The Jewish people are scared. Frightened to leave their home every day and practice their own religion. They are frowned upon by all Christians and non-Jews. Being a Jewish person is like living in a foreign land. They must practice their religion in secret, they are segregated away from all other non-Jewish people and they are heavily discriminated. Shylock is a Jewish money lender and he lends money at exorbitant interest rates to get the highest revenue. As a merchant, he represents many negative traits and is depicted as an enemy. Shylock as an enemy is a misinterpretation, he is a victim of discrimination and unjust. Due to the already ongoing discrimination of Jewish people and the misinterpretation of Shylock being an enemy, he is badly mistreated and has had unjust action done to him.
Shylock is a money lending Jew. He is depicted as an enemy by all non-Jewish people. First, he is Jewish. The Jewish people are blamed for any/all catastrophes that had occurred. In the 14th century Jewish people were blamed for the black death and Jewish people were massacred by the thousands. The Jewish are segregated and discriminated. Shylock is also a money lender and charges high interest rates from the money which was lent. Both Jewish and Christian law does not approve of money lending (usury), Jewish law allows it between Jewish and Christians. This means that Jews could do things that are not allowed by Christians. This has created bad attitudes towards the Jewish and tension has arisen. Shylock is not only Jewish but also a money lender. He is seen to be an enemy by the Christians and many Christians hated him for what he was doing.
A major role in the mistreatment of Shylock is Antonio. Antonio is also a merchant, but he is Christian. Antonio has abused, betrayed and insulted Shylock on numerous occasions. Antonio has also kicked him and called him names. Antonio insulted him calling him names like, “cutthroat dog” and spat on his clothing. Antonio and Shylock negotiated for Shylock to lend Antonio 3 thousand ducats. At first Shylock was skeptical about the situation but then formed an agreement. Shylock will charge no interest but if the money is not paid back in a specific time Shylock gets to cut off a pound of flesh. After the negotiation other Christians also insulted Shylock’s Jewish religion. “If e’er the Jew her father come to heaven, it will be for his gentle daughter’s sake”. Which means that Christianity is the religion that is powerful enough to make anyone go to heaven and that Shylock’s religion is not strong enough to put anyone in heaven.
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Shylock is immediately seen as a villain. The main reason why non-Jewish see him as such a bad person (villain) is since he is Jewish. Shylock is often described as materialistic, greedy, jealous and obsessed with money. This is from the biased Christian viewpoint. These characteristics were upheld by the Christians who already have pre-existing viewpoints of Shylock and these fake accusations are just fuel for their hate, so they have a reason to discriminate. Also, in the trial, Shylock wants to release all his hate on Antonio because of all the horrible discriminatory actions that Antonio has done to Shylock. Shylock doesn’t care about money he cares about the revenge in which he can give Antonio. Christians find this revenge quite unjust, but if you have the viewpoint of Jewish people or Shylock himself, it shows that Shylock serves the right to this and it is just.
Shylock is a victim. If Shylock is viewed as an equal human being, not as an enemy, you are able to see how horribly Shylock is treated compared to a Christian. Shylock is heavily mistreated. Shylock is insulted, discriminated, hated, and is treated like an animal. The only reason he is treated like this is his religion. Jewish are portrayed to be the devil. Shylock quoted, “Hath not a Jew eyes? Hath not a Jew hands, organs, dimensions, senses, affections, passions, as a Christian is?”. This means that even though Shylock doesn’t believe in the same beliefs he is the same as a Christian. During all the hate Shylock is receiving he is still a human being. He is seen as lower than the Christians because he is Jewish. He loses everything in the process of getting his pound of flesh for revenge. He loses his daughter, his money to Lorenzo and Antonio, his land, possessions, and forced to convert to Christianity, by cheating out of his bond.
The villain is causing the problems and obviously stands out as the mean character. The victim is the one that gets hurt either mentally or physically. Shylock is the victim but is portrayed as the villain. He’s been treated unfairly, discriminated upon and has been treated like an animal. He has been hurt both mentally and physically.
Shylock who is a Jewish money lender is mistreated, discriminated, victimized, tormented, tortured both mentally and physically and now he feels as if he has no meaning in life. It is unfair and unjust. No person should ever be treated like Jewish people are being treated. We are like everyone else. Human.
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