Posted by s.h.n on July 17, 19101 at 10:57:06:

In Reply to: Shylock posted by J.H.P. on July 12, 1998 at 18:30:09:

shylock wasnt a villain at all- it was perfectly natural what he felt.

so what if he took interest to make a profit? his religion and beleifs allowed it, why does it become wrong because it is not christian?

antonio is my least favourite character- he is depressed because he is jealous of everyone else...and tries to make shylock show him mercy by doing a "martyr" act at the trial,saying how "it is no use trying to soften the heart of a jew".he keeps up his saint antonio mask with his other friends and in spitting on shylock, shows a totally different side of his character. im not christian but isnt one of their morals "live and let live"?

shakespeare was trying to reach out to some by making shylock a strong character,the ridiculous little "loophole of the law" discovered by portia was added just to keep the mes happy. shylocks misery was part of the "comedy".he's a great character.
the only one who is justified in calling him a villain is jessica...she lived with him, rite? poor kid...he must have been hard to live with but they are way too harsh on him

and the mercy speech? though im sure portia meant that part from her heart, to shylock it must have looked like a trap, it just made him more defensive. and who can blame him? for once, the ball was in his court.
anyone agrees with me???help me please, i have to give in a project on this next week...

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