- Shylock is “too large” for the play? Discuss. (His character has more depth than the protagonist of the play)
Answers
Shylock the Jew certainly has more depth, and by the end of the play, his predicament leaves many shaking their head and asking "he was the villain?" He represents the antagonization of a minority by a majority. He's painted as greedy, due to his ethnicity and religion. He's out down because of his job. He is called evil because of his actions, all of which were in reaction to an unfair upper class. He presented a legal agreement, yet everyone shut him down and took everything from him. his daughter even ran away and denounced her life with him. Yet, we are supposed to believe that he received mercy. This characterization is exactly why Shylock is the most developed character because he deals with things like systemic oppression, and revenge, as opposed to our lead, Bassanio, who's main conflict is not having enough money to pay a debt he agreed to pay.
Shylock should not be the villian because he is a victim, yet people called him that because he was presented as such.