Analysis of Shylock in William Shakespeare’s The Merchant
of Venice
中文摘要
《威尼斯商人》是莎士比亚著名喜剧之一，而剧中的夏洛克更是剧中一个重要人物，他被人们一次次的分析。以前，人们认为夏洛克贪婪、自私、残酷、狡猾。但是随着时间的发展，人们开始重新认识夏洛克，发现夏洛克还有一些以前没被人们发现的特征：聪明、坦诚、勇敢，这些特征慢慢地被人们发现。
关键词 夏洛克, 贪婪, 法律
Abstract
The Merchant of Venice is one of Shakespeare’s most famous comedy in the world. While Shylock is an important role in it and he has been analyzed many times. Before, many people think Shylock was a greedy, selfish and cruel man. But as times goes by, people begin to re-analyze Shylock. They also found Shylock has other characters which was not discovered before and gradually accepted now, such as: clever, frank, courageous.
Keywords Shylock, greed, tragedy
1 Introduction
Shylock is a controversial person in people’s mind, also, he plays a important role in The Merchant of Venice . When we finish read this novel, he must impress us deeply. Then this paper will analyze Shylock’s character detailedly.
2 An Analysis of Shylock’s Characters
As we know, Shakespeare is a master no matter past or now and Shylock’s image is fresh forever as other classical figures. People read it, consider it again and again. Following, it is my opinion about Shylock.
2.1 Hateful Shylock
Before, especially in 16th century, this drama was a comedy no matter from which side, because three pairs of lovers have perfect results. But Shylock as an evildoer has been punished. In the era of racial discrimination, Shylock’s final result, without doubt, it’s a good thing for clapping and cheering. While the words which describe Shylock are disdainful: greed, cunning, cruel and so on.
He hates Antonio obviously, and wants to revenge by chance, so he signs the contract which he will cut a pound of Antonio’s meat if he could not return money on time. This will kill Antonio possibly and solve the problem about which he always worried. But he artfully said “I say, to buy his favor, I extend this friendship: If he will take it, so; if not, adieu; for my love, I pray you wrong me not”. Certainly, people think the worst place was that he crows over Antonio’s ship were sunk, people persuaded him, but he said “Gaoler, look to him: tell me of mercy; This the fool that lent out money gratis”. When Bassanio wants to return him two, three times money, he refuses and insists on carrying out the contract.
2.2 Different Shylock – from another angle
In the whole drama, Shylock was the most frank man. He never mask his greed. I think it is only the respect to the contract, but also the expression of national spirit that the oppressed fight against the Christians. At the same time, he had encourage to face the failure and the misfortune, he could defy power, insist on settling the problem by law. Although he failed, he didn’t ask for something, for Portia’s intercede, he said
“Nay, take my life and all; Pardon not that”. Faced with the final result of loss freedom of belief, he said nothing and agreed to sign.
In addition, Shylock was the most pitiful man. He loves his daughter, but she leaves him, and takes away lots of money. His only souvenir—turquoise, this is the present sent by his sweet wife when they had not married, but his daughter uses it to trade a wild monkey. Shylock was originally very confident to win the lawsuit, but lost finally, and lost all the money and forced to change his religion.
Conclusion
The Merchant of Venice is one of the most famous comedy in the world, but when we think of Shylock, we have to say it is a tragedy. While we are pleasant for three couples of lover, we certainly remembered that an old, sympathetic man walk in the street. Everything has its own reason, if people must say he was selfish, cruel, first, they have to know its background and social condition in that time, and then, I’ll tell you Shylock is pity, clever, courageous, tough, frank, rich national spirit, and I have reasons to say that.
References
[1] Shakespeare, William. The Merchant of Venice[M]. 中国广播电视出版社,2001
[2] Shapiro, James. Shakespeare and the Jews[M] . New York: Columbia University, 1978
[3] 刘亚萍,2008,重新解读夏洛克,《新西部（文史纵横）》,第14期,109.