Shylock: The Question of Sin

In the play The merchandiser of Venice Shakespeare portrays conflict between both not fitted 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 earshot to take up whether noteslender is ?a man more than sinned against than sinning?, ?a man who sins more than sinned against?, or ?a man as often sinned against as sinning? base on their recital of his play. In puzzle out I, crack 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 trey thousand ducats propertylender states, ?You call in me misbeliever, cutthroatdog, and spet upon my Jewish whiteness? (Shakespeare 18). m iodineylender recalls the time he has been be strayd by Christians specifically Antonio. In reply, Antonio states that he does not regret his abhorrence toward moneylender and is presumable to sin against him in the future. ?I am as deal 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 wedge down the rate of interest and hinde release usurers business. Despite Antonio?s hat violent, usurer attempts to break a sense of friendship with him and be examinen as an concur in the future. ?I would be friends with you, and obtain your love, forget the degrade that you have stained me with? (Shakespeare 19). Shylock and Antonio enter into a rationalise for three thousand ducats that must(prenominal) be paid bottom of the inning 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 dumbfound paper ! questions the friendship Shylock wants to establish with Antonio. Antonio notes Shylocks kindness and agrees to the cohere with corporate trust he go out be able to repay the loan. It seems that Shylock?s goal in crack friendship was to prove on (encourage) Antonio into entering the contract without hesitation. In human action 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 squirt? (Shakespeare 31). Jessica questions her shame and deems it as a sin. Although she feels red-handed, Jessica wants to unravel her mother?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 image in which they result elope and become married. It is evident that she has no regret leaving without discussing her plans with her prece ptor in the first send 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 large measuring of money and jewelry that belonged to her father. Later in the play, we intoxicate 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 aske d of Antonio?s bring back of the three thousand duc! ats. ?He hath disgraced me, and hind?red me half(prenominal) a million, laughed at my losses, mocked at my gains, scorned my nation, preclude 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? accordingly? Revenge!? (Shakespeare 49). Shylock?s refuses to pity Antonio and takes him to homage. In the judgeship scene, we see Portia (disguised as a male legal philosophyyer) refrain that Shylock must 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 stay. Portia consequently asks if Antonio is able to pay the money, and Bassanio o ffers Shylock two times the amount and his own life in an effort to superfluous his friend. Shylock refuses and Portia request to look at the bond. After reviewing the entry 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.? collide with then thy bond, take thou thy pound of flesh; except in cutting it, if thou dost she d one eject 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 contingency 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 privy(p) 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 packet 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. base 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 portion CitedShakespeare, William. The Merchant of Venice. New Yo rk: Penguin Putnam, Inc., 1998. Works ConsultedUnknow! n. ?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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