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H 2 >Shylock is the villain in the play. He deserves no mercy. Discuss with close reference to the Merchant of Venice. In the play The Merchant of Venice by William Shakespeare, Shylock is the villain. However, there are reasons as to why he does and why he does not deserve mercy. The reasons why he deserves mercy include: the fact that he is only considered the villain because he is a Jew; Antonio deserved mercy, so Shylock should be shown mercy as well; Shylock cant be blamed for being a villain after all the terrible things that have happened to him; and if the other characters were the genuine Christians that they made themselves out to be, they would show mercy to Shylock and they would not have been so mean to Shylock in the first place. The reasons why Shylock does not deserve mercy are: that he has a truly villainous nature; Shylock refused to show mercy to Antonio, even after Shylock was offered many times the amount of money he actually lent to Antonio; and because Shylock's bond was against the law, therefore the penalty of the law should be imposed.
The first reason why Shylock deserves mercy, is the fact that he is hated because he is a Jew. The other characters hatred for Shylock is obviously just a mask for their racism, as throughout the play they make their prejudice towards Jews extremely clear, Certainly, the Jew is the very devil incarnation is one example. Shylock also explains the reason why he is hated when he says, He hath disgraced me, and/ hindered me of half a million, laughed at my losses, / mocked my gains, scorned my nation, thwarted my/ bargains, cooled my friends and heated mine enemies; and/ whats his reason? I am a Jew.
Secondly, Antonio foolishly signed Shylock's bond, entitling Shylock to a pound of Antonio's flesh if he did not repay Shylock on time, even though Antonio had not read and considered it carefully... lend it rather tho thine enemy; / Who if he break, thou mayst with better face/ Exact the penalty... This shows that Antonio did not fully believe that he would have to pay the forfeit. However, when he failed to repay the bond, he was shown mercy, as he was not made to give Shylock a pound of his flesh, as the bond demanded. Since Antonio was shown mercy for his foolish mistake, Shylock should be shown mercy as well. Shylock may be a villain, however this is understandable after all the unjust hardships that he has experienced.
These hardships include; his daughter, Jessica, eloping with a Christian and taking most of Shylock's money with her; Shylock is constantly teased by Christians because of his religion; the fact that he is lonely as he has only one friend; and because his faithful servant, Launce lot, left him to serve Antonio's friend, Bassanio. We can see how all these injustices have affected Shylock after his daughter runs away, The curse never fell upon our nation till now; I never felt it/ till now. Shylock should therefore be shown mercy as his villainous traits have been created by the difficulties he has faced, not by his own fault. Finally, Shylock should be shown mercy as the Christian characters have not been Christian-like towards Shylock, even though they take every opportunity to boast about their wonderful Christian qualities. The Christians, feel they can beg for Antonio to be shown mercy.
However, when it comes to Shylock, most do not want to be merciful towards him. This behaviour shows that they do not practise what they preach. Perhaps if the Christians had acted like Christians, Antonio would not be in his predicament. If a Christian wrong a Jew, what should his suffer ence be/ by Christian example? Why, revenge! The villainy/ you teach me I will execute and it shall go hard but I/ will better instruction.
In some cases, Shylock deserves mercy, but there are also reasons why he does not deserve mercy. One of the reasons why he does not deserve mercy is because he has a truly villainous nature, and has not simply developed one. There are many instances where we can see this nature, such as: the fact that he wants a pound of Antonio's flesh when Antonio does not repay the bond; the fact that Shylock values money above all else, including his daughter; and his hatred for Christians. We can clearly see Shylock's heard-heartedness when he says, I would my daughter were/ dead at my foot, and the jewels in her ear! would she were heard at my foot, and the ducats in her coffin! after his daughter has run away with his money.
The second reason why Shylock does not deserve mercy, is because Antonio's friend Bassanio offers Shylock many times the amount which he is owed by Antonio, in an attempt to save Antonio's lfe. However, Shylock refuses the money, and insists on gaining a pound of Antonio's flesh. if every ducat in six thousand ducats/ were in six parts, and each part a ducat/ I would not draw them. I would have my bond. Therefore, since Shylock refused to show mercy to Antonio, he should not be shown mercy himself.
Finally, Shylock does not deserve mercy as the Venetian law of the time forbade non-citizens (including Jews) from attempting to take the life of a citizen. Therefore Shylock's bond was against the law, as it required the death of Antonio. These laws were written to be followed without exceptions. Shylock therefore deserves the punishment stated in the law; If it be provide against an alienate party gains the which he doth contrive/ Shall seize one half his goods; the other half/ Comes to the privy coffer of the state; / And the offenders life lies in the mercy/ Of the duke only, and he does not deserve mercy. Although Shylock is considered the villain in the play, there are reasons why he does and why he does not deserve mercy.
He deserves mercy as: he is only seen to be evil by the racist Christians, as he is Jewish; Antonio was shown mercy for not repaying his bond therefore Shylock deserves the same treatment; Shylock has experienced many injustices which are the cause for his villainy; and because the Christian characters best about their 'good qualities" but are not Christian-like towards Shylock. The reasons why Shylock does not deserve mercy are: that he has an unchangeable villainous nature; that he did not willingly show mercy to Antonio therefore he should not receive mercy in return; and because his bond was against the law.
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