Shakespeare uses Shylock’s resentful speeches to depict Shylock’s complicated desires, motives, and emotions; despite his despair and overwhelming bitterness at Jessica’s betrayal, Shylock treasures her. Shylock is confused by the betrayal, therefore he obscures his legitimate concerns through busying himself with money and revenge. Shylock even seems to forget all of his daughter woes through his exuberance at Antonio’s misfortunes—Shylock says, “I am very glad of [his mishaps]. I’ll plague [Antonio], I’ll torture / him. I am glad of it” (3.1.109-110). Shylock now cherishes his opportunity to exact revenge on Antonio, although originally, Shylock made his offer jokingly. His newfound lust for revenge expresses how all his priorities are muddled; because of his internal turmoil, Shylock’s situation with Antonio suddenly becomes hugely important. Shylock seeks to “torture” and “plague” Antonio in any way Shylock can, distracting him from the more serious problem on hand. Through the debt Antonio must pay, Shakespeare offers Shylock another way to hide his true suffering over his daughter’s flight. His judgment is thrown off, emphasized when he goes as far to state, “I would my daughter were / dead at my foot, and the jewels in her ear! Would she were hearsed at my foot and the ducats in her coffin!” (3.1.83-85). Not long ago, Shylock valued Jessica and his stolen money equally, yet now, he seems to have changed enough to wish his “daughter were dead at [his] foot” as long as he reclaims his money. Although now his intentions may look to revolve around his money, his obsession with the money simply conceals his real motives between searching for his daughter. His wisdom is heavily clouded through Jessica’s treachery. Shylock still loves his daughter, but her betrayal causes his resentment to overpower his love; therefore, he is not just the money-obsessed Jew that he seems to be. When Tubal enters the stage, Shylock’s first words are, “How now, Tubal! What new from Genoa? / Hast thou found my daughter?” (3.1.75-76). Shylock repeatedly attempts to hide his affection and concern for his daughter, yet he immediately asks Tubal about status of the search for his daughter. Above all, Shylock desires the return of his daughter, no matter what other motives he seems to have. His misery may create conflict within himself, but he cannot truly hide his priority of finding his daughter. Through the escape of his daughter and his heated dialogue with Solanio, Tubal, and Salarino, Shakespeare emphasizes Shylock’s hidden desires while also revealing his superficial motives.
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-Alex Laubscher
Your paper is really well written and you introduce a very interesting argument here which you have good evidence for. I especially liked your first analysis about Shylock's initial rage and how it seemed to contradict the character that we previously knew. And I think you're right. Shylock seems to want to distract himself and put his mind elsewhere so that he is not worrying about his daughter. In the second analysis, your last sentence, "Shylock still loves his daughter..", I don't think really ties into what he is saying here. I don't feel like there is any sympathy in what he is saying. Quite frankly, he'd rather have his daughter dead if that means he'd get his money. Maybe it's for your third analysis? But even if that's so, it's a bit early to be throwing in that sentence without introducing textual evidence. It seems like more of a first step analysis sentence. I don't 100% agree with the concluding sentence because to me, Shylock is really caught up in the heat of the moment. I don't feel like what he says in your first two quotes reflect his "superficial motives." The word motives makes it seem like he is purposefully doing this, but I think he is just confused and acting and speaking irrationally. However, you present your argument well, and I like how you write. Good work.
ReplyDeleteJust after your second quote, Shylock says, "loss upon loss! The / thief gone with so much, and so much to find the thief, / and no satisfaction, no revenge, nor no ill luck stirring" (3.1.87-89). Shylock is confused about why he has to lose everything with nothing to gain, "no satisfaction, no revenge." And says that no one else has the same ill luck as him. It is this confusion that leads him to act in the manner you mentioned in your paragraph.
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