Shakespeare's "The Merchant of Venice". Reconsidering Shylock (PDF)

Studienarbeit aus dem Jahr 2004 im Fachbereich Anglistik - Literatur, Note: 1.5, Ruprecht-Karls-Universität Heidelberg, Veranstaltung: ''All the World's a Stage'' An Introduction to Shakespeare, Sprache: Deutsch, Abstract: This paper offers a detailed analysis of Shylock's depiction in Shakespeare's "Merchant of Venice" and why he may not be a typical villain (or a villain at all).

Undoubtedly, "The Merchant of Venice" is one of Shakespeare's most controversial plays, courtesy of the both interesting and complex character of Shylock the Jew. The play is basically a romantic comedy but the requirements of genre are scorned. It begins with brotherly love and ends with joy, at least for the Christians. However, in between, there is Shylock, who adds a very serious undertone to the play and makes it oddly profound for a comedy.

Although Shylock appears in but five out of twenty scenes, he represents a permanent threat and overshadows most of the play. No other character has so much "force, subtlety, vitality, variety; above all, none other has his intensity, isolation and apparent depth of motivation." It would be all too easy to explain this motivation and the way he is presented by means of mere anti-Semitism and stereotypes. Although Shakespeare could not ignore the prejudices of his time, "we should beware of attributing to Shakespeare and his audiences the cruelty of our own century." Those who intend to track down anti-Semitism in the play will not fail to find it. All too often, however, they will be blind to everything else and make the regrettable mistake of cutting both Shylock's character and the complexity of the play. There is more to Shylock, much more. His character can and should have the power to make the audience think.

Thus, one should have a close look at Shylock starting with the first things we get to know about him but without being oblivious to the social and historical background of the play's original reception. Furthermore, it is necessary to examine the depths of his character by means of analysing the development as well as the degree of obviousness of his motivation in order to disclose what moves and drives him. In the end, it should be possible to realise the underlying cause of his actions and draw corresponding conclusions.