Deadly Sin

2 Responses to “How is Shylock in "The Merchant of Venice" guilty of the deadly sins of avarice, envy, and wrath?”

1. Jill on December 18th, 2010 at 3:41 pm

   Avarice – greed.
   In the time of Shakespeare, Jews had the same stereotype that they do now: greedy, penny-pinching, ruthless jerks. As such, Shylock is characterized as a greedy jerk. Also, if my memory serves me right, in that time in Italy, only Jews were legally allowed to give loans that could accumulate interest on payments, which could also characterize him as a greedy character.

   Shylock is envious of what’s-his-face’s success, popularity, everything. You know, the guy he loans the money to, I forget his name. That’s why, when the other guy’s shipments fail, instead of money, Shylock wants a pound of flesh. Envy and even a little bit of greed.

   Hell, that last example can show how Shylock embodies wrath. Rather than rationally accepting the loss and asking for payment at a later date, Shylock hatefully wants to cut out the other guy’s (Antonio? Is that it?) heart. When he is foiled, as he’s only allowed the pound of flesh (he is not allowed a single drop of the guy’s blood, and if the guy dies, then Shylock could be hanged), he goes into a rage and essentially runs off.
   References :
   Freshman high school lit class

2. Pharaoh on December 18th, 2010 at 4:01 pm

   The Merchant of Venice Themes

   http://www.litcharts.com/lit/themerchantofvenice/themes

   http://www.shmoop.com/merchant-of-venice/themes.html

   http://www.sparknotes.com/shakespeare/merchant/themes.html

   http://www.cummingsstudyguides.net/xMerchantof.html#Themes

   http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/english_literature/dramamerchantvenice/4drama_merchant_themerev1.shtml

   Character Analysis of Shylock

   http://www.articlemyriad.com/character_analysis_shylock_merchant_venice_shakespeare.htm
   References :

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