Intention of creating Shylock
I feel that Shakespeare created Shylock with the intention of attracting the Elizabethan's attention while at the same time, to evoke sympathy for the Jews.
In the past, anti-semitism was rife. The Jews were considered as the inferior race by the Christians and were widely discriminated and insulted. In the book, the Jew, Shylock, was portrayed as a villain, like what the Elizabethans viewed them to be in those days.
In Act 4 Scene 1, when Portia tried to convince him to show mercy towards Antonio, he refused to do so. He replies blatantly by saying:
My deeds upon my head. I crave the law,
The penalty, and forfeit of my bond.
To the Elizabethans watching the film, this would capture their attention as it was exactly what they thought the Jews were like. Therefore, by creating Shylock, Shakespeare was injecting a sense of realism into the play so that it was applicable to that era. And only by doing so, the Elizabethans would then be attracted to the film.
At the same time, he also tried to evoke a sense of pity for the Jews. In Act 1 Scene 3, he ranted about how he was discriminated against by the Christians, but more specifically, Antonio. He said:
Signor Antonio, many a time and oft
In the Rialto you have rated me
About my moneys and my usances.
Still have I borne it with a patient shrug,
For sufferance is the badge of all our tribe.
You can call me misbeliever, cutthroat dog,
And spet upon my Jewish gaberdine ----
And all for use of that which is mine own.
Well then, it now appears you need my help.
Go to then! You come to me and you say,
“Shylock, we would have moneys.” You say so! ---
You, that did void your rheum upon my beard
And foot me as you spurn a stranger cur
Over your threshold! Moneys is your suit.
What should I say to you? Should I not say,
“Hath a dog money? Is it possible
A cur lend three thousand ducats?” Or
Shall I bend low and in a bondman’s key
With bated breath and whispering humbleness
Say this:
“Fair sir, you spet on me on Wednesday last;
You spurned me such a day; another time
You called me a ‘dog’ --- and for these courtesies
I’ll lend you thus much moneys?’
In this particular speech by Shylock, it was apparent that he was subjected to alot of discrimination. His daughter also ran away from him, and took away his valuables. In this story, there were many moments where the readers really sympathised with Shylock.
Therefore, I think that Shakespeare created Shylock to draw the Elizabethan’s attention and evoke sympathy for the Jews.
