Analysis of Shylock in 'The Merchant of Venice'

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BOB Merchant of Venice Character trait essay on Shylock In the book " The merchant of Venice " Shylock the main character expresses different character traits like vengefulness. Shylock is vengeful to all people but Jews. Shylock is also greedy, all Shylock wants is Antonio's flesh. Lastly Shylock is hateful towards all non-Jews. Shylock shows a lot of vengefulness towards non-Jewish people like Antonio. For example in the book when Antonio can't come up with the money, Shylock gets mad and says he'll take the pound of flesh instead. " A pound of man's flesh taken from a man, Is not so estimable, profitable neither, As flesh of muttons, beefs, or goats." 1.3.163-65 By this Shylock means that a pound of man's flesh isn't as valuable as the flesh from an animal but it would satisfy his revenge. Throughout the book Shylock demonstrates how greed seems to be the way he conducts business. His greed is also not only for money profit but also for his own self satisfaction of seeking revenge. " I take this offer then: pay the bond thrice, And let the Christian go." 4.1.310-11 Since Shylock is denied the pound of flesh as form of payment according to the laws, he decides that three times the payment of the bond would be acceptable. Once again greed overcomes him. Shylock hatred towards any Christian is duly noticed from beginning to end. Even when Shylock is invited as a guest to a Christian festivity he is not ashamed to tell his own daughter how much he hates having to attend. He warns her to securely lock the house so that no sound can enter and take possession of his Jewish home. " Clamber not you up to the casements then, Nor thrust your head into the public street, To gaze on Christian fools with vanished faces. But stop my house's ears- I mean my casements, Let not the sound of shallow foppery entre my sober house." 2.5.30-35 The characteristic

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