Examine The Extent To Which Shakespeare Presents Shylock As Either A Villain Or Victim Of The Society Which He Lives

955 words - 4 pages

Examine the extent to which Shakespeare presents shylock as either a villain or victim of the society which he lives

In the Merchant of Venice…Bassanio, a Venetian nobleman with financial difficulties, wishes to complete the hand of Portia, a wealthy heiress of Belmont in order to restore his fortune. He asks his friend Antonio, a successful Merchant of Venice, to loan him the money necessary to undertake such an attempt. Antonio agrees, but as all his assets are tied up at sea, he will have to use his credit in order to obtain the money for his friend. They go to shylock a Jewish money lender and enemy of Antonio’s. Shylock agrees to lend them 3000 ducats, but only if the loan is paid ...view middle of the document...

To some degree, shylock is shown to be a villain, for example when he agrees to lend three thousand ducats to Antonio for three months. ‘‘Three thousand ducats for three months, and Antonio bound’’. However Shylock adds an unusual clause; he adds that if Antonio does not pay back the three thousand ducats in three months he will cut a pound of his flesh. ‘A pound of the man’s flesh, taken a man is not estimable, nor profitable.’ this shows us that shylock is a villain because he is threatening Antonio to pay back the money on time. He is making Antonio suffer by reminding him that will accrue if he does not stick to the bond. Shylock is getting his revenge on Antonio from the past because; Antonio has constantly bullied and harassed shylock, by adding this bond he will make Antonio pay.

Nevertheless, it is my view that Shakespeare presents Shylock the most part thought the play as a villain. For example when he is referring to Antonio, hating Christians. ‘‘I hate him for he is a Christian’’. This tells us that shylock is discriminating against Christians. Traditionally three has been hatred and enmity between the Jews and the Christians because; the Christians accused the Jews of killing, Jesus while the Jews never accepted Jesus as their messiah.

Another example where Shylock appears a villain is when he tells his daughter to ‘‘lock my house…lock my doors…do as I bid you’’ this quote shows us that shylock is a villain because the relationship shylock has with his daughter is very un-loving and there is no affection shown towards her. ‘‘My girl’’ he calls her as if she were a servant. This shows Shylock dose not care about his daughter and is un-willing to show any love.

Shakespeare also presents shylock as...

Discuss the Extent to Which Macbeth and Shylock Are Victims and Villains

2123 words - 9 pages differentiation between the two in terms of being either a villain or a victim. Early in Macbeth it becomes apparent that the witches have corrupted Macbeth, thus falling victim to the supernatural. This causes him to conjure questions, "Why do I yield to that suggestion?", which catalyses a rising action. The word 'suggestion' connotes the idea is being fed to him via a supernatural force, and that it is uncontrollable as he 'yields' to it

Assess the Extent to Which Theories of Modernity Are Relevant to Understanding Contemporary Society

1410 words - 6 pages Assess the extent to which theories of modernity are relevant to understanding contemporary society. (33 marks) Sociological theories have been used for many years to help us understand contemporary society. Structural consensus theories such as Functionalism, Marxism and Feminism all explain how individuals act as the ‘puppets’ of society due to a range of different causes. However, some would argue that these theories are no longer relevant

Recent Developments in the Professionalisation of Teaching Have Emphasised the Importance of Values. in the Light of Your Own Experiences Examine the Extent to Which Personal Values Support or...

4137 words - 17 pages Philosophy Assignment Recent developments in the professionalisation of teaching have emphasised the importance of values. In the light of your own experiences examine the extent to which personal values support or conflict with professional objectives. It could be said that education is the most important of all human accomplishments. It enables humans to achieve their fullest personal, spiritual, mental, social and physical potentials

Examine The Ways In Which Government Policies And Laws Affect The Nature And Extent Of Family Diversity. (24 Marks)

1010 words - 5 pages Examine the ways in which government policies and laws affect the nature and extent of family diversity. (24 marks) Some sociologists have suggested that social policy has caused families to become more diverse while others disagree. Social policies are the laws and practices put in place by the government that effect social issues, in this case the family. For example, in the 1930’s the Nazi government in Germany wanted to encourage Aryan

Examine the Ways in Which Feminist Sociologists Have Contributed to Our Understanding of Family

679 words - 3 pages Examine the ways in which feminist sociologists have contributed to our understanding of family Many of the contributions to this debate have come from radical feminists who have tended to focus on the following aspects of relationships: How domestic roles are divided between men and women, the nuclear family as an ideological construct and domestic violence. Femenism is a sociologicalpersctive and political movement that focuses on womens

Title “Evaluate the Extent to Which Freud’s Theory of Psychosexual Development Can Help Us to Understand a Client’s Presenting Issue?”

2646 words - 11 pages psychology but also a key influence on western society in the twentieth century. In his early days Freud trained in Paris with eminent psychiatrist, Jean-Martin Charcot (1825-1893) who taught him the technique of Hypnosis. Freud began to use this technique on his patients, who he described as suffering from “Hysteria” but did not find it effective so he began to use another treatment technique called “free association”, he would encourage patients

Evaluate the Extent to Which Freud’s Theory of Psychosexual Development Can Help Us to Understand a Client’s Presenting Issue?

2999 words - 12 pages ego gives in to the id's demands, the superego may make the person feel bad through guilt. The ideal self (or ego-ideal) is an imaginary picture of how you ought to be, and represents career aspirations, how to treat other people, and how to behave as a member of society. Behaviour which falls short of the ideal self may be punished by the superego again through guilt. The super-ego can also reward us through the ideal self when we behave

Evaluate the Extent to Which Freud’s Theory of Psychosexual Development Can Help Us to Understand a Client’s Presenting Issue?

2708 words - 11 pages generalised way meaning all pleasurable acts and thoughts) and the more energy that is exhausted at a particular phase the more significant characteristics of that phase tend to remain with the individual as he/she matures psychologically. Freud’s own analogy of this was of military troops on the march, as the troops advance they are met by opposition or conflict, If they are highly successful in winning the battle (resolving the conflict) then most

College Students Should Be Encouraged to Pursue Subjects That Interest Them Rather Than the Courses That Seem Most Likely to Lead to Jobs. Write a Response in Which You Discuss the Extent to Which You...

578 words - 3 pages , very hard to achieve. But it is not hard for them become a gallery manager , a commercial designer or some other domain which relates to the art , where they can enjoy the glamor of the art as making money. Furthermore , if everybody is encouraged to select the major most likely to lead jobs, nobody would like to take the basic science research which can propel the human future , but probably not easy to find a position with a good income

Using Examples, Discuss the Ways in Which Any of the Following Can Be Analysed Either in Ideological Terms of the Construction of Gender or Race

1724 words - 7 pages Using examples, discuss the ways in which any of the following can be analysed either in ideological terms of the construction of gender or race? A) Children’s television B) The crime series C) Lifestyle D) The situation comedy E) Other The crime series genre has been noted as one of the most popular and most masculine genres on television ‘as it tends to focus on the public sphere, professional roles and the male world of work

“Evaluate the Extent to Which Freuds Theory of Psychosexual Development Can Help Us Understand a Clients Presenting Issue”

3515 words - 15 pages to the next stage of development or an issue is not resolved at the appropriate stage, fixation can occur. A fixation is described as a continuous focus on an earlier psychosexual stage, and a portion of ‘libido’ remains invested in that stage. Freud stated that until this fixation is resolved, the individual would remain "stuck" in this stage, which can lead to various ‘defence mechanisms’ and adult neurotic behaviour. ‘But some individual

Shylock: A Villain Or A Victim?

2617 words - 11 pages Shylock: a ‘villain’ or a ‘victim’? How does Shakespeare’s presentation of Shylock in The Merchant Of Venice incline you to one view or another? William Shakespeare’s ‘Merchant Of Venice’ explores how a society so dependent upon money and power can be divided so strongly by religion and women. Shakespeare’s contemporary audience may well have seen Shylock as the ‘fierce villain’ or the ‘bloody minded monster’ (1). Today, the presentation of

Is Shylock A Victim Or A Villain?

565 words - 3 pages : Scene 1. It hard to decide whether Shylock is a victim or villain when he is first introduced as we learn about what he has had to put up with, being called a misbeliever, cut throat dog and others spitting on his beard for the reason that he is a Jew. We feel pity and sympathy for the things he has had to endure which means we cannot cling to a unique view of Shylock as a villain. He wants people to respect him and like him yet he cannot show

Merchant Of Venice: Shylock, Victim Or Villain?

784 words - 4 pages “The Merchant of Venice” by William Shakespeare is a thought provoking play in which Antonio, a Christian, displays his anti-semetic views towards Shylock, a man of Jewish religion. It is easy to see Shylock being portrayed as both a victim and a villian, but I feel that Shylock is a victim. In the play, Antonio borrows a sum of money from the Jewish money lender, Shylock. Shylock hates Antonio for he is a Christian, and Antonio

Examine The Extent To Which Religion Can Still Be Said To Be Functional For Individuals And Society

1300 words - 6 pages Examine the extent to which religion can still be said to be functional for individuals and for society (18 marks) Functionalists define religion as promoting social solidarity and integration. This can be described using the biological analogy- each segment of society performs a function, this maintains an equilibrium, without which society would disintegrate. Functionalists see religion as contributing positively to society, as it performs

Examine The Extent To Which Shakespeare Presents Shylock As Either A Villain Or Victim Of The Society Which He Lives

Other Papers Like Examine the Extent to Which Shakespeare Presents Shylock as Either a Villain or Victim of the Society Which He Lives

Discuss the Extent to Which Macbeth and Shylock Are Victims and Villains

Assess the Extent to Which Theories of Modernity Are Relevant to Understanding Contemporary Society

Recent Developments in the Professionalisation of Teaching Have Emphasised the Importance of Values. in the Light of Your Own Experiences Examine the Extent to Which Personal Values Support or...

Examine The Ways In Which Government Policies And Laws Affect The Nature And Extent Of Family Diversity. (24 Marks)

Examine the Ways in Which Feminist Sociologists Have Contributed to Our Understanding of Family

Title “Evaluate the Extent to Which Freud’s Theory of Psychosexual Development Can Help Us to Understand a Client’s Presenting Issue?”

Evaluate the Extent to Which Freud’s Theory of Psychosexual Development Can Help Us to Understand a Client’s Presenting Issue?

Evaluate the Extent to Which Freud’s Theory of Psychosexual Development Can Help Us to Understand a Client’s Presenting Issue?

College Students Should Be Encouraged to Pursue Subjects That Interest Them Rather Than the Courses That Seem Most Likely to Lead to Jobs. Write a Response in Which You Discuss the Extent to Which You...

Using Examples, Discuss the Ways in Which Any of the Following Can Be Analysed Either in Ideological Terms of the Construction of Gender or Race

“Evaluate the Extent to Which Freuds Theory of Psychosexual Development Can Help Us Understand a Clients Presenting Issue”

Related Essays

Shylock: A Villain Or A Victim?

Is Shylock A Victim Or A Villain?

Merchant Of Venice: Shylock, Victim Or Villain?

Examine The Extent To Which Religion Can Still Be Said To Be Functional For Individuals And Society

Other Popular Essays