Write the character sketch of Shylock.

Ans.

SHYLOCK

Shylock is one of the two most dominant characters in Shakespeare’s ‘The Merchant of Venice’-the other one is naturally, Portia.

It has been rightly said that Portia represents the fair and gracious influence of life as Shylock the gloomy.

Shylock is a rich Jew of Venice. He lends money, mostly to the Christian merchants in financial difficulty, at exorbitant rate of interest. he extracts his money mercilessly and thrives on interest and for-future. His ruthlessness with which he practices his trade makes him universally hated and detested. He is a widower. He has only one daughter Jessica-young, beautiful and virtuous. But there is nothing common between the daughter and father. Shylock is right. He is a staunchly religious person and is much devoted to his tribe.

Shylock is rich but miserly. He recommends his servant Launcelot to the service of Bassanio simply because Launcelot eats too much and Shylock cannot afford the luxury of feeding his servant.

Shylock is a very shrewd businessman. He thrives on the misery of other. He not only charges a very high rate of interest but he exploits the situation to the maximum by cruelty extorting the for-feiture when the Christian merchants are unable to repay the debt in time. This makes him hated and unpopular.

He is very cunning. He has suffered greatly at the hands of the Christians, especially of Antonio. His personal hatred of Antonio is intensified a religious and patriotic hatred for the Christian adversary who has insulted and humiliated Shylock publicly-has abused him, called him a dog, kicked him and spaf on him. His personal hatred of Antonio is born out of passion and prejudices with which it has waged its agelong conflict.

But there is in Shylock a force of character which compels recognition and admiration and lastly sympathy. There is in him a singleness of purpose which he practices with religious solemnity. He cunningly deceives Antonio into believing that he means no harms and desires his friendship and thus persuades him to sign the bond with that sinister clause of for-feiture. He pursues his one-point programme of liquidating Antonio with indomitable tenacity. After advancing the money Shylock waits patiently for three months. But the moment Antonio fails to repay the debt he became active and starts pestering the duke to claim justice. All the efforts of the eminent citizens, leading merchants and even of the duke himself to dissuade Shylock from demanding justice are in vain. Even in the court itself on the day of trial the plea of the duke, offer of the money-many times more than the amount he lent, the request of Portia with her impassioned eloquence in praise of mercy, all are useless. He stands there insistent on his bond, unflinching before his enemies. Any other person, of a weaker will and force of character would have wilted under the pressure to which Shylock is subject. It is only the superior strength of character of Portia which brings about the undoing of Shylock in such a remarkable manner.

Shylock’s love of money, his avariciousness, is his greatest evil. Even when he laments the loss of his only daughter, who has eloped with a Christian with Shylock’s wealth, he is more sorry for his ducats and precious stones than for his daughter.

Shylock is a man ‘more sinned against than sinning’ has its grain of truth. Shylock is hated mainly because he is a non-Christian, a Jew. He saffer indignities at the hands of Antonio and other Christians because of their prejudice against Judaism. He is a victim of maltreatment and thus claims sympathy.

Despite all this we cannot deny that Shylock is evil. He is embodiment of cunning and cruelty, avarice and lovelessness, an search schemer who plots his rival’s death under a show of friendship, ignorant of the words of mercy and pity, speaks ono words of love to his only child and who prefers her death to loss of wealth. Such a person is only no means lovable-he is diabolical and detestable, His world is gloomy and fate, understandably and deservedly, tragic.

Shylock’s character is a contract to that of Portia in many ways. Both are extremely rich but their outlooks on life are diametrically opposite. Shylock is rigid and a religious bigot whereas Portia is liberal and accommodating.

Shylock’s world is filled with the gloom of hatred, lovelessness, coming and avarice. Portia’s world is full of sunshine of her beauty duc, love, kindness and generosity.

Shylock is universally detested whereas Portia commands universal love and admiration.

Shylock’s force of character brings about his doom where as Portia’s force of character is instrumental in bringing happiness all around her.

Shylock is also remarkable sharp in perceiving his chance. The moment Bassanio mentions that Antonio will be bound for the money he sees his chance, perhaps the only one, of taking his revenge and plots and executes his diabolical course of action with great vision and wisdom. Portia, similarly, plans her course with action when Bassanio informs her of Antonio’s plight and predicament and immediately implements it. It is her superior in talent which thwarts Shylock attempts to harm Antonio.