Shylock as the Villain in William Shakespeares The...

Shylock as the Villain in William Shakespeares The Merchant of Venice William Shakespeare wrote The Merchant of Venice in about 1597. It was first performed by The Chamberlains Men at the Theatre Shoreditch. The Merchant of Venice was in the repertory of Shakespeares company before they took up residence at the Globe in 1599. The play was written as a comedy, but has become a serious drama. In order to answer the question it is vital to look at the pervading views of the society when it was first performed. Ridiculing a stereotypical Jew was fashionable in Elizabethan drama because it reflected the commonly held view that Jews were to blame for everything from economic problems to child†¦show more content†¦In The Merchant of Venice Shakespeare seeks to challenge the prejudice of the Elizabethans who believed that Christians were always right and Jews were always wrong. Shylock shows both villainous and victimized actions. In Act 1, Scene 3, Shylock is equated with the name devil: The devil can cite scripture for his purpose An evil soul producing holy witness Is like a villain with a smiling cheek Antonio, who is trying to persuade Shylock to lend the money to him for Bassanio, gives Shylock the name devil. Antonio is comparing Shylock with the devil, who is the antithesis of good, by saying that even the devil who is evil is prepared to use scripture which is holy for his own purposes. Shylock, being a Jew, would have been disturbed and insulted by Antonios comment. The devil is the prince of darkness; he is the personification of evil. And this is what Antonio has named Shylock, for what reason? Because Shylock is a Jew. This would have been an extreme insult for Shylock. By saying directly to him that Shylock is like a villain with a smiling cheek he is noting that on the outside Shylock may look like he is a decent man who is trustworthy and friendly, but on the inside, behind the smiling face, he is a villain. The question is, whether this statement is true. The Elizabethan audience would haveShow MoreRelatedIs Shylock Victim Or Villain in William Shakespeares The Merc hant of Venice763 Words   |  4 PagesIs Shylock Victim Or Villain in William Shakespeares The Merchant of Venice William Shakespeare wrote the Merchant of Venice in the Elizabethan period. The play is about Shylock, a Jewish money lender ¡: trying to make a living and survive in a community that despises him and marginalias him. Before the plot even starts, Shylock is condemned for being a Jew, and a moneylender. 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