Shylock as Helpless Victim in The Merchant of Venice :: Merchant of Venice Essays

Shylock as Helpless Victim in The Merchant of Venice In 1594 the Earl of Essex, an English Nobleman who lived during the Elizabethan breaker point in England, was actively involved in the persecution and trials of Roderigo Lopez. Lopez was a Jew of Portuguese descent, who was wrongly accused of attempting to poison the Queen of England. Lopez, being the Queens royal physician, was in no scene to defend himself once he was accused. Essex, who provided the evidence also presided over the trial of Lopez, leaving Lopez little chance of survival. The innocent Jew was hanged, drawn, and quartered in Tyburn, England for all to witness. The story of Roderigo Lopez is like to the story of Shylock, although, Palmer tells us It is not suggested that Shakespeare in portraying Shylock, had any political or social intentions ( 112-13). Both Jews were placed in time where anti-Semitism was in fashion (Palmer 113), and both thrown into court where they would be tried unjustly. The story of Roderigo Lopez sets the tone for The Merchant of Venice. Lopez incident occurred in 1594, The Merchant of Venice was written only two years later. Anti-Semitism was prevalent during Shakespeares time, and therefore we must understand that it was as easy for him to make a Jewish man the villain as it would be for us to make a Nazi the villain. According to Sylvan Barnet The Merchant of Venice shows the broad outline of a comedy (not merely a play with jests, only when a play that ends happily). . . the villain in the comedy must be entirely villainous, or, rather, comically villainous he cannot for a moment gain the audiences sympathy (1). Shylock has often been portrayed as the villain in The Merchant of Venice. From being more concerned with his ducats rather than his daughter, to demanding his pound of flesh, Shylock fits perfectly into the stray of the villain. However, with reference to Barnets comment he cannot for a moment gain the audiences sympathy (1), Shylock oversteps the boundaries of his villainous character. The audience cannot and would not have rooted for Shylock during Shakespeares lifetime, yet, at a time we do. Shylock is merely a victim of anti-Semitism.