news!’ ‘I am very glad of it. I’ll plague him, I’ll torture him. I am glad of it.’ (III:i:92,94,103)

10. When challenged regarding intentions: 1) … by Salarino: ‘… if it will feed nothing else, it will feed my revenge.’ (III:i:47f) 2) … by Antonio: ‘… Tell not me of mercy. This is the fool that lent out money gratis.’ (III:iii:1f) 3) … by the Duke: ‘So can I give no reason, nor I will not, More than a lodg’d hate and a certain loathing I bear Antonio …’ (IV:i:59f)

11. Rejects financial compensation equal to double the amount loaned ‘If every ducat in six thousand ducats Were in six parts, and every part a ducat, I would not draw them; I would have my bond.’ (IV:i:85f)

12. Confirmation He’s a ‘Jew’ … • ‘Ritual murder’

13. Note • All the bad stuff that happens to him … • Well, that’s how it should be … • He’s a ‘Jew’

14. But … 21st Century view: • We can’t view Shylock as a ‘villain’ just because he’s a Jew. Shakespeare even puts the alternative view, that Jews are the same as everyone else, into Shylock’s mouth: ‘… we are like you …’ (III:i:59f)

15. 2) The bad things that happen to him seem a little harsh and not necessarily deserved: • Legal constraints • Personal and general verbal abuse • Loss of daughter (money & ring) • Legal penalty (loss of money & forced conversion)

16. In fact, the bad things that happen to him can be seen actually to contribute to his willingness to do bad things • In particular, the loss of his daughter and his ring seem to have a significant effect on his attitude to Antonio.

17. Shylock now becomes a much more complicated character, much more human.

18. Oral Commentary • Context • General • Immediate 2) Significance for development of: • Plot • Character • Theme 3) Contrast significance depending on whether‘16thcentury’ or ‘modern’