Shylock should be Pitied or Condemed
Shylock is a man more to be pitied then condemned. To what extent do you agree with this statement? Be sure to refer to details of the play in your response.
In the historic play “The Merchant of Venice” written by William Shakespeare, Shylock is one of the main characters who I have great pity for. Therefore I agree with the above statement that Shylock should be more pitied than condemned. Throughout the play we see Shylock involved in many different incidences and it is unknown whether he is a victim or a villain in most cases. Shakespeare leads me to make a final conclusion by showing me different incidents that Shylock is involved in the play. Shakespeare helps me to gather this conclusion through the use of many different literary devices and emotive writing. I think that Shylock should be more pitied because he loses his only daughter; he is seen being lower than other characters because he is a Jew, and he loses most of his private possessions and most of all his religion. One of the major reasons I feel sorry for Shylock is because he is complicated yet wise and often gets tormented, mocked and humiliated in front of everyone. The first sign of victimization is seen in the theme of prejudice outlined by Shakespeare. This is first evident in Act one. Act one Scene three is one of the main scenes in which Shylock could be seen more as a victim than a villain. Mistreatment of others can become very addictive for many abusers and sometimes it seems as if everyone wants be a part of the mistreatment of Shylock. As the play progresses, Shylock is insulted in public, spat on and called rapacious names such as “cut throat dog”, especially from Antonio. We clearly see this when Shylock says, “You call me ‘misbeliever’, ‘cut-throat dog’ and spit upon my Jewish gabardine” and Antonio replies "I am as like to call thee so, to spit on thee again, to spurn thee too". Antonio and many other merchants frequently criticize and belittle Shylock and his business and
In the historic play “The Merchant of Venice” written by William Shakespeare, Shylock is one of the main characters who I have great pity for. Therefore I agree with the above statement that Shylock should be more pitied than condemned. Throughout the play we see Shylock involved in many different incidences and it is unknown whether he is a victim or a villain in most cases. Shakespeare leads me to make a final conclusion by showing me different incidents that Shylock is involved in the play. Shakespeare helps me to gather this conclusion through the use of many different literary devices and emotive writing. I think that Shylock should be more pitied because he loses his only daughter; he is seen being lower than other characters because he is a Jew, and he loses most of his private possessions and most of all his religion. One of the major reasons I feel sorry for Shylock is because he is complicated yet wise and often gets tormented, mocked and humiliated in front of everyone. The first sign of victimization is seen in the theme of prejudice outlined by Shakespeare. This is first evident in Act one. Act one Scene three is one of the main scenes in which Shylock could be seen more as a victim than a villain. Mistreatment of others can become very addictive for many abusers and sometimes it seems as if everyone wants be a part of the mistreatment of Shylock. As the play progresses, Shylock is insulted in public, spat on and called rapacious names such as “cut throat dog”, especially from Antonio. We clearly see this when Shylock says, “You call me ‘misbeliever’, ‘cut-throat dog’ and spit upon my Jewish gabardine” and Antonio replies "I am as like to call thee so, to spit on thee again, to spurn thee too". Antonio and many other merchants frequently criticize and belittle Shylock and his business and