Comment on the contrasting character traits of Antonio and Shylock. What beliefs and priorities make Shylock the villain in The Merchant of Venice? Word limit: 400 Paste pictures of 16th-century Venice.
Answers
Answer:
This answer is just what I think and I believe.
Explanation:
Antonio: He is one of the protagonist in the play. He seems like a melancholic person but has a very strong belief in his faith, i.e. Christianity. He despises the Jewish community and their practices. His hate for Shylock and his belief is clearly seen in the entire play. However, he is a truly devoted to his friendship towards Bassanio. He loves his friend more than his ownself and is ready to die for him.
Shylock: He is the Villain of the play. (However I sympathize him more than the other characters in the play). He is a Jewish person and is hated by the other characters due to his stern nature. Antonio has shamed him and cursed him in front of his community just because of his religious beliefs. Even his own daughter whom he loved and trusted betrayed him. At last he is filled with hate and remorse towards everyone.
Background: I believe that Shylock was seen/ made the villian of the play because during the era when this play was written. Queen Elizabeth ruled the kingdom and Jewish people were seen as meak people. Shakespeare, although he made Shylock the villian, he actually wanted to show everyone else that how the Jewish people were treated and despised even though they had done no harm to them but was just loyal to their faith.
Sorry I have no photos.