Shylock’s character

Shylock’s character

Shylock is one the most interesting and important person of the drama written by William Shakespeare “The Merchant of Venice”. His character is defined by his nationality and religion. According to the life in Venice, there is a religious and national confrontation between Christians and Jewish people. He is a moneylender, who lent 3000 ducats to Antonio’s friend Bassanio on the security of Antonio’s piece of meat (one pound). Jewish man was trying to force borrower to implement the conditions of agreement between them in court. Shylock is Jew, his profession defines his life. He is moneylender simultaneously he cannot forget about religion, therefore he cant stop hating Christians.

The first interesting point shows , that Shylock has similar relations with religion and profession. He would never go against with his business principles and Jewish values. Furthermore, Shylock would never have a dinner with Christians. However, he would do a business with anybody, because It is necessary for him to get profit. For example, Bassanio offered him to eat together with Antonio, he confidently answered: “Yes—to smell pork, to eat of the habitation which your prophet the Nazarite conjured the devil into. I will buy with you, sell with you, talk with you, walk with you, and so following, but I will not eat with you, drink with you, nor pray with you. What news on the Rialto? Who is he comes here?” (Act 1 scene 3). It implies, that he is willing to do everything, except eating with Christians.

The second aspect explains that, Shylock is so sly and cunning person in business affairs as well as he is a devout Jew. Both points have a huge significance, therefore he would never rely on Christians. Shylock doesn’t like Antonio because he is Christian, moreover he hates him, for the reason that he doesn’t charge for lending money which means Shylock has to decrease the interest rate, therefore it could lead to loss of profit. In fact, Shylock is unusual Jew and he has a special style of doing business. He carefully thinks before dealing with anyone, so in the context of drama he mentioned Antonio about offending the Jewish people. Shakespeare’s character is heartless as a human and greedy as a moneylender. Consequently, he organized the foundation for signing an inhuman contract. Shylock is proficient negotiator and the reader could feel his anger toward to the Christians during the whole drama until the certain moment of the trial process.

The third moment demonstrates Shylock’s commercial skills, he knows the strategy of smart business. While doing business, he doesn’t stop being a Jew. He neatly integrate business and religion, he was trying to convince Antonio that managing a good profit for your money is not bad practice. ” The skillful shepherd peeled me certain wands. And in the doing of the deed of kind He stuck them up before