"If not the hero of play, Shylock, undoubtedly is the most dominant

“If not the hero of play, Shylock, undoubtedly is the most dominant character in the play, The Merchant of Venice.” Discuss.

What is your estimate of the character of Shylock?

“Shylock is not so much a monster of evil, as often described by orthodox critics, he has human touches in his character.” Discuss with illustrations.

“Shylock is much more than a typical Jew.” Comment.

“The Jew of the story on which the play is based is monster of the mediaeval imagination. But Shylock is a man and a man more sinned against than sinning.” Elucidate the comment.

“Shylock’s actions are in perfect harmony with his ideas.” Discuss.

Illustrate from Shylock’s character that revenge, not money, is his ruling passion.

Ans.

Shylock is without doubt a very powerful and dominating character created by William Shakespeare. He is the representative of an oppressed race and prosecutes his implacable suit less from motives of base personal malice and self-interest than from a lofty, impersonal patriotism which animates and inspires him to avenge his nation’s wrong’s in his own. But this is not the whole truth. Shylock is a usurer and a very avaricious person. He takes pleasure in seeing others miserable. His own statement:

“I hate him for he is a Christian;

But more for that in low simplicity

He lends out money gratis and brings down

The rate of usance here with us in Venice.”

His love of money and sadism are reflected in his various out bursts especially the one after the elopement of Jessica with money and precious stones. He exploited the misery of the Christian traders by charging huge interests. It was under such a circumstance that he entraps Antonio.

Shylock is very shrewd. He feigns friendship and humility to deceive simple and unsuspecting Antonio. He has all the properties of a seasoned villain. He spreads his net and patiently waits for the victim. He stalks his prey like a true beast of prey who knows no mercy. He has the quality of unity of purpose what though the purpose is inhuman and means to achieve that purpose subhuman.

He also has the quality of concealing the inferno of hate and revenge blazing in his soul. It is this towering passion which renders him insensate to all noble feelings of mercy, kindness, generosity etc.

Shylock’s unflinching stand in the court in Venice causes him to tower head and shoulders above every other character except Portia. He takes all comers with a true disdain and it is an uneven contest -one against too many and still he almost had the better of them all but for Portia’s intervention, disguised as a lawyer. One is howsoever grudgingly it may be, to pay a tribute of admiration for his indomitable tenacity of purpose and self reliance.

Shylock’s actions are in perfect harmony with his ideas. Like a true Jew he is devoted to Judaism and to his race, his nation and is not prepared to compromise. He is hated universally not only for being a Jew but also for his cruel and inhuman dealings. He miserly as is reluctant to provide for his domestic servant because Launcelot, the servant, happened to be a great eater and sleeper.

His relationship with his only daughter whose mother, the Jew’s wife, being long dead, is not at all cordial. We have it on his daughter’s Jessica’s authority that she was also ashamed of her father’s conduct.

Shylock lived at a time when Jews as a race were persecuted and discriminated against. Hence, no wonder, that Shylock too had his share of insults and public humiliations at the hands of Christians in general and Antonio in particular. Who would like to be called a dog, abused, kicked and spat on and all this publicly? Is it not only reasonable that a person so treated should nurse a feeling of injury and hatred? Is it not proper, and justifiable also, that the aggrieved should be on a look out to settle his score when the opportunity comes his way. It was precisely this that Shylock did Antonio. There is limit to tolerance. When Shylock reacted to the situation and showed his determination to settle the score he is very human. The ingenuity of his scheme speaks about his intellectual calibre. He not only conceives as scheme to take revenge and that too at the spur of the moment-the moment Bassanio mentions that Antonio will be bound for the loan-but has the wisdom and ability to execute that scheme with ruthlessness and vehemence. The pygmies fume and fret, blow hot and cold, but do not have the wit and wisdom to counter him.

There is really some truth and justification in the remark that Shylock is not so much the monster of evil, as often described by orthodox critics, he has human touches in his character.

But when due recognition has been paid to his force of character. devotion to his nation and every allowance made to all the wrongs that he and his tribe have endured. Yet there is solid remainder of evil which justifies the popular detestation of Shylock as a very embodiment of cunning and cruelty, avarice and lovelessness. It is hard to condone the treachery, for what-ever cause. real or supposed, scheming his rival’s death under a show of friendship. His intransigence and his utter incapacity to understand pity and mercy, his ruthlessness in extorting huge profits out of his money-lending deals, his treatment of his own daughter-he speaks no word of love for his only daughter and, also, what the daughter speaks about the father is positively derogatory and uncomplimentary-all these make him an object of universal destination.

But it must be conceded that he dominates the play as no other character, except Portia does. He is unforgettable.