How does Shakespeare make us Sympathise with Shylock?
How does Shakespeare make us Sympathise with Shylock?
They abuse him physcialy and verbaly by calling him ‘names’ such as a cut- thoat dog. they physicaly abuse him by spitting on his Jewish gabardine and on his beared. They also take there anger on him resulting in them kicking him “as you spurn a stranger cur”.
Does Shylock deserve our sympathy?
Ultimately, Shylock loses all our sympathy because his method of revenge is that of cold and calculating murder. He is a villain, but we do have sympathy in his sufferings for much of the play.
Why should we feel sympathy for Shylock?
In the early stage performances of the play Shylock is portrayed as a monster and many audiences had no sympathy at all for Shylock but, nowadays, in general many people are greatly empathic towards Shylock. This could be for a number of reasons such as: changing attitude towards religion or a changing society.
Do you feel pity for Shylock?
Shylock sees this as robbing him of business. Antonio attacks Shylock’s honor and dignity and any man would retaliate in an attempt to regain some measure of respect. Therefore, we should feel pity for Shylock. His religion is his backbone and the strength by which he lives.
How did Shylock finally get an opportunity to satiate his feelings of revenge?
Answer: When Antonio and Bassanio come to Shylock to ask for ducats, then Shylock thinks that now he has got a chance to take his revenge from Antonio as he knew that Antonio’s ships are on board and so he will be not able to lend his money back. And so he lends him the money.
Is Shylock the most sympathetic character?
While early depictions focused on his obsession with money, nineteenth and twentieth century performances have portrayed the character as a victim of his circumstances and his times. But most post-Holocaust stagings of the play have portrayed Shylock as a human, if not entirely sympathetic, character.
Does Shylock have a wife?
Perhaps an overlooked “missing mother” in Shakespeare’s work is Leah, the deceased wife of Shylock and mother of Jessica in Merchant of Venice. The only mention of her in the text comes when Jessica sells a ring given from Leah to Shylock, an act that helps cement Jessica’s abandonment of her father’s Jewish culture.
Why Shylock is a victim?
Shylock is a victim of harassment by the Christians, a victim of betrayal by his own daughter, and a victim of prejudice because he had to give up his religion due to wanting Antonio’s flesh. In this play, The Merchant of Venice, Shylock is the victim, because he is mistreated.
Should Shylock be pitied or condemned?
Shylock is a man more to be pitied then condemned. In the historic play “The Merchant of Venice” written by William Shakespeare, Shylock is one of the main characters who I have great pity for. Therefore I agree with the above statement that Shylock should be more pitied than condemned.
Why Is Shylock a villain in The Merchant of Venice?
Shylock is a Jewish moneylender in Venice. He is unpopular with other characters who accuse him of practising usury. This means lending money with outrageously high rates of interest . The merchants, such as Antonio, curse and spit at Shylock because they believe this way of making money is immoral.
Why did Shylock hate Antonio answer?
Answer: Shylock specifically states that he hates Antonio, because Antonio is a Christian man. Antonio also lends out money at times, and he doesn’t charge any interest. Shylock hates Antonio because he is a business rival that is massively undercutting his business.
What does Shylock finally?
Short Answer: Bassanio offers Shylock six thousand ducats to save Antonio’s life. Unfortunately, Antonio’s merchant ships and investments are lost at sea, and he forfeits his bond, which gives Shylock the opportunity to finally exact his revenge by taking a pound of Antonio’s flesh.