探究威尼斯商人中夏洛克的人物性格特征-英語(yǔ)專業(yè)畢業(yè)設(shè)計(jì)

xxxx學(xué)院畢業(yè)論文論文題目：探究威尼斯商人中夏洛克的人物性格特征學(xué)生：******指導(dǎo)教師：******講師專業(yè)：英語(yǔ)班級(jí)：20xx級(jí)英語(yǔ)本科一班201*年5月HeilongjiangCambridgeGraduationThesisTitleAnalysisofSherlock'sPersonalityinMerchantofVeniceStudentSupervisorSpecialtyEnglishClassJune4,201*

xxx學(xué)院畢業(yè)論文任務(wù)書(shū)題目名稱:AnalysisofSherlock'sPersonalityinMerchantofVenice探究威尼斯商人中夏洛克的人物性格特征立題意義:1.針對(duì)莎士比亞威尼斯商人中文章主旨的分析2.深入剖析莎士比亞文學(xué)作品，從性格角度剖析莎士比亞作品的人物形象特征3.通過(guò)劇中男主人公所表現(xiàn)的資本主義和個(gè)人主義的象征技術(shù)條件與要求:調(diào)查語(yǔ)篇。利用多種途徑查閱威尼斯商人的相關(guān)資料，如互聯(lián)網(wǎng)、圖書(shū)館等。分析文獻(xiàn)。根據(jù)導(dǎo)師的指導(dǎo)，從查閱到的大量資料中篩選精品來(lái)重點(diǎn)分析。在初稿的擬定以及多次修改當(dāng)中深化對(duì)莎士比亞作品的理解。通過(guò)導(dǎo)師的指導(dǎo)和一系列的分析得出人文主義和女權(quán)主義的影響，進(jìn)而提出一些解決對(duì)策，并通過(guò)答辯來(lái)檢驗(yàn)工作的成果。工作計(jì)劃：第一步：查找資料，確定論文選題為淺談威尼斯商人中鮑西亞的性格特征。第二步：完成關(guān)于論文資料的收集，取得威尼斯商人的相關(guān)資料。第三步：根據(jù)掌握的資料，進(jìn)行系統(tǒng)地分析、整理，第四步：閱讀與論文相關(guān)的書(shū)刊，深入針對(duì)威尼斯商人中鮑西亞形象加以分析。第五步：組織、整理相關(guān)資料，準(zhǔn)備論文撰寫(xiě)。第六步：完成論文寫(xiě)作提綱。第七步：根據(jù)論文提綱，開(kāi)始論文寫(xiě)作，形成初稿。第八步：根據(jù)導(dǎo)師提出的論文修改意見(jiàn)，不斷對(duì)論文進(jìn)行修改、完善，并完成論文寫(xiě)作。第九步：論文定稿、打印、裝訂、準(zhǔn)備答辯。第十步：畢業(yè)論文答辯。任務(wù)內(nèi)容（包括內(nèi)容、計(jì)劃、時(shí)間安排、完成工作量與水平具體要求）內(nèi)容：通過(guò)在互聯(lián)網(wǎng)上搜集各種與本文相關(guān)的信息和去圖書(shū)館查找關(guān)于小說(shuō)《威尼斯商人》的各種資料，獨(dú)立仔細(xì)的分析這些資料，得出自己的觀點(diǎn)，進(jìn)一步提高對(duì)該小說(shuō)的理解，最終完成初稿的擬定和終稿的寫(xiě)作。計(jì)劃：第一步：使用多種方式尋找所需資料，如利用互聯(lián)網(wǎng)信息、圖書(shū)館等，最終確定論文選題。第二步：完成關(guān)于論文的研究，查找相關(guān)各種資料，通過(guò)導(dǎo)師的指導(dǎo)，從已得到的多種資料中進(jìn)行篩選重點(diǎn)來(lái)剖析。第三步：根據(jù)掌握的研究資料，進(jìn)行仔細(xì)地分析、整理，找到問(wèn)題切入點(diǎn)。第四步：閱讀與論文相關(guān)的書(shū)籍與期刊，從客觀的角度加以分析。第五步：組織、整理所查找資料，準(zhǔn)備開(kāi)始論文撰寫(xiě)。第六步：完成論文大綱。第七步：按照論文大綱進(jìn)行寫(xiě)作，形成初稿。第八步：根據(jù)導(dǎo)師所提出的各種修改意見(jiàn)，完成論文寫(xiě)作。第九步：論文定稿、打印、裝訂、準(zhǔn)備答辯。第十步：進(jìn)行畢業(yè)論文答辯。時(shí)間安排：2011年11月2011年12月5日2011年12月26日—03月11日2012年03月12日—02012年04月9日—04月15日第二次修改論文，導(dǎo)師審定。2012年04月16日—04月29日論文定稿。2012年05月7日—05月20日論文評(píng)閱小組評(píng)審論文（設(shè)計(jì)）2012年05月26日畢業(yè)論文答辯。完成工作量：2011年11月末至12月初完成論文選題和開(kāi)題報(bào)告，2012年4月初完成初稿的擬定，4月至5月進(jìn)行多次修改，論文定稿，5月26日答辯。水平要求：可以很好的完成對(duì)論文資料的查閱，并能獨(dú)立進(jìn)行分析，完成論文寫(xiě)作工作。專業(yè)負(fù)責(zé)人意見(jiàn)簽名：年月日黑龍江大學(xué)劍橋?qū)W院畢業(yè)論文PAGE2xxx學(xué)院畢業(yè)論文審閱評(píng)語(yǔ)一、指導(dǎo)教師評(píng)語(yǔ)是否同意答辯：同意答辯□不同意答辯□指導(dǎo)教師（簽名）職稱年月日二、評(píng)閱人評(píng)語(yǔ)是否同意答辯：同意答辯□不同意答辯□評(píng)閱教師（簽名）職稱年月日

xxx學(xué)院畢業(yè)論文答辯評(píng)語(yǔ)及成績(jī)?nèi)⒋疝q委員會(huì)評(píng)語(yǔ)四、畢業(yè)論文成績(jī)簽字（蓋章）：五、答辯委員會(huì)主任單位：答辯委員會(huì)主任職稱：答辯委員會(huì)主任簽字：年月日哈爾濱劍橋?qū)W院畢業(yè)論文PAGEii摘要威尼斯商人是莎士比亞最著名的喜劇之一。夏洛克成為英國(guó)文學(xué)史上不朽的人物之一。成功的性格塑造和許多人物性格的分析都引起了許多讀者和學(xué)者的興趣和爭(zhēng)議。在這其中，夏洛克的性格是最具爭(zhēng)議的一個(gè)。許多人鄙視夏洛克成為一個(gè)自私，不虔誠(chéng)的，頑固的并且嗜血的人。然而，審視莎士比亞時(shí)期猶太人的觀點(diǎn)，另一個(gè)人物浮出水面。本論文將簡(jiǎn)單介紹《威尼斯商人》以及它的宗教背，并且從三個(gè)不通方面分析了夏洛克的性格，那就是：夏洛克曾經(jīng)因?yàn)榉椽q太主義而被奴役，他作為一個(gè)貪財(cái)?shù)母呃J者和基督教的受害者有著獨(dú)立的精神的個(gè)體。關(guān)鍵詞：威尼斯商人；夏洛克,高利貸者；反猶太主義

AbstractTheMerchantofVeniceisoneofthegreatestcomedieswrittenbyWilliamShakespeare.ShylockhasbecomeoneoftheimmortalcharactersinEnglishliterature.Thesuccessfulcharacterizationandanalysisofmanycharactershasarousedmuchinterestandcontroversyformanyreadersandscholars.Amongthem,thecharacterofShylockisamostcontroversialone.ManypeopledespiseShylocktobeamanwhoisselfish,impious,stubborn,andbloodthirsty.However,afterexaminetheviewofJewsduringShakespeare’stime;anotherpersonalitycomestothesurface.ThispaperstalksbrieflyaboutTheMerchantofVeniceanditsreligiousbackground,thenanalysesShylock’scomplexpersonalitiesfromthreedifferentperspectivesasaJewwhowasenslavedtoanti-Semitism,asausurerwhoaregreedyformoneyandasavictimofChristianandindividualhavingindependentspirit.Keywords：TheMerchantofVenice;Shylock;usurer;anti-SemitismPAGEiiiContents摘要 iAbstract ii1Briefintroduction 11.1IntroductiontoShakespeare 11.2BriefintroductiontoTheMerchantofVenice 12ThetragiccharacterofShylock 32.1Theimageofshylock 32.2Shylock’srealisticlifeandhisspiritualworld 33Shylock’scomplexpersonality 73.1ShylockisaJew 73.1.1ShylockistheepitomeoftheJew 73.1.2Twoviewstowardsanti-Semitism. 73.2Shylockasausurerandavillain 93.2.1UsuryasJew’sonlyoccupation 93.2.2Shylock’sgreedydesireformoney 93.3ShylockasavictimandindependentIndidual 13Conclusion 15References 16Acknowledgement 17xxx學(xué)院畢業(yè)論文PAGE181Briefintroduction1.1IntroductiontoShakespeareWilliamShakespeare(1564—1616)isoneofthemostremarkableplaywrightsandpoetstheworldhaseverknow.Withhis38plays,154sonnetsand2longpoems,hehasestablishedhisgiantpositioninworldliterature.Hehasalsobeengiventhehighestpraisesbyvariousscholarsandcriticstheworldover.Inthepastfourhundredyears,booksandessaysonShakespeareandhisworkshavekeptcomingoutinlargequantities.BenJonsononcewroteapersononceapoemeulogizingShakespeareasbeing“notofage,butforalltime”.Shakespeare’sgreatnessasaplaywrightandthesuccessofhisplaysonthestagefromElizabethanEnglanduptothepresent—dayworldchieflydependuponhispenetratingexpositionofhumannature,hislivelypaintingsofhumanlifeandhistruthfulreflectionsofhumanreality.Hisworksprovideuswithavividandauthenticpanoramaofhisage.Allthis,forloftyidealofhumanismandhispainstakingeffortsinmasteringvarioustechniques.HeisnotonlyamasterofEnglishlanguagebutalsoageniusofcharacterportrayalandplotconstruction.1.2BriefintroductiontoTheMerchantofVeniceLongtimeago,amancalledAntoniolivedinVenice.Hewasamerchant;hehasmanytradedwithdistantcountries.Andhewasagoodmanaswellasarichone.HisbestfriendBassano,whofellinlovewithabeautifulandrichladycalledPortia,wasnotawealthyman.Sohedidn’taskPortiatomarryhim.Atlast,heaskedAntoniotolendhimsomemoney,sothathecouldvisitPortiaatBelmont.IthappenedthattimeallAntonio’sshopswereatsea,andhewouldn’thavemoneytolendBassanountiltheshipsreturned.Sotheydecidedtogotoamoney—lender.Now,anoldJewnamedShylocklivedinVenice.TheJewsinthosedayswerethemoney—lendersofVenice.ShylockwasoneofthegreediestJewsinVenice.AndAntoniohatedhimforhiswickedways.ShylockalsohatedAntonioforthereasonthatAntonioofteninsultedJewsandShylockhimselfwasanxioustorevengetheresults.HewasdelightedwhenheheardtheAntoniohadpromisedtopaybacktheloan,sohemadeawickedplan.HeaskedAntoniotosignabondpromisingthathemightcutoffapoundoffleshfromAntonio’sbodyifthemoneywasnotpaid.Bassanodidn’t,likeit,butAntoniosaid,”Youneedhavenofear.Myshipswillcomebackamonthbeforetheday.”SoBassanounwillinglytookthemoney,andsailedawaytoBelmont.Infact,PortialovedBassanotoo.Sotheyarrangedtogetmarried.However,theirhappinesswassoondisturbedbyabadnews:Antonio’ssixships,fullofriches,hadallbeenwreckedatsea,whichalsomeantAntoniolostallhismoney.ShylockwasextremelyhappyafterheheardthenewsandhewenttocutoffapoundoffleshfromAntonio’sbody.Whenhebegansharpeningthelongknifehehadbroughtwithhim,alawyerentered.Portiawasthelawyer,butnooneknewrecognizedher.Finally,PortiawassocleverthatshesavedAntonio’slife.

2ThetragiccharacterofShylock2.1TheimageofshylockShylock—theJewishmoneylender,isoneofthemostinterestingandoneofthemostControversialofShakespearecharacter.Shylockisgiventhemostpassionate,mostmemorablespeechesandactionsintheplay,andhischaracterisetchedinboldstrokesacrossitsentiresurface,leavinganindeliblehumanbeingaswellasanoutrageousvillainandcomicbutt,andhasbecomeallthingstoallmen.SomereadersviewShylockasaproudandapassionatemanwhohaslongstoredupinhisheartthehumiliationsufferedatthehandsofthehostileChristianworldandarenowreadyforrevenge.Shylockisthevillainofthepiece;thereisnodoubtaboutthat.HehatesAntonioforhinderinghisbusinessandfortreatinghimwithterriblecontemptinpublic,andwemustnotdoubtthatfromtheverybeginningShylockhadhopedtogethisrevengeonAntoniobyarrangingtheflesh—bond.Jessica’selopementandtheftofhismoneyandjewelsincreaseShylock’sresentmentagainsttheChristianworld,sothat,althoughhemighthavehadsecondthoughtsaboutexecutinghisrevenge,theynolongertroublehimafterJessica’selopement.HavingfoundhimvictimizedbyAntonio,Shylockwantsaswellashegets.SymbolizingthesternjusticeofOldTestamentlaw,ShylockisapassionatemanthirstingforrevengeandtheridiculousfigureofstereotypedJewishobstinacy,hatred.Usuallycomic,heisattimesgrotesque,andattimeseventouching“HathnotaJeweyes?HathnotaJewlands…”(Shakespeare795).Heisavillainofperseveranceandrestlessenergy,whois,nevertheless,foiledbygoodChristiansintheend.2.2Shylock’srealisticlifeandhisspiritualworldWeallknowthattheJewsinBiblewereGod’schosenpeople,butintheendtheybetrayedtheGod.SotheJewsobeyedTheOldTestament,buttheChristiansobeyedTheNewTestament,becauseofwhichtheirbeliefsweremuchdifferentfromeachother.DuringtheentireMiddleAge,theJewishpeoplewerealternatelyprotectedandpersecutedbythetemporalpowersofwhateverlandtheyinhabited.IthadbeenestablishedbythechurchlongbeforethatChristianswerenottolendthemoneyatinterests,fortodosoworldbeaviolationofTheNewTestamentconceptofcharity.SomoreandmoreJewsbecametradesmanandfinanciers.Althoughtheyweregenerallyabusedbecauseoftheirreligiousdifferences,Jewswerealsofrequentlytoleratedandinvitedintoacountrytostabilizeitsshakyfinancialstructure.OftenthebingebecametheheirofeveryJewandtookoverhisestateupondeath.Consequently,moneylenderswereforcedtochargehighinterstates,whichincreasedastheKings’demandsgrew.ThustheJewsbecamethebufferfortheKings’extortionandthesymbolsofthehatredusurer.ReligiouspersecutionwasoftenaddedtotheeconomicpressuresontheJewsinEngland.TheChristiansoftentreatedtheJewswithterriblecontemptinpublicforreligiousreason,whichbroughtaboutmuchhatredofthelater.Now,let’swatchpartoftheplayagain.InAct1Scene3,whenAntonioasksShylockwhetherornothewilllendthemoneytohim,ShylocksaysthatAntoniohaslongilltreatedhiminpublic.“IntheRialto,youhaveratedmeaboutmymoneyandmynuisance…Youcalledmemisbeliever,cutthroatdog,andspituponmyJewishgabardine,andallforuseofthatwhichismineown”.”WhatshouldIsaytoyou?ShouldInotsayHathdogmoney?Isitpossibleacurcanlendthreethousandducats?”Shylocksaid.Wecannotdenythatapersonbeingsobadlytreateddoesdeserveoursympathy.Inpublic,Antoniohashumiliatedhimfornoreason,buthispersonalbelief.Shylockhassuppressedallhisgrievancesallthetimeuntilthisopportunityoflifehascome.Hepoursoutalltheinjusticehehasencounteredandisdeterminedtorevengewithmostviciousplot.LancelotGobo,theservantofShylock,isplanningtorunawayfromShylocktoBassano,inAct2Scene3,becausehethinksthatShylockisadevil,whichmakesShylocksadlater.BeforeGoboleaves,Jessica,theonlydaughterofShylocksaystohim”O(jiān)urhousesishellandthouamerrydevil”andagreeswithhisplantoescape.LaterLancelotleavesandJessicaleftalonewanderswhat“heinoussin”itis.Sheisashamedtobehisfather’sdaughterandisreadytoelopewithLorenzotobefarawayfromShylockwithalotofherfather’sjewels.ThinkingthatsheistheonlydaughterofShylockbyblood,wecanseehowheartbrokenheshouldbe!Thereisnothingmoresympatheticthanlosingtheloveofhisonlyrelativeandthefaithofhisservantofmanyyears.TherepudiationtoherfatherorhismasterisreallybecauseJessicaorGobodon’tunderstandthepooroldman.EveryoneinVenicehatesShylocknamedhimvillaininhisessencebecauseheisaJewandheisgreedymoneylender.ButJessicaandLancelotdon’trealizethispointandtheythinkheisavillaininhisessence.Sowhenthejuncturecomes,theyallgoaway.ThereforewecaneasilyrealizethatShylockisavictimofhistoricalperiodwhenwestandbyhim.InAct4Scene1,afterShylock’scruelplothasfailed,theDukeheartilyapprovesAntonio’sproposalthathemustconverttoChristianityandhemustmakeLorenzohislegalheir.ShylockseemstobetreatedwithChristianmercy,whichshowstheircharity,buttoagreedymoneylender,hewastakenawaynotonlyhalfofhismoneybutalsohisownnationalreligion.Ithasthesameresultastakingawayhislifeanddeprivinghimofhisbelief.Whatacruelpunishmentitis!Perhapsnotingismorecruellythanforcingonetobefarawayfromhisownnationalreligiontohisenemies.NowShylockhasnothing,nohisdaughter,nohisservant,nohismoney,nohisreligionashesaid“…Andnosatisfaction,norevenge!Nornoillluckstirringbutwhatlightsmyshoulder,nosignsbutmybreathing,notearsbutmyshedding.”Itismoresympathetictobeendedinthatway.Shylockisnotonlydeprivedofhisfortunebutalsohisrighttohavehisownbelief.Whataheavyblowitistoamanofthatage!Materialpossessionsaresomethingthatamancanhaveorhavenot,butspiritualbeliefisalmostinseparable,especiallyinthosedays.InAct3Scene1,inalongandpassionatespeech,Shylockdeclaresthatthewillusetheflesh”tobaitfishwithal”ifnothingelse.Itwillfeedhisrevenge,forAntoniohasdisgracedhim,hinderedhisbusiness,laughedhislosses,mockedathisgains,scornedhisnation,thwartedhisbargains,cooledhisfriend,andheatedhisenemies.“Andwhat’shisreason?IamaJew.HathnotaJeweyes?HathnotJewhandsorgans,dimensions,senses,affections,passions?Fedwiththesamefood,hurtwiththesamemeans,warnedandcooledbythesamewinterandsummerasaChristianis?Ifyouprickus,dowenotbleed?Ifyoutickleus,dowenotlaugh?Andifyouwrongme,shallwenotrevenge?Ifwearelikeyouintherest,wewillresembleyouinthat.”Thisisoneofthemostinterestingspeechesintheplayandoneofthemostimportantproblematical.SomeofthemodernhistoricalcriticssupporttheviewthattheJewisessentiallynodifferentfromanyoneelse.ManyElizabethansbelievedasLancelotandsalvationdo,thattheJewwasthedevilimamate.EverythingthatShylocksaysinhisfamousexplanationofhismotiveselicitedthescornoftheRenaissanceChristian,whobelievedthathatredandrevengewereinherentJewishtraits.Intheflesh,JewandChristianmaybeverymuchalike.Inthespirit,intheirwayandmanners,theyareentirelydifferent.ThisistheverypointthatShylockmisses.

3Shylock’scomplexpersonalityShylockwasacomplicatedpersonality,asaJew,amerchant,aman,afather.Then,hehadmultidimensionalcharacters:hatefulbutwoeful,man-eatingbuthelpless,richbutselfish.Sohewasparadoxical.Hewaskeentoberespectedbypeople,butwon’trespectothers.HewishedtochangeJew’ssocialstatus,butloosereligiouspower.Hedreamedofhavingahappyfamily,butlosthisfamily.Helookedforwardtobrightfuture,butlostthelight.Hewastwistedbystruggleformdifferentreligions.Hewaspersecutedbythebasisofraceandreligions。3.1ShylockisaJew3.1.1ShylockistheepitomeoftheJewShylockinTheMerchantofVenicewastheepitomesoftheJew,sowecanrecognizetheJewbyShylock,andwehaveknownwhatabouttheJew’slife,charactersanddestiny.FromTheMerchantofVenice,wecanseethatShakespeareknewtheplightoftheJewishpeopleandthereforecreatedaccuratebackgroundforShylock.ThroughexaminationoftheculturalperiodinwhichShakespearelived,thewaythattheChristianstreatShylockandthepresenceofafeelingofvictimization,IwillexplainhowShakespeare’sintentwasnotAntiSemitic.Thetime,inwhichtheexisteddidnotpermithimtohaveaJewishcharacterasahero,soShakespearechallengestheJewishserotypethroughblurringthelinebetweenvillainandvictimwithhiscreationofShylock.3.1.2Twoviewstowardsanti-Semitism.Therearetwooppositepositionsconcerningtherelationshipbetweenanti-SemiticandShakespeare’sintentionofdepictingShylock,namely,RomanticviewandHistoricalview.AccordingtotheresearchofJ.L.CardozoinTheConternporaryJewinElizabethanDrama,ShakespearedidnotknowanyJewspersonallyandhewasnotactivelyengagedinanti-Semiticcrusade.HewassimplyfollowingacenturiesoldstereotypeoftheJewishpeopleasinMarlow’sTheJewofMalta.TakentheJew’sisbeingpersecutedasabackground;Shylockisdefinitelyoneofthem.FromActISceneiii,Shylockappealinglyrevealstoushowhe,asaJew,hasbeenwronged.“Youcallmemisbeliever,cutthroatdog,andspituponmyJewishgabardine.”Afterhispitifulcomplainabouthissocialstatus,hepresentsushisseeminglyplausiblelogic;”HavenotaJeweyes?HavenotaJewhands,organs,dimensions,senses,affections,passions?IfaChristianwrongsaJew,whatshouldhissufferancebebyChristianexample?Why,revenge.ThevillainyouteachmeIwillexecute;anditshallgohardbutIwillbettertheinstruction.”Shylocksuffersalotfromunbearableracialdiscrimination.Inthissense,heseemstobepartlyjustified.However,accordingtopsychology,everyonetendstooverstateone’smiseriesandtriestofindsoundexcuseforone’sownbehavior.Fromthis,wecaninferthatShylock,inordertojustifyhisrevenge,movinglyrevealshismisfortunesandtosomeextent,exaggerateshisbeingilltreatedasaJewsothathemayseemtobeanoblememberofadowntroddenraceoutcryingthemiseriesoftheraceinsteadofhisown.However,thecaseisthatnotallhisillfateisderivedfromhisidentityasaJew.Histragiclifeis,infact,duetomanyfactors.Soinshort,totheJewishpeopleasawholeforwhichShylockservesasamirror,wedoshowconsiderablesympathyanddefloration.Itisaperseveringnation,includingShylock,andhisrevengeisjustified,however,onlypartlyjustified,foronlyafterthediscussionallthethreeidentities,canweexplicitlyinterpretShylock.Forinstance,inoneofShakespeare’smostfamousmonologues,ShylockarguesthatJewsarehumansandcallshisquestforvengeancetheproductoflessonstaughttohimbythecrueltyusVenetiancitizens.Wecanproveitfromthefollowingscene.Antonio’sfortuneisinvestedinhisships,whichareatsea,whichiswhyhecannotlendthemoneytoBassanohimself.ShylockseesbothprofitandtheopportunitytoholdpoweroverAntoniointhissituation.ShylocktakestheopportunityandagreestolendBassanomoneyinAntonio’sname.ThedealstipulatesthatifAntoniodoesnotpaythemoneybackontime,ShylockisentitledtoapoundoffleshfromAntonio.ThisagaindehumanizesShylockasitshows.3.2Shylockasausurerandavillain3.2.1UsuryasJew’sonlyoccupationUsury—thelendingofmoneyatexorbitantratesofinterest,waslegalizedinEnglandin1571.RestrictedasJewsfromowningrealpropertiesandkeepingserfswhichwereessentialtotheagrarianeconomyoftheMiddleAges,moreandmoreJewsbecameusurers,whichwastheonlyoccupationtheChristianworldhasleftopentothem.Meanwhile,theChurchhasestablishedthatChristianswerenotallowedtolendmoneyatinterest,whichwasaviolationoftheNewTestamentconceptofcharity.Soatthattime,usurersweremostlycontemptJews,andJewsweremostlycontemptusurers.InTheMerchantofVenice,Shakespeare’sidentityasausurerisneverindoubtbecauseinActSceneii,hisfirstlinedefineshimself,”threeducats,itisagoodroundsum.Threemonthsfromtwelvethenletmeseetherate.”ToShylock,hisbusinessisjust”useofthatwhichismineown.”And“thriftisblessingifmenstealitnot.”Sofarhisoccupation,thoughindecentandcorruptinChristians’eyes,isnotforustocriticize,forthatisallhecandointheworld.WhatIwanttocommentisonhisdisagreementwithAntonio.TheunderlyingreasonaccountingforShylock’shatredlieslargelyintheusuryaffairsratherthanreligiousaffairs.Hesays“l(fā)endsourmoneygratis,andhedisagreemeandbringsdowntherateofstanceherewithusinVenice,andhindermeofhalfamillion;laughatmylosses,mockatmygains.”3.2.2Shylock’sgreedydesireformoneyAstheplaybegins,weareimmediatelythrustintostereotypeasShylockisintroducedasusurerinActI.Bassano,aChristian,seeksoutShylockinordertoborrowthemoneyheneeds.HecomestoShylockinAntonio’sname,anotherChristianwhomShylockbearsagrudgeagainst,“IhatehimbecauseheisChristianIwillfeedthefattheancientgrudgeIbearhim”.ThisgrudgethatwelearnaboutearlyintheplayforeshadowstherevengethatShylocklatertriestheexactuntoAntonio.AntoniospecificallyreferstoShylockasa“dog”severaltimesasiftodehumanizehim.ThisgrudgealsorepresentsShylock’sgreaterhatredforallChristians,whohavetormentedandridiculedhimasaJew.ShakespearemakessuretheaudienceisawareofthereligiouspersecutionShylockhassufferedonbehalfoftheChristians.Itisnaturalforourhumanbeingstocompetewithothersinordertosurviveandtobeangrywiththeonewhodisdainsouroccupation.So,Shylock’shatredtowardsAntonioisunderstandable,however,heoverleapstoomuchandtakeshishatredasagoodexcusetoexecuteinexorableaction.Inthetrialscene,heisjustlikeamaniacdrivenbythenervousfrenzyofaccumulatedhatred.Asausurer,heissupposedtolayhisinterestonmoney,butatlast,wecometorealizethathisrealintentionisonAntonio’slife—arival’slife.Inbrief,hedoesjustifyhishatred.However,hecanbynomeansjustifyhisrelentlessrevenge.TheonlyexplanationwouldbethatShylockissopassionatethathealwaystakesextremeactions,whichistobeanalyzedinsectionIII.Whilethemainplotevolves,ShakespearealsousessubplotstoengagetheaudienceintoShylock’smeanscharacter.HisclownLancelot,whoresidesinVenice,fleesfromShylock’sserviceandjoinsBassano.ThisofcoursefurtherdemonstratesthedamnationofShylockbytheChristians.Ifthiswasnotenough,Shylock’sdaughterJessicarunsawayfromhomeandelopeswithLorenzo,anotherChristian.JessicaandLorenzoalsotakeagreatdealofmoneyandjewelerfromShylock.Whenthisoccurs,ShylockappearsmoreconcernedabouthismoneyandthatitwanstolenbyaChristianthanhedoescareabouthisdaughterbeinggone.ToaChristian,itwouldseemabsurdtovaluemoneymorethanfamily,butthiswasacommonstereotypeofJews.ThistremendoustreacherymarkstheculminationofShylock’spatiencetowardChristians.ThethreemonthslendingperiodhasfinallyarrivedandAntonio’sshipshavenotturnedprofitintime.ShylockfuriouslydemandsAntoniotopayhimforthethreethousandducatshehadlenttoBassano.Thisbringsustotheclimaxoftheplay,thefamoustrialscene.ThecontractispresentedandShylockstressesthatthelawdemandsasignedcontracttobecarriedout.Antoniocanoffernodefense,astheletteroftheJewclearlysituatesthatAntonioisboundbycontracttogiveShylockapoundofhisflesh.JustasthejudgeisabouttosidewithShylock,PortiaarrivesdisguisedasadoctoroflawandproceedstoconvinceShylocktohavemercyonAntonio.MercyisaqualitythatanyChristianwouldbeexpectedtoexactinasituationlikethis.ShylockdeniesanymercyanddemandshispoundoffleshfromAntonio.Wecanseeitfromthreesides:Firstly,Shylockrunsafterwealthunremittingly.IntheMerchantofVenice,heisequallyaJewusurerandthemostvividimage.Withthedevelopmentoftheplotandthethoroughdescriptionofcontradiction,histruefeaturesgraduallyappearbeforeus:Beingamiser,hemakeshislivingbypracticingusuryandregardsmoneyashislife.Heisraptinmoneyandinordertocollectmore,heevensitswatchinghisservantsufferstarvation.What’sworse,heabandonshisservantandcallshim”lazywasp”,eventuallyhisservantturnsanewhostforhelp.Simultaneously,itisalsoanakedrelationshipconcerningaboutmoneybetweenShylockandhisdaughter.Helockshisdaughterathomeandmakeshisguardwealthforhimanddoesnotallowhertogoout.Asaresult,hisdaughterregardsherhomeasthehellanddecidestorunawaywithhisloverinadarknight.IntheMerchantofVenice,Shylocknotonlyrunsafterwealth,butalsoexecratestheemergingcapitalistclassrepresentedbyAntonio.Soheratherchoosestohaveaweightofcarrionfleshthantoreceivethreethousandducats.Atthispoint,theuglyimageofShylockisclearlyreflectedinShakespeare’swriting.HerefusesalltermsandonlywantstokillAntonio,eventhoughhecanbeofferedmoreducatsifhegivesuptheplanandsparesAntonio’slife.Certainly,Shylockistheplay’santagonist.Ononehand,heismenacingenoughtoseriouslyimperilthehappinessofVenice’sbusinessmen,suchasAntonio,Bassano,andsoon.Ontheotherhand,Shylockisalsoacreationofcircumstance,eveninhissinglemindedpursuitofapoundofflesh;