Discuss How Shylock Is Marginalised by Referring to the Dialogue and Actions of Two Characters in the Drama, the Merchant of Venice

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------------------------------------------------- Discuss how Shylock is marginalised by referring to the dialogue and actions of two characters in the drama. In The Merchant of Venice Shylock is isolated in the social and trade worlds of Venice because he is a foreigner and a Jew and through the means of various actions and word choices of different characters such as Antonio and Portia. Therefore this essay will explain how the actions and word choice of Antonio and Portia towards Shylock is utilised to emphasise Shylock’s alienation in society. Firstly the author will explain Antonio’s word choice and actions against Shylock, respectively. Secondly the author will explain Portia’s word choice against Shylock. Finally the author will conclude this essay with a short synopsis of the essay and how it links to the thesis statement. “ANTONIO: Mark you this, Bassanio, The devil can cite Scripture for his purpose. An evil soul producing holy witness Is like a villain with a smiling cheek, A goodly apple rotten at the heart. O what a goodly outside falsehood hath!” (I, iii, 89-94) These are the words Antonio uses to describe Shylock as the devil and a villain, just one of many examples of Antonio’s accusations against Shylock to estrange him from the civilization. Antonio also has called Shylock a stray dog in the past – Act 1, scene iii, lines 98-121. According to Act IV, scene I, lines 70-83, Antonio stresses how fixed and persistent Shylock is and that it’s useless to try and reason with him, and thus demonstrates what judgements Antonio makes against Shylock which also refers to a way Antonio marginalises Shylock. It’s not just Antonio’s choice of words but also his way of speaking towards Shylock that indicates his disrepute for Shylock, for example Antonio uses a sarcastic

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