"Shylock's Downfall": Is Shylock responsible for his downfall in Shakespeare's play The Merchant Of Venice?

Shylock's Downfall: The Merchant of Venice

By Raghav Kaushik [KorektPhool]

In Shakespeare's play The Merchant of Venice, the character of Shylock is partially responsible for his own downfall. Shylock is a victim of a society that values trade over human life; he falls foul to a city that regards Jews such as himself as inferiors; and even the intricate details of the law plays a part in his demise. It is true that Shylock feeds fat to the fire by treating the Christians with contempt; and his strong determination to dispose of his rival Antonio ultimately backfires upon himself. However, one does feel that the antagonist's attitude and behaviour towards the Venetian populace reflects the very treatment he receives from the Italians.

The Jewish antagonist is Shakespeare's most believable character in all his plays. Unlike other villains in the literary genius' other works, Shylock is not to be passed as a rogue fully responsible for his demise at the end; instead many factors affect his collapse and these issues are deeply rooted in the themes of The Merchant of Venice.

English actor Charles Macklin as Shylock in Shakes...

Portia and Shylock

Antonio reproaching Shylock (characters from Willi...

Shylock is an unfortunate scapegoat of a city that treasures business over human life. In Scene 3 of Act 1, the bond that eventually leads to Shylock's ruin is made. It is a ploy to do Antonio harm: "If I can catch him once upon the hip, / I will feed fat the ancient grudge I bear him." Shylock explains a few lines earlier that this resentment towards Antonio was because the latter was depriving the usurer of business by lending out his monies gratis. It is apparent from that scene that a fiery personal dispute has emerged from a business matter. This illustrates that fact that Venetians are prepared to do anything for the sake of trade. In...