because sympathy is what Shakespeare specializes in
What an interesting concept. I've seen you say similar things before, but this is the first time I think it sort of clicked for me.
But Shylock is still a villain, and it's not entirely because he's a Jew. He's a bad person who does bad things, and . . .well, the bad things he does are linked to his Jewishness but they're not JUST his Jewishness.
It's interesting... I think the story would let you dismiss most of his "villainization" as racism... right up until the end. But, even that said, the end hurt to watch on many fronts. I was both freaked out by what might have happened to Antonio and by what did happen to Shylock. The forced conversion made my jaw drop...
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
timeasmymeasure
no subject
Date: 2010-06-21 03:28 am (UTC)because sympathy is what Shakespeare specializes in
What an interesting concept. I've seen you say similar things before, but this is the first time I think it sort of clicked for me.
But Shylock is still a villain, and it's not entirely because he's a Jew. He's a bad person who does bad things, and . . .well, the bad things he does are linked to his Jewishness but they're not JUST his Jewishness.
It's interesting... I think the story would let you dismiss most of his "villainization" as racism... right up until the end. But, even that said, the end hurt to watch on many fronts. I was both freaked out by what might have happened to Antonio and by what did happen to Shylock. The forced conversion made my jaw drop...