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Discuss the presentation of shylock in the play Merchant of Venice
Member rating: No Rating | Words: 400 | Submitted: Mon Feb 25 2008
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DISCUSS THE PRESENTATION OF SHYLOCK IN SHAKESPEARE'S PLAY MERCHANT OF VENICE In Shakespeare's play of The Merchant of Venice, Shakespeare portrays the character of Shylock as both victim and villain. The audience's perceptions of Shylock can only be assembled upon taking both the social and historical situation into consideration. The play is set in an Elizabethan era, a period of Christian domination, where it was common for Jews to be money lenders, the interest gained would be their only source of income. Christians deprived Jews of adequate occupations and isolated them from society by forcing them to live in ghettos and abide to curfews. Shylock is stereotypically introduced in the play in the role of his occupation, as a money lender. He is considering offering the loan of three thousand ducats to a Christian, Bassanio. Shylock is immediately drawn into the offer upon learning that Antonio, another Christian, shall be bound. This arouses...
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