character sketch of shylock in 750 words
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The main character in the novel is the private detective, Sherlock Holmes. He is presented through the viewpoint of his friend, Dr John Watson, the narrator of the story. Watson describes him as a sharp and highly intelligent individual.
At the start of the novel, Holmes is injecting cocaine, which he argues he needs to numb his mind when there is nothing more interesting to occupy and challenge him. He is proud of his mental capacities and often dismissive towards those who he perceives to be less intelligent. In the opening chapters he demonstrates his powers of observation and deduction with reference to his work on tobacco identification and by correctly explaining the history of Watson's watch.
Holmes takes great pleasure in solving mysteries and outwitting others. In this story he correctly determines how Jonathan Small and Tonga steal the Agra treasure from Sholto's house.
He also has a strong sense of justice and at the end of the novel encourages Small to tell the truth so that he is not wrongly accused of Sholto's murder.
hope it helps...............
Shylock is one of the main characters in William Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice, a Jewish merchant living in a predominantly Christian environment. As the merchant, he exemplifies many negative character traits that we abhor in others and in ourselves: greed, jealousy and vengeance. Shylock's life revolves around money. In fact, he has a reputation for charging too much interest on loans.
We can find clues to Shylock's tragic character through his monologues, which reveal his innermost thoughts. A monologue is a speech an actor or comedian gives to an audience. For example, Shylock shows his true colors in this monologue in Act I of The Merchant of Venice, as he describes his enemy Antonio, a rival merchant:
'How like a fawning publican he looks!
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.
If I can catch him once upon the hip,
I will feed fat the ancient grudge I bear him.
He hates our sacred nation, and he rails,
Even there where merchants most do congregate,
On me, my bargains and my well-won thrift,
Which he calls interest. Cursed be my tribe,
If I forgive him!'
In this monologue, Shylock reveals his resentment toward Antonio. First, he states that he hates Antonio for his religious beliefs, or simply because he is not Jewish. Shylock also hates Antonio because he is honest: Antonio doesn't lend money at interest. As a result, fewer people borrow from Shylock, who does charge interest. Shylock hopes to entrap Antonio when Bassanio, Antonio's best friend, asks Shylock for a loan that Antonio guarantees.
Shylock accuses Antonio of hating Jews, and there is some evidence that Antonio does discriminate. Antonio has made it clear that he dislikes the way Shylock does business. Shylock swears he will not forgive Antonio for his actions.