Merchant of Venice On-Line Discussion

[Meredith Teuber]

 Evaluate what a theater director would need to consider when directing The Merchant of Venice, particularly in regards to the character of Shylock. How should the director guide an actor to portray Shylock? Should Shylock be characterized as comic buffoon, a cruel villain, and/or as a tragic and sympathetic outsider? Consider the context of Jews throughout history, Shakespeare’s original intentions, and modern sensibilities. Synthesize at least three sources for support (including the original text of the play).  Provide quotes in your responses.

Use the following pieces to support your ideas: 

A: The Merchant of Venice - William Shakespeare (REQUIRED)

B. “Shylock: Villain or Victim?”  - Cambridge Supplemental Text

C. “Shylock’s Changing Portrayal” - Cambridge Supplemental Text

D. “History and the Jews” - Cambridge Supplemental Text

E. “Shakespeare’s England” - ADL

F. “Shylock: A Character Analysis” – ADL

G. “An Interview with Trevor Nunn” – Masterpiece Theater

[Chelsea]

I feel that Shylock was a victim, but was pushed to the point were he was made/seen into a villain.

[Chelsea]

"Why revenge! The villainy you teach me I will execute and it shall go hard but I will better the instruction." Shylock was pushed to his breaking point and he felt resentment towards Christians, but at the end of the story gave into the Christians. Since he was seen as a victim the director should portray him as that and make him appear weak and then make him seem evil.

[Julianne]

While reading I thought Shylock was only comical because of the use of irony in the dark style of comedy. Shakespeare is a comedic writer and Shylock is only funny because of the irony that happens to him.

[Samantha]

While directing The Merchant of Venice, the director should consider

1. The changing views of religion vs.religion.
2. How vital it is that Shylock's character should change throughout the play, but that the actor should know the difference between change and group.

[Joseph]

 i think that he was a victim until after his daughter stole money from him this is where he started acting like he was not a victim anymore and he started to change towards a vllain and he wasn't being payed back by Antonio so he was gonna do what he had to too get his money back

[Julianne Delgado]

I think in the modern retelling of the play should limit the jewish stereotype so he can be seen as a regular human being. I feel without the stereotype would create a realistic drama of average looking people separated by society. I would want to see more of Shylock's tensions with his daughter to better understand why she would leave and but steal all his riches. I remember when we are first introduced to her she claims her home is like a hell and the reader is only left to infer.

[Chelsea]

I agree with Joey because once Shylock's daughter stole his ducats a dark side came out that he hadn't shown before "Stol'n by my daughter! Justice! Find the girl! She hath the stones upon her, and the ducats."

[Julianne]

I feel more an effect when the director of the nun version cast an old man as Shylock. The actor was able to deliver dynamics in his lines. "O judge! Oh excellent young man." (Act 4 Scene 1) I would like to see from the actor an uplift from Shylock's wrinkles and see the joy in his eyes from his almost dead eyes. Then when the tables are turned on him, "Give me principle and let me go." from the same act I would have much appreciated if in the nun version you'd witness more of an anger after his defeat. I rather have the line shouted through the courtroom and directed as a monologue being hateful to the entire christian population as a whole and not just the court room. 

[Samantha]

"He is seen as vital to the plays exploration of religious and cultural identity" (Shylock's changing portrayal.)  The plays exploration of religion is central to the play because it shows how far religion or even society can push someone to their breaking point, just as we had seen Shylock be quite the pushover in the beginning and then come to the edge, in terms of how Joey and Chelsea were saying about how he changes from victim to then villan.

[Chelsea]

I also agree with Julianne because I feel that if Shylock was seen as a normal person the entire play would have been seen differently by the readers. In the blue packet it says "Even though Jews were not living in England (at least not openly), they represented a stereotype evil.."

[Julianne]

I could see Shylock as a villain because he did state that "I would my daughter dead at my foot and the jewels in her ear; would she have he-arsed at my foot and the ducats in her coffin!" That's quite a rage if you ask me. 

[Samantha]

What character other than Antonio did you find most important to the change of Shylocks character?

[Joseph]

shylocks daughter

[Samantha]

Why?

[Chelsea]

I feel that Shylock's daughter most influenced Shylock because Solanio said "I have never heard a passion so confused..." to a response of when Shylock's daughter left.

[Julianne]

I felt Jessica might have been the most important because she is the reason he lost everything Samantha. Its like a stab in the back to have someone betray you especially family. Shylock tore his clothing and was humiliated when his daughter converted religions. Shylock becomes a nobody and can you argue because of his public embarrassment become lower than the other jews?

[Chelsea]

Do you feel that Shylock should have fought back more and defended himself or what he did was the best choice at the time?

[Samantha]

I feel like during this seminar I should have planned out my thoughts more organized.

[Julianne]

According to the blue packet, "While it is likely Shakespeare never visited Venice, it is also quite possible he never met a jew." What if Shakespeare was the one who created the famous jew stereotype considering Hitler used this as the main target of scapegoating the jews and that this has been a very popular play. I feel Shakespeare only followed what he heard because he wanted a character that was unusual and to let the audience decide on Shylock's actions as villainy with his greed for ducats or even sympathetic when it comes to Jessica fleeing the home. The author might have only wanted to go his direction to gain an audience and popularity growth.

[Chelsea]

I feel that I should have added more questions and brought up new topics to the discussion. I feel that I used good pieces of evidence to back up my argument. 

[Joseph]

i feel like during this discussion i did good because i talked with my group answering questions and saying how we saw the book as in if we saw Shylock as a victim or villain

[Julianne]

I feel during this seminar I should have connected more with my group mates, but it was a challenge using this group communication for the first time with the constant refreshing it was hard to keep up.