英语论文（威尼斯商人人物分析）

My Evil Not My Fault

——An Analysis of the Image of Shylock

外语系0804：杨爽

摘要

《威尼斯商人》是莎士比亚著名喜剧之一，而剧中的夏洛克更是一个经典形象，被人

们一次次的分析。以前，尤其是16世纪，许多人认为夏洛克贪婪、自私、残酷、狡猾，而他的结局正是这部戏剧称为喜剧的一个原因。但是随着时间的发展，人们开始重新认识夏洛克，发现从夏洛克角度看是一个悲剧。夏洛克还有一些以前没被人们发现的特征：聪明、坦诚、勇敢、富有民族精神，这些特征慢慢地被人们发现。另外，论文分析了造成夏洛克悲剧结局的原因。

关键词：夏洛克；宗教；法律；历史；悲剧

Abstract

The Merchant of Venice is one of Shakespeare?s most famous comedy in the world. While Shylock is a classical figure and analyzed again and again. Before, especially in16th century, many people think Shylock was a greedy, selfish, cruel and so on, and his final result is a reason that this play is called comedy. As times goes by, people begin to re-analyze Shylock. They found when we analyze this play from Shylock?s angle, it is a tragedy. Shylock also has other characters which was not discovered before and gradually accepted now, such as: clever, frank, courageous, rich national spirit. In addition, this paper talk some reasons why Shylock had a tragic result.

Key words: Shylock, Religion, Law, History, Tragedy

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1.Social Background

1.1 The History of the Jewish

This is an old nationality, and comes into the world with the born of the Judaism. They start in Arabia, and live their life along with the float grass at first. Later, they became the farming nation. In 586 BC, many Jews descent into ?Babylonian Exile?, and were dispersed all over the world. In the period ruled by Rome, Emperor Caracalla of Rome promulgated laws to alleviate ethnic contradictions in 212 AD, which made the Jews have the civil right of Rome in law. But with the times of Rome ending and the Nordic invading, the Jews and the Rome citizen became the ?denizen?. Later, more and more Teutons Christianise ,became Christians. Thus, the boundary between ?denizens? and Teutons were disappearing little by little, they became a big family which all the members believe the Christian. But for the Jews, they insist on their belief and refuse to accept Christianity. Beyond all question, this kind of behavior made them a ?denizen? forever by those Christian, although they escaped from agriculture, smart Jews were still active in various industries in city. Until the 11th century, because many countries in Europe began to revitalizing, as the weak force, the Jews can?t compete with them. Thus, in order to live, some of the Jews have engaged in usury. But this behavior made Christian have more reasons to scorn them, for Christians? outlook，usury is a violation of the teachings. They considered the Jews just got others? achievement. But what?s more miserable, the rulers of European countries, through levy heavy tax, confiscation of property, and all kinds of means to cheat, robbed the wealth of the Jews. This made money become more and more important because the money is the only passport for them to live in such oppressed world.

From the Middle Ages to early modern times, many folk tales and songs were popular with the Jewish story of the assassination of Christian children. In the era of Edward I(1265-1307) in England, Edward used to expel the Jews, but later, many Jews stayed in England in order to escape persecution by Spanish religious court. These Jews formed a small area. In 1594 years, Elizabeth?s physician—Portuguese Jews Lopez was accused of poisoning queen insidiously and he was interrogated. Although when Lopez stood next to the gallows, he sworn he was loyalty to

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the queen and said he worshipped Jesus Christ as the queen, but in London, whether they were noble or common people, people all tended to believe that Lopez was guilty. This was just because he was a Jew, for many prejudice were still kept fully and majestically in the Middle Ages.

1.2 The Jewish Question Reflected in The Merchant of Venice

The film The Merchant of Venice tells us some information at begin “Intolerance of the Jews was a fact of 16th century life even in Venice, the most powerful and liberal city state in Europe. By law the Jews were forced to live in the old walled foundry or ?Geto? area of the city. After sunset the gate was locked and guarded by Christians. In the day time any men leaving the ghetto had to wear a red hat to mark him as a Jew.” The fact of social condition in England in 16th century was similar to the film described scene. At that time, Christian was in the driver?s seat, the Jews had their own belief, so they have not social status and usually were persecuted. From the economic aspect, the Jews were prohibited to possess land, they were not allowed to have house property, because those Christians and officials would confiscate their property, so they had to be as a petty dealer, some of them practiced usury—the lending of money at interest. This made them have little cash and could survive. In law, many decrees were bad for the Jews. As Portia said in the drama：

It is enacted in the laws of Venice, If it be proved against an alien That by direct or indirect attempts He seek the life of any citizen,

The party 'gainst the which he doth contrive Shall seize one half his goods; the other half Comes o the privy coffer of the state; And the offender?s life lies in the mercy

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Of the duke only, 'gainst all other voice○(Act iv Scene i).

In addition, “Jew” has another meaning in English, such as cheapskate, usurer, profiteer.

From this ,we could see the people?s treatment to the Jews in that time.

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2.An Analysis of Shylock’s Characters

As we know, Shakespeare is a master no matter past or now, he left many wealth for people. Time and again, his work have been appreciated. Shakespeare?s Shylock image is fresh forever as other classical figures. People read it, consider it again and again. Following, it is my opinion about Shylock. 2.1 Hateful Shylock

Before, especially in 16th century, this drama was a comedy no matter from which side, because three pairs of lovers have perfect results. But Shylock as an evildoer has been punished. In the era of racial discrimination, Shylock?s final result, without doubt, it?s a good thing for clapping and cheering. While the words which describe Shylock are disdainful: greed, cunning, cruel and so on. Like Shylock said, many Christians and people will say the same as Antonio said “misbeliever, cut-throat dog”. Such Shylock, people will list many reasons and facts to illustrate how bad he was.

He hates Antonio obviously, and wants to revenge by chance, so he signs the contract which he will cut a pound of Antonio?s meat if he couldn?t return money on time. This will kill Antonio possibly and solve the problem about which he always worried. But he artfully said “I say, to buy his favor, I extend this friendship: If he will take it, so; if not, adieu; for my love, I pray you

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wrong me not”○(Act i Scene iii). Being greedy and stingy, he reprimands his servant greedy and

treats his daughter also stringy. When he knows his daughter escaped with a Christian, and takes him many ducats, Shylock shouted in the street “My daughter! Oh, my ducats!” and curses “I would my daughter were dead at my foot, and the jewels in her ear! Would she were hearsed at

3my foot, and the ducats in her coffin!”○(Act iii Scene i). Certainly, people think the worst place

was that he crows over Antonio?s ship were sunk, people persuaded him, but he said “Gaoler,

4look to him: tell me of mercy; This the fool that lent out money gratis”○(Act iii Scene iii). When

Bassanio wants to return him two, three times money, he refuses and insists on carrying out the contract.

With the development of fighting against racism, and the Holocaust by Hitler during the

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World War Ⅱ, gradually, the topic about the Jews were no longer a joke. People found The Merchant of Venice is not just a comedy. When we analyzing it from Shylock, it is a tragedy. Moreover, Shylock?s tragedy is no longer a joke, people began to re-analysis. He is greedy, because he is a business; he is a usurer, and this results from social conditions. He is cruel to Antonio, because he hates Antonio, and Antonio spits on and curses him, and that he borrows money without interest. But these are parts of Shylock?s characters. We should analyse from other point of view.

2.2 Different Shylock – from another angle

In the film, Shylock?s first appearance was reviled by Antonio. For the situation, if you are Shylock, what will you do? For the most part, you will fight back. But in that social condition, many people hate the Jews, and push out the usurer like Shylock. Like Shylock said in the play

5“for sufferance is the budge of all our tribe”○(Act i Scene iii). What he does is just wipe his face

with his sleeve, and watch at Antonio?s back with the hateful feeling in his eyes. Why, as an ancient Chinese saying “A little impatience, a great ship”, facing Antonio, how does Shylock to use to fight against Antonio? He can do only with patience. There is no much justice in society, I think Shylock has a good character—endurance, just for this character make him process many ducats in that time.

For the second time, Bassanio borrows money from Shylock. “Three thousand ducats; well?”,

6“For three months; well?”, “Three thousand ducats, for three months and, Antonio bound?”○

(Act i Scene iii). From these words and Shylock hesitates, we could see clever Shylock knows Bassanio lack substance and has no ability to return money, but when he knows Antonio bounded, he recognizes that the chance comes. But he doesn?t directly fight against Antonio. He lists an example of Jacob and says some complaining words, declared “And thrift is blessing, of

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men steal is not.”○(Act 1 Scene iii), then talk about Antonio who spits on and cursed him, but

his national spirit makes him tolerant. In this time, I think Shylock must think like that: Now, you want borrow money from me, what will I do? How can I let you go so easily? He makes Antonio signs the contract, and shows his friendly words to Antonio. How could you say Shylock isn?t clever?

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