Shylock Argumentative Essay
Kimberly Nguyen Indelicato English 1 Honors 8 December 2014
Is Shylock a Villain or Victim? Shylock is a Victim
All villains were once victims. A villain is someone who intentionally hurts someone physically, mentally, and/or emotionally for their own satisfaction and pleasure. A victim is someone who is hurt physically, mentally, and/or emotionally. The Merchant of Venice, a play written by William Shakespeare, is about a man who is pushed to the breaking point and turns around to bite his enemy.A person that is debatable whether villain or victim is Shylock. Shylock was abused with words such as “devil” and “dog”. His business isn’t booming because of
Antonio, a christian merchant. His daughter was taken from him by a Christian man named
Lorenzo. Like a Christian he will take revenge but he “will better the instructions”. He says he will “plague” and “torture” Antonio. He doesn't show mercy and takes Antonio to court to settle their contract; which states if Antonio cannot pay his debt then Shylock gets one pound of
Antonio’s flesh preferably his heart, but he fails and ends up being forced to convert to a
Christian. Is Shylock a victim or not?
Although others may say that Shylock is a villain ,but personally I think he is victim. The opposition brings up evidence like when he says “Cursed be my tribe If I forgive him!”(I, iii,
5152), which they interpret as he already doesn’t want forgive Antonio even though nothing has happened yet. Those who view Shylock as a villain say so because he didn’t phase when Portia
asked him three times to forgive Antonio he refused ,which is understandable because that does show his villainess side. She advised him “Then must the Jew be merciful.”(IV, i, 183) ”I pray you look upon the bond”(IV,i, 225), and “Shylock there’s thrice thy money off’ red thee.”(IV,i,227). Understandably, when readers see Shylock say “the villainy you teach me, I will execute, and it shall go hard but I will better
Is Shylock a Villain or Victim? Shylock is a Victim
All villains were once victims. A villain is someone who intentionally hurts someone physically, mentally, and/or emotionally for their own satisfaction and pleasure. A victim is someone who is hurt physically, mentally, and/or emotionally. The Merchant of Venice, a play written by William Shakespeare, is about a man who is pushed to the breaking point and turns around to bite his enemy.A person that is debatable whether villain or victim is Shylock. Shylock was abused with words such as “devil” and “dog”. His business isn’t booming because of
Antonio, a christian merchant. His daughter was taken from him by a Christian man named
Lorenzo. Like a Christian he will take revenge but he “will better the instructions”. He says he will “plague” and “torture” Antonio. He doesn't show mercy and takes Antonio to court to settle their contract; which states if Antonio cannot pay his debt then Shylock gets one pound of
Antonio’s flesh preferably his heart, but he fails and ends up being forced to convert to a
Christian. Is Shylock a victim or not?
Although others may say that Shylock is a villain ,but personally I think he is victim. The opposition brings up evidence like when he says “Cursed be my tribe If I forgive him!”(I, iii,
5152), which they interpret as he already doesn’t want forgive Antonio even though nothing has happened yet. Those who view Shylock as a villain say so because he didn’t phase when Portia
asked him three times to forgive Antonio he refused ,which is understandable because that does show his villainess side. She advised him “Then must the Jew be merciful.”(IV, i, 183) ”I pray you look upon the bond”(IV,i, 225), and “Shylock there’s thrice thy money off’ red thee.”(IV,i,227). Understandably, when readers see Shylock say “the villainy you teach me, I will execute, and it shall go hard but I will better