Analysis Of Shylock In The Merchant Of Venice
- Shakespeare - is motivated by evil forces. Thus, the criteria for the classic tragedy are fully met. The...
Submitted by kevinjigang on 06/30/2008 05:21 PM
Analysis Of Shylock In The Merchant Of Venice
Abstract: Shylock is one of the most confusing characters in all of Shakespeare¡¯s plays.On the surface, he is a villain only concerned about money and revenge. Some critics, however, argue that Shakespeare takes this ¡°stereotypical¡± Jew much further, making him a complex character whose character is the typical of Jewishness equals with wickedness. While Shakespeare gives no definitive answer as to how Shylock should be viewed, he does make important points in support and in denial of this antagonist. Thesis: The Merchant of Venice is an anti-Semitic play not only due to the characterization of Shylock but also in the way it equates ¡°Jewishness¡± with wickedness. Key words: Shylock the Jew anti-Semitics I. Introduction The Merchant of Venice II. DemonstrationA. The Merchant of Venice, an anti-Semitic play for its complex background.1. Historical background of the Merchant of Venice.2. Literary background of the Merchant of Venice. B. The Merchant of Venice, an anti-Semitic play for the characterization of Shylock.1. Shylock¡¯s attitude toward the Christian, Antonio2. Shylock¡¯s attitude toward an heiress of Belmont, Portia3. Shylock¡¯s attitude toward money, the pound of flesh C. The Merchant of Venice, an anti-Semitic play for its equation of ¡°Jewishness¡±with wickedness.1. Shylock regarded as a kind of devil by his servant, Launcelot.2. Shylock regarded as a cur by the Christians.3. Shylock regarded as a stereotyped villain by critics. III. ConclusionThe Merchant of Venice is a profoundly and crudely anti-Semitic play. It becomes anti-Semitic not only by the virtue of its portrayal of an individual Jew, but also by its association of negative racial characteristics with the term Jewish or with Jewish characters generally. I. Introduction A young Venetian nobleman, Bassanio, wants to win back his fortune and to marry Portia of Belmont. He asks his friend the merchant Antonio to lend him the money in...
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