The Merchant Of Venice

Shylock Character Study #3

Many characters hold anti semitic views, but in places Shakespeare lets Shylock speak from the heart and suddenly we see him as a human, not a stereotype.

1. In A1S3 when Shylock offers to lend money without interest some argue that he is being kind, do you agree? No ,because he reveal on antarnio.

2. In A3S1 Shylock suffers great losses. Look for suggestions of his sorrow, loneliness and feelings for his dead wife. He lost his daughter , ducats.

3. In A4S1 when Shylock is sentenced, we again feel pity for him. Why is this an achievement for Shakespeare (consider his audience)

Because he was rude.

4. The Merchant of Venice is considered a comedy, however the character of Shylock makes it feel more of a tragi-comedy. Do you feel he is portrayed more as a villain or victim. Write a paragraph explaining your thoughts with supporting evidence from the play. I think he was villain because he was rude to Antonio .He was also selfish ,he was not worried of her daughter running away from home but he was worried on the ducats and jewel.

5. It has been argued that the play should be renamed ‘The Jew of Venice’. Why do you think this is? Would it change your initial view of the play? Would it be a more suitable name? Because shylock is the main character.