Merchant Of venice
Shylock – Money-minded/materialistic
To a large extent, Shylock is a villain because he is money-minded/materialistic. “I would my daughter were dead at my foot, and the jewels in her ear! Would she were hearsed at my foot, and the ducats in her coffin! “(Act 3, Sc 1) According to the stated evidence, Shylock would rather have his own daughter dead than she run away with his ducats. He shows no concern whatsoever for his daughter who had run away, but instead was more concerned about the jewels and ducats she ran away with. Moreover, he had said that “He hath disgraced me and hindered me half a million” (Act 3, Sc 1) in which he was referring to Antonio. When commenting about what Antonio had done to him, the first thing he said was how he cost him half a million ducats. Despite Antonio insulting him and hurting him physically and mentally, the first thing that came to Shylock’s mind when commenting about Antonio was about his own money. Even after Antonio severely criticising him as a Jew, the topic Shylock was very sensitive about and took much pride in, he still started with his own money while talking about what Antonio had done to him. Therefore, Shylock is a villain as he treasures his money more than his daughter, and it is always a topic that is on his mind.
Shylock is also a villain because he is vengeful . When Salerio asks him what he would do with the Antonio’s pound of flesh if Antonio has to forfeit the bond, he replies with “If it will feed nothing else, it will feed my revenge. He hath disgraced me, hindered me half a million, laughed at my losses, my bargains, cooled my friends, heated mine enemies,” . This shows that Shylock has remembered everything Antonio has done to him and wants revenge his wrongs by murdering him. He also says,” If a Jew wrong a Christian, what is his humility? Revenge. If a Christian wrong a Jew, what should be his sufferance be by Christian example? Why revenge.” This shows that Shylock thinks that it is okay for
To a large extent, Shylock is a villain because he is money-minded/materialistic. “I would my daughter were dead at my foot, and the jewels in her ear! Would she were hearsed at my foot, and the ducats in her coffin! “(Act 3, Sc 1) According to the stated evidence, Shylock would rather have his own daughter dead than she run away with his ducats. He shows no concern whatsoever for his daughter who had run away, but instead was more concerned about the jewels and ducats she ran away with. Moreover, he had said that “He hath disgraced me and hindered me half a million” (Act 3, Sc 1) in which he was referring to Antonio. When commenting about what Antonio had done to him, the first thing he said was how he cost him half a million ducats. Despite Antonio insulting him and hurting him physically and mentally, the first thing that came to Shylock’s mind when commenting about Antonio was about his own money. Even after Antonio severely criticising him as a Jew, the topic Shylock was very sensitive about and took much pride in, he still started with his own money while talking about what Antonio had done to him. Therefore, Shylock is a villain as he treasures his money more than his daughter, and it is always a topic that is on his mind.
Shylock is also a villain because he is vengeful . When Salerio asks him what he would do with the Antonio’s pound of flesh if Antonio has to forfeit the bond, he replies with “If it will feed nothing else, it will feed my revenge. He hath disgraced me, hindered me half a million, laughed at my losses, my bargains, cooled my friends, heated mine enemies,” . This shows that Shylock has remembered everything Antonio has done to him and wants revenge his wrongs by murdering him. He also says,” If a Jew wrong a Christian, what is his humility? Revenge. If a Christian wrong a Jew, what should be his sufferance be by Christian example? Why revenge.” This shows that Shylock thinks that it is okay for