Shylock- the ultimate victim

After reading the Merchant of Venice, Shylock is portrayed as two different characters - one being prejudiced and the victim of the story, and another being the ruthless villain. However, Shylock is ultimately more of the victim of abuse rather than a heartless individual in the society. In fact, he is very much like "Frankenstein", having gone through a tragedy rather than starting out as the villain. He was needless prejudiced by the Christians in the city and ill-treated as a result. In act 3 scene 1 of the play, Shylock expressed his feelings as a human being and shows that he (too) is human.

Shylock had gone through the wrath of society, such as in act 1 scene 3 where the story shows a presence of ill-treatment towards Shylock by the Christians. As a result of growing up in a cruel and merciless environment, Shylock was but influenced and grew up only to be as ruthless and as heartless as others have treated him. It is not entirely his fault that he became a villain in the end, as society as a part to play in bringing out the evil side of him.

Additionally, he is also rejected and abandoned by his own family - firstly by Launcelot Gobbo, and then by his precious daughter Jessica. Having lost everything dear to him, it is only natural for him to become very emotional and get into a rage (which is why he cursed his daughter). Even worse, the only back-up net to fall on for himself, was also taken away by his daughter and spent wastefully on useless items - which was his money.

Shylock also losses all those whom he love and is left "alone" in the world by the end of the play. When Antonio and the rest of the Christians forced Shylock to convert from a Jew to a Christian, he indirectly also losses his friends and all those he can trust. The Christians would shun him as he used to be a Jew, while the Jews would discriminate him as he is now a Christian. What was worse is that his blood kin - his daughter - also chose to abandon him and chose to betray him the hard way by turning to Christianity, and defying his religious beliefs and traditions. In this case, Shylock was left shunned by everyone, and was left standing alone in the cruel world.

Furthermore, at the end of the story, his plan of having someone (an enemy) to vent his anger on had backfired. He did not only lose everything that was precious and was dear to him, his situation was also made worse when he lost even more of his fortune. After that, another great blow was deal to him - taking away his religion. At the end, he lost his freedom, his human rights and his way of life, he would have lost the meaning of life and lived the rest of it in depression.

One might argue that Shylock deserved what he got, as he also ignored Antonio's plea for mercy and to give up his bond. However, at that time he was already rejected from society and had also lost everything precious to him. Thus, he was completely emotional and enraged, and the fact that Antonio was his long-time enemy only served to complicate matters. Anyone - in the shoes of Shylock- would have a mental breakdown by then and only wants something to vent their anguish and serve as a "stress ball" to get rid of his sadness. He was not really bloodthirsty and happy to receive Antonio's pound of flesh. In addition, his lack of mercy towards Antonio is just a result of Antonio's lack of respect and acceptance towards Shylock in his everyday life, so no one is to really blame Shylock if he chooses to "unto to others what others unto to him".

Therefore, Shylock is really the ultimate victim of the story, and "The Merchant of Venice" is actually more of a tragedy in disguise rather than a comedy.