Shylock: The Question of Sin

In the play The merchant of Venice Shakespeare portrays conflict between both not commensurate figures, shylock and Antonio. shylock is a Jewish speciel dismisser who is viewed as an outcast due to his religion and job. Antonio, on the other hand, is a Venice merchant who enters a exact with loan shark in decree to assist Bassanio?s (his friend?s) romance with Portia. Shakespeare all(prenominal)ows his sense of hearing to take up whether cashlender is ?a man to a greater extent sinned against than sinning?, ?a man who sins more than sinned against?, or ?a man as often sinned against as sinning? establish on their recital of his play. In puzzle out I, facial expression III, we convey that shylock is without doubtfulness discriminated and often mistreated by the Christians because he is a Jew. When Antonio involve to be lent ternion thousand ducats goldlender states, ?You call in me misbeliever, cutthroatdog, and spet upon my Jewish washcloth? (Shakespeare 1 8). m aceylender recalls the multiplication he has been be rated by Christians specifically Antonio. In reply, Antonio states that he does not regret his abhorrence toward usurer and is liable(p bolshyicate) to sin against him in the future. ?I am as give care to call thee so again, to spet on thee again, to scorn thee too? (Shakespeare 19). Furthermore, Antonio has caused usurer suffering in the past when he has lent money out to people without due reason, which arrest down the rate of interest and hinde release loan sharks business. Despite Antonio?s hatred, loan shark attempts to kick in a sense of friendship with him and be consumen as an run into in the future. ?I would be friends with you, and ready your love, forget the dishonor that you have stained me with? (Shakespeare 19). Shylock and Antonio enter into a agreement for three thousand ducats that moldiness be paid merchantman within 3 months. If Antonio fails to repay within the agreed upon time , Shylock is entitled to cut off one drive ! of his flesh. This stay paper questions the friendship Shylock wants to establish with Antonio. Antonio notes Shylocks kindness and agrees to the hold fast with corporate trust he provideing be able to repay the loan. It seems that Shylock?s goal in oblation friendship was to tell on (encourage) Antonio into entering the contract without hesitation. In typify II, Jessica expresses that she is ashamed of her obtain, Shylock. ?Alack, what grievous sin is it in me to be ashamed to be my male parent?s pincer? (Shakespeare 31). Jessica questions her shame and deems it as a sin. Although she feels blameable, Jessica wants to unravel her suffer?s house and enter into a alliance with Bassanio?s friend, Lorenzo. ?O Lorenzo, if thou keep promise, I shall end this strife, compose a Christian and thy loving wife? (Shakespeare 31). Jessica and Lorenzo piddle a externalize in which they will elope and become married. It is evident that she has no regret leaving witho ut discussing her plans with her laminitis in the first get into she leaves. Jessica and Lorenzo successfully elope one evening when Shylock has been summoned to dinner party by Bassanio and Antonio. ?Here, catch this casket; it is worth the pains, I am glad ?tis night, you do not look on me, for I am much ashamed of my exchange [clothes]? (Shakespeare 36-37). When Jessica leaves she takes with her a macro instruction measuring of money and jewelry that belonged to her father. Later in the play, we acquire that Shylock is outraged by Jessica?s elopement and theft of his money and jewelry. ?My Daughter! O my ducats! O my daughter! Fled with a Christian! O my Christian ducats?stol?n from me by my daughter? (Shakespeare 41). Jessica has sinned against her father by eloping with Lorenzo, converting to Christianity, and stealing from him. In the opening scene of Act III, we learn that Antonio?s ships have possibly been lost at sea. At this time this is merely a rumor tell by Solanio, barely reaffirmed by Shylock when asked! of Antonio?s hark back of the three thousand ducats. ?He hath disgraced me, and hind?red me half(a) a million, laughed at my losses, mocked at my gains, scorned my nation, nix my bargains?and what?s his reason? I am a Jew? (Shakespeare 49). Shylock is now out to research revenge as a culmination of hatred and wrongdoings done to him. ?If we are like you in the rest, we will resemble you in that. If a Jew wrong a Christian, what is his humility? Revenge! If a Christian wrong a Jew, what could his sufferance be by Christian example? why? Revenge!? (Shakespeare 49). Shylock?s refuses to pity Antonio and takes him to homage. In the judicial system scene, we see Portia (disguised as a male legal philosophyyer) settle that Shylock mustiness show mercy to Antonio. ?Then must the Jew be merciful? (Shakespeare 77). Shylock questions why he must be merciful and posterior brushes off the response he receives demanding his confederation. Portia consequently asks if Antonio is able to pay the money, and Bassanio offers Shylock two times the amount and his own life in an effort to allow his friend. Shylock refuses and Portia request to look at the bond. After reviewing the papers Portia reason out that Shylock is entitled to collect one pound of Antonio?s flesh. When the time comes for Shylock to take Antonio?s flesh, Portia reminds him that if shed any(prenominal) blood he will be guilty of fetching the life of a citizen and lose possession of everything he has. ?The actors line expressly are ?a pound of flesh.? pass on then thy bond, take thou thy pound of flesh; hardly in cutting it, if thou dost shed one look across of Christian blood, thy lands and goods are by the laws of Venice confiscate unto the state of Venice? (Shakespeare 82). Portia seems to be misleading when she tells Shylock he is entitled to collect the bond and later saying by doing so he will be accuse of murder. After learning that he would be incriminate of murder (a sin), Shylock decides to accept the ducats! offered to him. Portia refuses stating, ?He shall have nought buy the penalty? (Shakespeare 82). Shylock chooses to drop the strip altogether, but when he does Portia tells him he has threatened the life of a Venetian. ?The law hath yet another hold on you. ?He [who] seek the life of any citizen, shall seize one half his goods to the ships company against which he contrive; the other half to the hidden lacuna of the state? (Shakespeare 83). Instead of taking half of Shylock?s farming, the Duke grades him to pay only a fine. Similarly, Antonio offers to return his particle of the estate on the condition that Shylock convert to Christianity and will all of his wealth to Jessica and Lorenzo upon his death. Shylock agrees and departs losing all he has, including his religion. In conclusion, Shylock has been sinned against and a sinner himself. He is sinned against by Christians, specifically Antonio, when they demean his religion. He is sinned against by Jessica when she expresses her shame, elopes and steals a portion of her father?s wealth. Shylock is also sinned, in part, by Portia when she misleads him into be accused of seeking the life of a Venetian and when he is pressure to become Christian when they will always see him as a Jew anyway. Shylock sins when he continually demands Antonio?s pound of flesh and misrepresent the friendship he seemed to want. found on this interpretation, I disagree with the view that Shylock is ?as much sinned against as sinning?, rather, I feel Shylock is ?a man more sinned against than sinning.? whole kit and mickle CitedShakespeare, William. The Merchant of Venice. New York: Penguin Putnam, Inc., 1998. Works ConsultedUnknown. ?Merchant of Venice Plot Review.? Merchant of Venice Summary Guide. 2000-2005. Absolute Shakespeare. 20 May 2005 If you want to get a full essay, order it on our website: OrderCustomPaper.com

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