大学英语专业毕业论文

剑桥学院毕业论文论文题目：探究威尼斯商人中夏洛克的人物性格特征学生：******指导教师：******讲师专业：英语班级：2008级英语本科一班201*年5月HeilongjiangCambridgeGraduationThesisTitleAnalysisofSherlock'sPersonalityinMerchantofVeniceStudentSupervisorSpecialtyEnglishClassJune4,201*剑桥学院毕业论文任务书题目名称:AnalysisofSherlock'sPersonalityinMerchantofVenice探究威尼斯商人中夏洛克的人物性格特征立题意义:1.针对莎士比亚威尼斯商人中文章主旨的分析2.深入剖析莎士比亚文学作品，从性格角度剖析莎士比亚作品的人物形象特征3.通过剧中男主人公所表现的资本主义和个人主义的象征技术条件与要求:调查语篇。利用多种途径查阅威尼斯商人的相关资料，如互联网、图书馆等。分析文献。根据导师的指导，从查阅到的大量资料中筛选精品来重点分析。在初稿的拟定以与多次修改当中深化对莎士比亚作品的理解。通过导师的指导和一系列的分析得出人文主义和女权主义的影响，进而提出一些解决对策，并通过答辩来检验工作的成果。工作计划：第一步：查找资料，确定论文选题为浅谈威尼斯商人中鲍西亚的性格特征。第二步：完成关于论文资料的收集，取得威尼斯商人的相关资料。第三步：根据掌握的资料，进行系统地分析、整理，第四步：阅读与论文相关的书刊，深入针对威尼斯商人中鲍西亚形象加以分析。第五步：组织、整理相关资料，准备论文撰写。第六步：完成论文写作提纲。第七步：根据论文提纲，开始论文写作，形成初稿。第八步：根据导师提出的论文修改意见，不断对论文进行修改、完善，并完成论文写作。第九步：论文定稿、打印、装订、准备答辩。第十步：毕业论文答辩。任务容（包括容、计划、时间安排、完成工作量与水平具体要求）容：通过在互联网上搜集各种与本文相关的信息和去图书馆查找关于小说《威尼斯商人》的各种资料，独立仔细的分析这些资料，得出自己的观点，进一步提高对该小说的理解，最终完成初稿的拟定和终稿的写作。计划：第一步：使用多种方式寻找所需资料，如利用互联网信息、图书馆等，最终确定论文选题。第二步：完成关于论文的研究，查找相关各种资料，通过导师的指导，从已得到的多种资料中进行筛选重点来剖析。第三步：根据掌握的研究资料，进行仔细地分析、整理，找到问题切入点。第四步：阅读与论文相关的书籍与期刊，从客观的角度加以分析。第五步：组织、整理所查找资料，准备开始论文撰写。第六步：完成论文大纲。第七步：按照论文大纲进行写作，形成初稿。第八步：根据导师所提出的各种修改意见，完成论文写作。第九步：论文定稿、打印、装订、准备答辩。第十步：进行毕业论文答辩。时间安排：2011年11月2011年12月5日2011年12月26日—03月11日2012年03月12日—02012年04月9日—04月15日第二次修改论文，导师审定。2012年04月16日—04月29日论文定稿。2012年05月7日—05月20日论文评阅小组评审论文（设计）2012年05月26日毕业论文答辩。完成工作量：2011年11月末至12月初完成论文选题和开题报告，2012年4月初完成初稿的拟定，4月至5月进行多次修改，论文定稿，5月26日答辩。水平要求：可以很好的完成对论文资料的查阅，并能独立进行分析，完成论文写作工作。专业负责人意见签名：年月日剑桥学院毕业论文审阅评语一、指导教师评语是否同意答辩：同意答辩□不同意答辩□指导教师（签名）职称年月日二、评阅人评语是否同意答辩：同意答辩□不同意答辩□评阅教师（签名）职称年月日剑桥学院毕业论文答辩评语与成绩三、答辩委员会评语四、毕业论文成绩签字（盖章）：五、答辩委员会主任单位：答辩委员会主任职称：答辩委员会主任签字：年月日摘要威尼斯商人是莎士比亚最著名的喜剧之一。夏洛克成为英国文学史上不朽的人物之一。成功的性格塑造和许多人物性格的分析都引起了许多读者和学者的兴趣和争议。在这其中，夏洛克的性格是最具争议的一个。许多人鄙视夏洛克成为一个自私，不虔诚的，顽固的并且嗜血的人。然而，审视莎士比亚时期犹太人的观点，另一个人物浮出水面。本论文将简单介绍《威尼斯商人》以与它的背，并且从三个不通方面分析了夏洛克的性格，那就是：夏洛克曾经因为反犹太主义而被奴役，他作为一个贪财的高利贷者和基督教的受害者有着独立的精神的个体。关键词：威尼斯商人；夏洛克,高利贷者；反犹太主义AbstractTheMerchantofVeniceisoneofthegreatestcomedieswrittenbyWilliamShakespeare.ShylockhasbecomeoneoftheimmortalcharactersinEnglishliterature.Thesuccessfulcharacterizationandanalysisofmanycharactershasarousedmuchinterestandcontroversyformanyreadersandscholars.Amongthem,thecharacterofShylockisamostcontroversialone.ManypeopledespiseShylocktobeamanwhoisselfish,impious,stubborn,andbloodthirsty.However,afterexaminetheviewofJewsduringShakespeare’stime;anotherpersonalitycomestothesurface.ThispaperstalksbrieflyaboutTheMerchantofVeniceanditsreligiousbackground,thenanalysesShylock’scomplexpersonalitiesfromthreedifferentperspectivesasaJewwhowasenslavedtoanti-Semitism,asausurerwhoaregreedyformoneyandasavictimofChristianandindividualhavingindependentspirit.Keywords：TheMerchantofVenice;Shylock;usurer;anti-SemitismContents摘要iAbstractii1Briefintroduction11.1IntroductiontoShakespeare11.2BriefintroductiontoTheMerchantofVenice12ThetragiccharacterofShylock32.1Theimageofshylock32.2Shylock’srealisticlifeandhisspiritualworld33Shylock’scomplexpersonality73.1ShylockisaJew73.1.1ShylockistheepitomeoftheJew73.1.2Twoviewstowardsanti-Semitism.73.2Shylockasausurerandavillain93.2.1UsuryasJew’sonlyoccupation93.2.2Shylock’sgreedydesireformoney93.3ShylockasavictimandindependentIndidual13Conclusion15References16Acknowledgement171Briefintroduction1.1IntroductiontoShakespeareWilliamShakespeare(1564—1616)isoneofthemostremarkableplaywrightsandpoetstheworldhaseverknow.Withhis38plays,154sonnetsand2longpoems,hehasestablishedhisgiantpositioninworldliterature.Hehasalsobeengiventhehighestpraisesbyvariousscholarsandcriticstheworldover.Inthepastfourhundredyears,booksandessaysonShakespeareandhisworkshavekeptcomingoutinlargequantities.BenJonsononcewroteapersononceapoemeulogizingShakespeareasbeing“notofage,butforalltime”.Shakespeare’sgreatnessasaplaywrightandthesuccessofhisplaysonthestagefromElizabethanEnglanduptothepresent—dayworldchieflydependuponhispenetratingexpositionofhumannature,hislivelypaintingsofhumanlifeandhistruthfulreflectionsofhumanreality.Hisworksprovideuswithavividandauthenticpanoramaofhisage.Allthis,forloftyidealofhumanismandhispainstakingeffortsinmasteringvarioustechniques.HeisnotonlyamasterofEnglishlanguagebutalsoageniusofcharacterportrayalandplotconstruction.1.2BriefintroductiontoTheMerchantofVeniceLongtimeago,amancalledAntoniolivedinVenice.Hewasamerchant;hehasmanytradedwithdistantcountries.Andhewasagoodmanaswellasarichone.HisbestfriendBassano,whofellinlovewithabeautifulandrichladycalledPortia,wasnotawealthyman.Sohedidn’taskPortiatomarryhim.Atlast,heaskedAntoniotolendhimsomemoney,sothathecouldvisitPortiaatBelmont.IthappenedthattimeallAntonio’sshopswereatsea,andhewouldn’thavemoneytolendBassanountiltheshipsreturned.Sotheydecidedtogotoamoney—lender.Now,anoldJewnamedShylocklivedinVenice.TheJewsinthosedayswerethemoney—lendersofVenice.ShylockwasoneofthegreediestJewsinVenice.AndAntoniohatedhimforhiswickedways.ShylockalsohatedAntonioforthereasonthatAntonioofteninsultedJewsandShylockhimselfwasanxioustorevengetheresults.HewasdelightedwhenheheardtheAntoniohadpromisedtopaybacktheloan,sohemadeawickedplan.HeaskedAntoniotosignabondpromisingthathemightcutoffapoundoffleshfromAntonio’sbodyifthemoneywasnotpaid.Bassanodidn’t,likeit,butAntoniosaid,”Youneedhavenofear.Myshipswillcomebackamonthbeforetheday.”SoBassanounwillinglytookthemoney,andsailedawaytoBelmont.Infact,PortialovedBassanotoo.Sotheyarrangedtogetmarried.However,theirhappinesswassoondisturbedbyabadnews:Antonio’ssixships,fullofriches,hadallbeenwreckedatsea,whichalsomeantAntoniolostallhismoney.ShylockwasextremelyhappyafterheheardthenewsandhewenttocutoffapoundoffleshfromAntonio’sbody.Whenhebegansharpeningthelongknifehehadbroughtwithhim,alawyerentered.Portiawasthelawyer,butnooneknewrecognizedher.Finally,PortiawassocleverthatshesavedAntonio’slife.2ThetragiccharacterofShylock2.1TheimageofshylockShylock—theJewishmoneylender,isoneofthemostinterestingandoneofthemostControversialofShakespearecharacter.Shylockisgiventhemostpassionate,mostmemorablespeechesandactionsintheplay,andhischaracterisetchedinboldstrokesacrossitsentiresurface,leavinganindeliblehumanbeingaswellasanoutrageousvillainandcomicbutt,andhasbecomeallthingstoallmen.SomereadersviewShylockasaproudandapassionatemanwhohaslongstoredupinhisheartthehumiliationsufferedatthehandsofthehostileChristianworldandarenowreadyforrevenge.Shylockisthevillainofthepiece;thereisnodoubtaboutthat.HehatesAntonioforhinderinghisbusinessandfortreatinghimwithterriblecontemptinpublic,andwemustnotdoubtthatfromtheverybeginningShylockhadhopedtogethisrevengeonAntoniobyarrangingtheflesh—bond.Jessica’selopementandtheftofhismoneyandjewelsincreaseShylock’sresentmentagainsttheChristianworld,sothat,althoughhemighthavehadsecondthoughtsaboutexecutinghisrevenge,theynolongertroublehimafterJessica’selopement.HavingfoundhimvictimizedbyAntonio,Shylockwantsaswellashegets.SymbolizingthesternjusticeofOldTestamentlaw,ShylockisapassionatemanthirstingforrevengeandtheridiculousfigureofstereotypedJewishobstinacy,hatred.Usuallycomic,heisattimesgrotesque,andattimeseventouching“HathnotaJeweyes?HathnotaJewlands…”(Shakespeare795).Heisavillainofperseveranceandrestlessenergy,whois,nevertheless,foiledbygoodChristiansintheend.2.2Shylock’srealisticlifeandhisspiritualworldWeallknowthattheJewsinBiblewereGod’schosenpeople,butintheendtheybetrayedtheGod.SotheJewsobeyedTheOldTestament,buttheChristiansobeyedTheNewTestament,becauseofwhichtheirbeliefsweremuchdifferentfromeachother.DuringtheentireMiddleAge,theJewishpeoplewerealternatelyprotectedandpersecutedbythetemporalpowersofwhateverlandtheyinhabited.IthadbeenestablishedbythechurchlongbeforethatChristianswerenottolendthemoneyatinterests,fortodosoworldbeaviolationofTheNewTestamentconceptofcharity.SomoreandmoreJewsbecametradesmanandfinanciers.Althoughtheyweregenerallyabusedbecauseoftheirreligiousdifferences,Jewswerealsofrequentlytoleratedandinvitedintoacountrytostabilizeitsshakyfinancialstructure.OftenthebingebecametheheirofeveryJewandtookoverhisestateupondeath.Consequently,moneylenderswereforcedtochargehighinterstates,whichincreasedastheKings’demandsgrew.ThustheJewsbecamethebufferfortheKings’extortionandthesymbolsofthehatredusurer.ReligiouspersecutionwasoftenaddedtotheeconomicpressuresontheJewsinEngland.TheChristiansoftentreatedtheJewswithterriblecontemptinpublicforreligiousreason,whichbroughtaboutmuchhatredofthelater.Now,let’swatchpartoftheplayagain.InAct1Scene3,whenAntonioasksShylockwhetherornothewilllendthemoneytohim,ShylocksaysthatAntoniohaslongilltreatedhiminpublic.“IntheRialto,youhaveratedmeaboutmymoneyandmynuisance…Youcalledmemisbeliever,cutthroatdog,andspituponmyJewishgabardine,andallforuseofthatwhichismineown”.”WhatshouldIsaytoyou?ShouldInotsayHathdogmoney?Isitpossibleacurcanlendthreethousandducats?”Shylocksaid.Wecannotdenythatapersonbeingsobadlytreateddoesdeserveoursympathy.Inpublic,Antoniohashumiliatedhimfornoreason,buthispersonalbelief.Shylockhassuppressedallhisgrievancesallthetimeuntilthisopportunityoflifehascome.Hepoursoutalltheinjusticehehasencounteredandisdeterminedtorevengewithmostviciousplot.LancelotGobo,theservantofShylock,isplanningtorunawayfromShylocktoBassano,inAct2Scene3,becausehethinksthatShylockisadevil,whichmakesShylocksadlater.BeforeGoboleaves,Jessica,theonlydaughterofShylocksaystohim”Ourhousesishellandthouamerrydevil”andagreeswithhisplantoescape.LaterLancelotleavesandJessicaleftalonewanderswhat“heinoussin”itis.Sheisashamedtobehisfather’sdaughterandisreadytoelopewithLorenzotobefarawayfromShylockwithalotofherfather’sjewels.ThinkingthatsheistheonlydaughterofShylockbyblood,wecanseehowheartbrokenheshouldbe!Thereisnothingmoresympatheticthanlosingtheloveofhisonlyrelativeandthefaithofhisservantofmanyyears.TherepudiationtoherfatherorhismasterisreallybecauseJessicaorGobodon’tunderstandthepooroldman.EveryoneinVenicehatesShylocknamedhimvillaininhisessencebecauseheisaJewandheisgreedymoneylender.ButJessicaandLancelotdon’trealizethispointandtheythinkheisavillaininhisessence.Sowhenthejuncturecomes,theyallgoaway.ThereforewecaneasilyrealizethatShylockisavictimofhistoricalperiodwhenwestandbyhim.InAct4Scene1,afterShylock’scruelplothasfailed,theDukeheartilyapprovesAntonio’sproposalthathemustconverttoChristianityandhemustmakeLorenzohislegalheir.ShylockseemstobetreatedwithChristianmercy,whichshowstheircharity,buttoagreedymoneylender,hewastakenawaynotonlyhalfofhismoneybutalsohisownnationalreligion.Ithasthesameresultastakingawayhislifeanddeprivinghimofhisbelief.Whatacruelpunishmentitis!Perhapsnotingismorecruellythanforcingonetobefarawayfromhisownnationalreligiontohisenemies.NowShylockhasnothing,nohisdaughter,nohisservant,nohismoney,nohisreligionashesaid“…Andnosatisfaction,norevenge!Nornoillluckstirringbutwhatlightsmyshoulder,nosignsbutmybreathing,notearsbutmyshedding.”Itismoresympathetictobeendedinthatway.Shylockisnotonlydeprivedofhisfortunebutalsohisrighttohavehisownbelief.Whataheavyblowitistoamanofthatage!Materialpossessionsaresomethingthatamancanhaveorhavenot,butspiritualbeliefisalmostinseparable,especiallyinthosedays.InAct3Scene1,inalongandpassionatespeech,Shylockdeclaresthatthewillusetheflesh”tobaitfishwithal”ifnothingelse.Itwillfeedhisrevenge,forAntoniohasdisgracedhim,hinderedhisbusiness,laughedhislosses,mockedathisgains,scornedhisnation,thwartedhisbargains,cooledhisfriend,andheatedhisenemies.“Andwhat’shisreason?IamaJew.HathnotaJeweyes?HathnotJewhandsorgans,dimensions,senses,affections,passions?Fedwiththesamefood,hurtwiththesamemeans,warnedandcooledbythesamewinterandsummerasaChristianis?Ifyouprickus,dowenotbleed?Ifyoutickleus,dowenotlaugh?Andifyouwrongme,shallwenotrevenge?Ifwearelikeyouintherest,wewillresembleyouinthat.”Thisisoneofthemostinterestingspeechesintheplayandoneofthemostimportantproblematical.SomeofthemodernhistoricalcriticssupporttheviewthattheJewisessentiallynodifferentfromanyoneelse.ManyElizabethansbelievedasLancelotandsalvationdo,thattheJewwasthedevilimamate.EverythingthatShylocksaysinhisfamousexplanationofhismotiveselicitedthescornoftheRenaissanceChristian,whobelievedthathatredandrevengewereinherentJewishtraits.Intheflesh,JewandChristianmaybeverymuchalike.Inthespirit,intheirwayandmanners,theyareentirelydifferent.ThisistheverypointthatShylockmisses.3Shylock’scomplexpersonalityShylockwasacomplicatedpersonality,asaJew,amerchant,aman,afather.Then,hehadmultidimensionalcharacters:hatefulbutwoeful,man-eatingbuthelpless,richbutselfish.Sohewasparadoxical.Hewaskeentoberespectedbypeople,butwon’trespectothers.HewishedtochangeJew’ssocialstatus,butloosereligiouspower.Hedreamedofhavingahappyfamily,butlosthisfamily.Helookedforwardtobrightfuture,butlostthelight.Hewastwistedbystruggleformdifferentreligions.Hewaspersecutedbythebasisofraceandreligions。3.1ShylockisaJewShylockistheepitomeoftheJewShylockinTheMerchantofVenicewastheepitomesoftheJew,sowecanrecognizetheJewbyShylock,andwehaveknownwhatabouttheJew’slife,charactersanddestiny.FromTheMerchantofVenice,wecanseethatShakespeareknewtheplightoftheJewishpeopleandthereforecreatedaccuratebackgroundforShylock.ThroughexaminationoftheculturalperiodinwhichShakespearelived,thewaythattheChristianstreatShylockandthepresenceofafeelingofvictimization,IwillexplainhowShakespeare’sintentwasnotAntiSemitic.Thetime,inwhichtheexisteddidnotpermithimtohaveaJewishcharacterasahero,soShakespearechallengestheJewishserotypethroughblurringthelinebetweenvillainandvictimwithhiscreationofShylock.Twoviewstowardsanti-Semitism.Therearetwooppositepositionsconcerningtherelationshipbetweenanti-SemiticandShakespeare’sintentionofdepictingShylock,namely,RomanticviewandHistoricalview.AccordingtotheresearchofJ.L.CardozoinTheConternporaryJewinElizabethanDrama,ShakespearedidnotknowanyJewspersonallyandhewasnotactivelyengagedinanti-Semiticcrusade.HewassimplyfollowingacenturiesoldstereotypeoftheJewishpeopleasinMarlow’sTheJewofMalta.TakentheJew’sisbeingpersecutedasabackground;Shylockisdefinitelyoneofthem.FromActISceneiii,Shylockappealinglyrevealstoushowhe,asaJew,hasbeenwronged.“Youcallmemisbeliever,cutthroatdog,andspituponmyJewishgabardine.”Afterhispitifulcomplainabouthissocialstatus,hepresentsushisseeminglyplausiblelogic;”HavenotaJeweyes?HavenotaJewhands,organs,dimensions,senses,affections,passions?IfaChristianwrongsaJew,whatshouldhissufferancebebyChristianexample?Why,revenge.ThevillainyouteachmeIwillexecute;anditshallgohardbutIwillbettertheinstruction.”Shylocksuffersalotfromunbearableracialdiscrimination.Inthissense,heseemstobepartlyjustified.However,accordingtopsychology,everyonetendstooverstateone’smiseriesandtriestofindsoundexcuseforone’sownbehavior.Fromthis,wecaninferthatShylock,inordertojustifyhisrevenge,movinglyrevealshismisfortunesandtosomeextent,exaggerateshisbeingilltreatedasaJewsothathemayseemtobeanoblememberofadowntroddenraceoutcryingthemiseriesoftheraceinsteadofhisown.However,thecaseisthatnotallhisillfateisderivedfromhisidentityasaJew.Histragiclifeis,infact,duetomanyfactors.Soinshort,totheJewishpeopleasawholeforwhichShylockservesasamirror,wedoshowconsiderablesympathyanddefloration.Itisaperseveringnation,includingShylock,andhisrevengeisjustified,however,onlypartlyjustified,foronlyafterthediscussionallthethreeidentities,canweexplicitlyinterpretShylock.Forinstance,inoneofShakespeare’smostfamousmonologues,ShylockarguesthatJewsarehumansandcallshisquestforvengeancetheproductoflessonstaughttohimbythecrueltyusVenetiancitizens.Wecanproveitfromthefollowingscene.Antonio’sfortuneisinvestedinhisships,whichareatsea,whichiswhyhecannotlendthemoneytoBassanohimself.ShylockseesbothprofitandtheopportunitytoholdpoweroverAntoniointhissituation.ShylocktakestheopportunityandagreestolendBassanomoneyinAntonio’sname.ThedealstipulatesthatifAntoniodoesnotpaythemoneybackontime,ShylockisentitledtoapoundoffleshfromAntonio.ThisagaindehumanizesShylockasitshows.3.2ShylockasausurerandavillainUsuryasJew’sonlyoccupationUsury—thelendingofmoneyatexorbitantratesofinterest,waslegalizedinEnglandin1571.RestrictedasJewsfromowningrealpropertiesandkeepingserfswhichwereessentialtotheagrarianeconomyoftheMiddleAges,moreandmoreJewsbecameusurers,whichwastheonlyoccupationtheChristianworldhasleftopentothem.Meanwhile,theChurchhasestablishedthatChristianswerenotallowedtolendmoneyatinterest,whichwasaviolationoftheNewTestamentconceptofcharity.Soatthattime,usurersweremostlycontemptJews,andJewsweremostlycontemptusurers.InTheMerchantofVenice,Shakespeare’sidentityasausurerisneverindoubtbecauseinActSceneii,hisfirstlinedefineshimself,”threeducats,itisagoodroundsum.Threemonthsfromtwelvethenletmeseetherate.”ToShylock,hisbusinessisjust”useofthatwhichismineown.”And“thriftisblessingifmenstealitnot.”Sofarhisoccupation,thoughindecentandcorruptinChristians’eyes,isnotforustocriticize,forthatisallhecandointheworld.WhatIwanttocommentisonhisdisagreementwithAntonio.TheunderlyingreasonaccountingforShylock’shatredlieslargelyintheusuryaffairsratherthanreligiousaffairs.Hesays“lendsourmoneygratis,andhedisagreemeandbringsdowntherateofstanceherewithusinVenice,andhindermeofhalfamillion;laughatmylosses,mockatmygains.”Shylock’sgreedydesireformoneyAstheplaybegins,weareimmediatelythrustintostereotypeasShylockisintroducedasusurerinActI.Bassano,aChristian,seeksoutShylockinordertoborrowthemoneyheneeds.HecomestoShylockinAntonio’sname,anotherChristianwhomShylockbearsagrudgeagainst,“IhatehimbecauseheisChristianIwillfeedthefattheancientgrudgeIbearhim”.ThisgrudgethatwelearnaboutearlyintheplayforeshadowstherevengethatShylocklatertriestheexactuntoAntonio.AntoniospecificallyreferstoShylockasa“dog”severaltimesasiftodehumanizehim.ThisgrudgealsorepresentsShylock’sgreaterhatredforallChristians,whohavetormentedandridiculedhimasaJew.ShakespearemakessuretheaudienceisawareofthereligiouspersecutionShylockhassufferedonbehalfoftheChristians.Itisnaturalforourhumanbeingstocompetewithothersinordertosurviveandtobeangrywiththeonewhodisdainsouroccupation.So,Shylock’shatredtowardsAntonioisunderstandable,however,heoverleapstoomuchandtakeshishatredasagoodexcusetoexecuteinexorableaction.Inthetrialscene,heisjustlikeamaniacdrivenbythenervousfrenzyofaccumulatedhatred.Asausurer,heissupposedtolayhisinterestonmoney,butatlast,wecometorealizethathisrealintentionisonAntonio’slife—arival’slife.Inbrief,hedoesjustifyhishatred.However,hecanbynomeansjustifyhisrelentlessrevenge.TheonlyexplanationwouldbethatShylockissopassionatethathealwaystakesextremeactions,whichistobeanalyzedinsectionIII.Whilethemainplotevolves,ShakespearealsousessubplotstoengagetheaudienceintoShylock’smeanscharacter.HisclownLancelot,whoresidesinVenice,fleesfromShylock’sserviceandjoinsBassano.ThisofcoursefurtherdemonstratesthedamnationofShylockbytheChristians.Ifthiswasnotenough,Shylock’sdaughterJessicarunsawayfromhomeandelopeswithLorenzo,anotherChristian.JessicaandLorenzoalsotakeagreatdealofmoneyandjewelerfromShylock.Whenthisoccurs,ShylockappearsmoreconcernedabouthismoneyandthatitwanstolenbyaChristianthanhedoescareabouthisdaughterbeinggone.ToaChristian,itwouldseemabsurdtovaluemoneymorethanfamily,butthiswasacommonstereotypeofJews.ThistremendoustreacherymarkstheculminationofShylock’spatiencetowardChristians.ThethreemonthslendingperiodhasfinallyarrivedandAntonio’sshipshavenotturnedprofitintime.ShylockfuriouslydemandsAntoniotopayhimforthethreethousandducatshehadlenttoBassano.Thisbringsustotheclimaxoftheplay,thefamoustrialscene.ThecontractispresentedandShylockstressesthatthelawdemandsasignedcontracttobecarriedout.Antoniocanoffernodefense,astheletteroftheJewclearlysituatesthatAntonioisboundbycontracttogiveShylockapoundofhisflesh.JustasthejudgeisabouttosidewithShylock,PortiaarrivesdisguisedasadoctoroflawandproceedstoconvinceShylocktohavemercyonAntonio.MercyisaqualitythatanyChristianwouldbeexpectedtoexactinasituationlikethis.ShylockdeniesanymercyanddemandshispoundoffleshfromAntonio.Wecanseeitfromthreesides:Firstly,Shylockrunsafterwealthunremittingly.IntheMerchantofVenice,heisequallyaJewusurerandthemostvividimage.Withthedevelopmentoftheplotandthethoroughdescriptionofcontradiction,histruefeaturesgraduallyappearbeforeus:Beingamiser,hemakeshislivingbypracticingusuryandregardsmoneyashislife.Heisraptinmoneyandinordertocollectmore,heevensitswatchinghisservantsufferstarvation.What’sworse,heabandonshisservantandcallshim”lazywasp”,eventuallyhisservantturnsanewhostforhelp.Simultaneously,itisalsoanakedrelationshipconcerningaboutmoneybetweenShylockandhisdaughter.Helockshisdaughterathomeandmakeshisguardwealthforhimanddoesnotallowhertogoout.Asaresult,hisdaughterregardsherhomeasthehellanddecidestorunawaywithhisloverinadarknight.IntheMerchantofVenice,Shylocknotonlyrunsafterwealth,butalsoexecratestheemergingcapitalistclassrepresentedbyAntonio.Soheratherchoosestohaveaweightofcarrionfleshthantoreceivethreethousandducats.Atthispoint,theuglyimageofShylockisclearlyreflectedinShakespeare’swriting.HerefusesalltermsandonlywantstokillAntonio,eventhoughhecanbeofferedmoreducatsifhegivesuptheplanandsparesAntonio’slife.Certainly,Shylockistheplay’santagonist.Ononehand,heismenacingenoughtoseriouslyimperilthehappinessofVenice’sbusinessmen,suchasAntonio,Bassano,andsoon.Ontheotherhand,Shylockisalsoacreationofcircumstance,eveninhissinglemindedpursuitofapoundofflesh;hisfrequentmentionsofthecrueltyhehasenduredatChristianhandsmakeithardforustolabelanaturalbornmonster.Secondly,Shylockrepeatedlyattemptstorevengethewrongsdonetohimbymurderinghispersecutor,Antonio;hiscoldnesspreventsusfromregardinghiminaprimarilypositivelight.Inaddition,therearelotsofunmistakablyhumanmomentsintheplay,andwecannothelpconsideringShylockasamiserly,cruel,andprosaicfigure.Bycontrast,Portiaisaquickwitted,wealthyandbeautifulwoman.Atthebeginningoftheplay,wemaybenotawareofPortia’srealcharacters:Sheissowiseandhasthepotentialfoeinitiativeandresourcefulness.What’smore,sheappearsalmostaprisoner,asshehastofollowherfather’sdyingwishes.However,wecanunderstandPortiamoredeeplyandpictureaclearerimageofherinmindbecaus