Shylock in The Merchant of Venice

He also dislikes Antonio because he depresses the loan market, causing moneylender to lose potential network from higher interest rates, "I hate him for he is a Christian: / But more, for that, in low simplicity, / He lends push through money gratis, and brings down the rate of usance here with us in Venice," (Shakespeare I.iii.40-44). It is difficult to argue against moneylender having the right to drag a fair profit on his loans.

It is also difficult to think Shylock as a villain because he expects to make a profit lending money. Nor can we promptly argue that he is a villain or expectant person only because he insists that Antonio re pay back him what Antonio has agreed to pay him by law. Anti-Semitism runs throughout the play, with Venetians constantly insulting Jews establish on their appearance, religious affiliation, and desire to make profit. However, living in such a prejudiced rules of order lends Shylock up to now more credibility and sympathy when he demands his pound of flesh. In a society and business environment in which he is considered an outsider and inferior to Christians, Shylock's only recourse for justice is to crap advantage of the legal system, which keep abreasts no prejudices. Most of the time Shylock is viewed as evil or in a interdict light when he is merely creation a right businessman, like when he refuses Antonio's ships as collateral, "But ships are moreover boa

rd, sailors but men. / There be land rates and water rats, water thieves and land thieves - / I mean pirates - and then there is the peril of waters, winds, and rocks," (Shakespeare I.iii.25).

Rosenheim, Judith. "Allegorical explanation in The merchandiser of Venice." Shakespeare Studies, 24, 1996: pp. 156-210.

Shylock also seems no slight humane or lacking in compassion that many an(prenominal) Venetians who rely on slave labor to make their profits. The Venetians maintain that the "?slaves are ours," (Shakespeare IV.i.98).

However, at least Antonio made his pact with Shylock of his own free allow, something that slaves are unable to exert when being used for exploitation by the Venetians. We can see that many of the problems laid at the feet of Shylock are problems of Venetian society and its economic system and prejudices. Shylock is only calling Antonio and other Venetians on the carpet for what he views as their total imposition in thinking he is not owed his pound of flesh, "You will answer, / The slaves are ours:--so do I answer you. / The pound of flesh, which I demand of him, / Is dearly bought; ?tis mine, and I will have it," (Shakespeare IV.i.97-1000).

Shakespeare, William. "The Merchant of Venice." In Howard Stanton (Ed.). The Complete Illustrated Shakespeare. New York: Park Lane, 1979: pp. 389-442.

It is readily apparent, then, that the naturalized perspective of Shylock as a cruel, bloodthirsty, Jews out for strike back is hardly a balanced of fair one in light of the events of The Merchant of Venice. While it is perhaps difficult to view Shylock as heroic, it is readily easy to
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