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The Merchant of Venice is in essence, a comedy, with clearly defined good guys and the infamous villain. The character of Shylock seems, outwardly, to be the villain of the play. He sets up a plan to take a pound of flesh from Antonio, who, outwardly, seems like a good Christian. This, however, has more depth to it than it appears.
Shakespeare gives reasons for Shylock s actions; though they may be acts of hatred, it is not unjustified hatred. Instead, it is clear that the Antonio has given Shylock plenty reason to seek revenge. Furthermore, it is quite obvious that many of the Christian characters exhibit the same behaviors which they persecute Shylock for. Upon examination of Shylock s motives and the actions of the Christians in the play, we see that the villain and the hero are not so clearly defined by Shakespeare, and that the audience may even be drastically wrong in their assumption of which characters fall into which category. The audience s normal first reaction to Shylock s character is that he is cruel and evil because of his un-Christian hatred for Antonio. However, it is actually Antonio who shows an unfounded hatred.
Shylock does admit to hating Antonio for being a Christian, but he adds that his hatred really stems from reasons other than religion. Antonio drives down the interest rates in town by lending money without interest, and thus he knowingly takes away the only livelihood which Shylock is permitted (1. 3. 42). -Antonio spits and kicks Shylock whenever he comes in contact with him. In addition, he, along with the majority of the Christian characters, never even refers to Shylock by his name, but rather by simply calling him Jew. This shows their utter disrespect towards Shylock as an individual human being. Antonio, who, along with other Christians, later criticizes Shylock for his hatred, proves a hypocrite because he hates him without justified reason, and in doing so, gives Shylock reason to return this hatred. Shylock is also portrayed as a greedy character in the play another non-Christian attribute.
Yet, the Christians in the play are in no position to judge him in this respect. Lorenzo seems every bit as concerned with Shylock s ducats as he is with Jessica herself. He explains the plan to Gratiano: She hath directed me how I shall take her from her father s house. What gold and jewels she is furnish d with (Act II, Scene 4, Line 30). Though Antonio seems generous, lending his money to close friends, other Christian characters are certainly not. Bassanio admits in the first act that he is in debt because he lives off of loans from others.
His greed is of an even grosser nature than Shylock s because he satisfies it through irresponsible means borrowing without repaying. Even his love interest in Portia seems strongly tied to her wealth. His first argument to Antonio as to why he should attempt to win Portia is based on money. He says, In Belmont is a lady richly left (Scene I, Act 1, Line 161). He then goes on to discuss her other virtues, but it is her wealth which has obviously caught his attention. The audience, therefore, cannot accuse Shylock of being guilty of greed without also pointing out the same guilt in these Christian characters In the scene when Shylock is undone by Portia s interpretations of the law, the Christians withhold from Shylock the same mercy which they scolded him for not showing to Antonio just a little bit earlier.
None of them Glance and eye of pity (Act %&# 038; %) on the losses suffered by Shylock. Antonio s slight losses were only financial, while Shylock has lost his entire wealth and a daughter his own flesh. It would ironically seem that the Christians have exacted the same revenge on Shylock which he had attempted to exact on Antonio. The difference, however, lies in the fact that their only reasoning for punishing him so harshly seems to be that he is a Jew.
Antonio had no other reason to hate him before now; in fact, he freely agreed to the contract which Portia snuck him out of. Antonio here seems to be the most merciless of all of them. On top of the loss of all of his fortune and his daughter, Antonio adds two more punishments to the heap. He first requests that Shylock become a Christian thereby taking from Shylock the one thing that he might still cling to, his religious beliefs. Secondly, Antonio makes him will all of his remaining wealth to his Jessica and Lorenzo.
This request, in essence, means that he must give his blessing to a marriage which took place behind his back, against his will, and through acts of disloyalty on his daughter s part. Yet, in irony, this is what Antonio, Portia, and the Duke refer to as Christian mercy: forcing Shylock to pay a penalty which is arguably worse than what he had wished to take out on Antonio. Shylock has now lost everything that had any significant meaning in his life, and really, through no fault of his own. If any wickedness is to be associated with Shylock s character, it should be noted that it is not through his own nature, but through the actions of those who have abused and mistreated him primarily Antonio. It seems that this play uses Shylock s character to reveal the true hypocritical nature of the Christian characters in the play. They perform the same acts that Shylock does, often to a more base extent, and call them Christian acts and merciful acts.
However, when Shylock attempts to do the same things, he is persecuted. The play doesn t portray Shylock as a cruel, merciless Jew. Instead, it instills in his character tendencies and desires which are no different from Christian beliefs and desires. In going so, Shakespeare reveals the hypocritical nature of the Christian s actions, and even hints subtly at the idea that it is not Shylock who is the true villain, but Antonio and the other Christians to a greater extent.
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Research essay sample on Hypocritical Nature Of The Christian Christians In The Play Shylock
