An exploration of the dramatic presentation of Shylock in ‘The Merchant of Venice’

An exploration of the dramatic presentation of Shylock in ‘The Merchant of Venice’

Shylock is one of the most unforgettable characters in ‘The Merchant of Venice’ and integral to its plot line. ‘The Merchant of Venice’ is a comic-tragedy; it is hinted in the very first scene that both comic and tragic drama is to follow through the mention of a ‘two-headed Janus’ (the Roman god of opening faced both ways at once). Shakespeare meant this as a symbol of the happy and sad masks of comedy and tragedy. Shylock is an ambiguous character due to the much debated controversy over whether Shakespeare meant for his portrayal to be that of a ‘Villain’ or ‘Victim’ so as to which part of the plays’ drama he is more integral to (comedy or tragedy). The main reason for this debate is over the paradox that he is both the vengeful, merciless villain the Christians portray him to be and the victim of abuse at the hands of Christians that makes his need for revenge comprehensible:

‘The Villainy you teach me I will execute’
(3.1.56)

Shylock’s character is immediately associated with the theme of money and his job as a usurer from his first words:

‘Three thousand ducats, well’
    (1.3.1)

Shylock’s words reveal the situation and introduce us to his greed. This is also apparent in his aside to the audience. Shylock’s aside comes straight after the entrance of Antonio, showing his repulse at the sight of him. Not only is his hate for Antonio fuelled by religious grounds due to the fact ‘he is a Christian’ but more so the fact that ‘He lends out money gratis’ lowering his profit margins. This suggests that Shylock is more a usurer that a Jew, it is Shakespeare’s intention that the Villain of the play be a usurer it was merely an appropriate part for a Jew rather that intentionally setting out to make a Jew the Villain.  
Shakespeare establishes differences between attitudes and values of Shylock and the Christian characters, with the misunderstanding between Bassanio and Shylock when Antonio is...