Why did Shakespeare portray Shylock so harshly?

Question

In English class we learned that in Hamlet, Shakespeare allowed us to see the King's weak and remoseful thoughts because having a degree of sympathy for him made the story/themes more complicated than just good and bad, black and white. But then I went and read The Merchant of Venice, and there's nothing at all to give you sympathy for Shylock's actions. Why the difference?

Answer 1

Well, first of all Hamlet's a tragedy whereas The Merchant of Venice is a dramatic comedy.
Second, Shylock's Jewish - and anti-semitism was even worse and more widespread then than now

But actually there IS something to elicit sympathy for Shylock - this speech:

"You call me a misbeliever, cut-throat dog,
And spit upon my Jewish gabardine ...
Well then, it now appears you need help ...
What shouId I say to you? Should I not say: ...
"Fair sir, you spat on me on Wednesday last;
You spurned me such and such day, another time
You call'd me dog, and for these courtesies
I'll lend you thus much moneys?"

and this

"As with many of Shakespeare's plays, the titular protagonist of The Merchant of Venice (Antonio) plays a relatively minor role in the action. Bassanio and Portia are more central characters, but even they are upstaged by the brilliant and perplexing character of Shylock.

How is the audience or reader meant to react to Shylock? He ought to strike us as thoroughly loathsome - he is a usurer, an abusive parent, violent, legalistic, bitter, unsociable and greedy. In spite of all these faults, though, one cannot help feeling some sympathy for him. After all, he is forced to live among neighbors who neither understand nor respect his religious beliefs; "Christians" who treat him with cruelty. Forced into his money-lending by legal restrictions on Jewish professions, he remains highly intelligent and capable of great eloquence, as in this passionate complaint against Antonio's abuses:

He hath ... laughed at my losses, mocked at my gains, scorned my nation, thwarted my bargains, cooled my friends, heated mine enemies; and what's his reason? I am a Jew.

Hath not a few eyes? hath not a Jew hands, organs, dimensions, sense, affections, passions? [Is not a Jew] fed with the same food, hurt with the same weapons, subject to the same diseases, healed by the same means, warmed and cooled by the same winter and summer, as a Christians? If you prick us, do we not bleed? if you tickle us, do we not laugh? If you poison us, do we not die?

Marvelous lines, and in some respects a more compassionate speech than uttered by any of the Christian characters. So, Shylock is an ambiguous villain.

But the play is not Shylock's story; it is a comedy, and the triumph of mercy over unyielding justice is the theme that finally brings The Merchant of Venice to its happy resolution. "

Answer 2

He was an old man who had a hard life and as a Jew, had to fight for everything along the way. He also truly believed in his Bible - an eye for an eye. He was mistreated and abused and that made him a cold, harsh person. It is understandable. I would probably feel the same way if people had always been so cruel to me. Pax - C

Answer 3

Consider "Othello," about a black man. Shakespeare portrays Iago, a white man, fairly harshly.

Answer 4

i admire your famous individual Trek Holodeck reference, ha ha. i actually am a woman who might opt to be Hamlet, he's my widespread character out of literature because of the fact his thoughts sense so real. And, it would be astonishing to furnish the "To be or to no longer be" soliloquy. i might additionally opt to be Henry from Henry V, i admire how he starts off as considered one of those revolt yet finally ends up as a hero. additionally, being Romeo or Juliet may well be relaxing (properly, you comprehend, up till the tragic death area), because of the fact they adventure such intense love for one extra. Being an extremely evil individual like Iago or Aaron (from Titus Andronicus) is additionally thrilling. or to be in a comedy like the Taming of the Shrew or A Midsummer evening's Dream may well be relaxing! it is so troublesome to choose for, the characters of Shakespeare may well be so dynamic.

Answer 5

He was a product of his times.....People have been prejudiced against the Jews for eons.