Sketch the character of Shylock
(Merchant of Venice)
Answers
Shylock
Shylock is a Jewish usurer in Venice who hates and despises Christians.
He earns his money by collecting interest on his loans and hates Antonio for failing to do so and ruin his business - especially since Antonio sometimes pays the debts of those who can not repay their loans in time, and therefore spoils Shylock's enrichment by taking control of their loans. confiscations. When he calls Antonio on the insults of the latter, it only provokes other insults at the merchant. He decides to ask for a pound of flesh as a link to Antonio, apparently as a joke. He is a miser and a puritan, who has no taste for music or partying, who starves his servant and lets him use his clothes instead of replacing them. Considering that Launcelot is a spendthrift, he is happy to let him go to serve Bassanio, because it will allow him to spend his money more quickly. Even his daughter considers him cruel. He flies in a wild passion when she runs away from home, carrying with her enormous quantities of her money, and pursues her for as much, if not more, for the money than for her own interest. Knowing that Antonio was aware of this kidnapping and learning that it was ruined, he is looking forward to the possibility of cutting the merchant's heart. He can justify his vengeance based on the bad behavior of Christians. His insistence on the letter of the law will entail his loss, leaving him not only incapable of killing Antonio, but losing all the extra money that was offered to him, the return of his principal, and soon the loss of all his fortune and his life. He accepts to become a Christian to save his life, but he is ill because of the sudden reversal of his fortune. He is not a particularly kind man.
Answer:
Shylock is a Jewish moneylender in Venice, who detests and despises Christians.
He makes his money by charging interest on his loans, and dislikes Antonio for not doing so and therefore ruining his business – particularly as Antonio sometimes pays the debts of those who cannot repay their loans in time, and therefore spoils Shylock’s enrichment by taking control of their forfeitures. When he calls Antonio out on the latter’s insults, he merely provokes more insults from the merchant.
He decides to ask for a pound of flesh as his bond from Antonio, apparently as a jest. He is a miser and something of a puritan, having no taste for music or other reveling, starving his servant and letting him wear out his clothes rather than replacing them. Considering Launcelot a spendthrift, he is happy to let him leave to go serve Bassanio, as this will make the latter go through his money more swiftly. Even his daughter considers him cruel.
He flies into a wild passion when she flees his house, taking with her massive amounts of his money, and has her chased after as much if not more for the money than for her own sake. Knowing that Antonio was aware of this abduction, and hearing that the latter is ruined, he is delighted at the possibility of cutting out the merchant’s heart.
He is able to justify revenge on the basis of the bad behavior of Christians. His insistence on the letter of the law will be his undoing, leaving him not only unable to kill Antonio, but losing all the extra money offered him, the return of his principal, and soon forfeiting all of his wealth and his life. He accepts to turn Christian to save his life, but is left ill by the sudden reversal in his fortune. He is not a particularly nice man.