The Image of the Murderous Jew

This page traces how the image of the murderous Jew, outlined in The History of the Jews in England, is intimated by the characterization of Shylock in Shakespeare's play-text.

The progressive abuse of Shylock as a usurer, which leads to the reduction of his humanity to a demonic form, should fully prepares us for the revelation in The Merchant of Venice that Shylock's motive for the entire bond with Antonio is murder. By murdering Antonio, Shylock will be rid of a bothersome business of rival.

The play appears to suggest that Bassanio was right to caution Antonio to suspect "fair terms and a villain's mind" (I,iii,179) because the end of Act Three, Scene One reveals Shylock's true motive:

I will have the heart of him if he forfeit, for were

He out of Venice I can make what merchandise I

Will. (III,i,127-29)

The play suggests that Shylock is bent on murder from the outset of his bond with Antonio. The potential for further financial profit that murdering his business rival would provide is the obvious motivation that underlies the deceptive terms of the bond. In short, Shylock is provided with murderous motivation and the guile to deceptively mask that motivation until Antonio is apparently trapped within the terms of his contract with the murderous Shylock.

This image of the murderous Jew is supported by the vibrant blood-lust that Shylock exhibitsthrough numerous places in the play-text. Jessica relates how

When I was with him I have heard him swear

To Tubal and to Chus, his countrymen,

That he would rather have Antonio's flesh

Than twenty times the value of the sum

That he did owe him. (III,ii,284-88)

Upon learning of Antonio's financial ruin, Shylock declares

I'm very glad of it. I'll plague him, I'll

Torture him, I am glad of it. (III,i,116-17)

As trial scene progresses, Shylock clearly relishes forfeit that is due him: he whets his knife, rejoicing at the prospect of cutting Antonio's chest:

Ay, his breast,

So says the bond, doth it not noble judge?

'Nearest the heart,' those are the very words (IV,i,252-3)

So once again the image of the malignant murderous Jew is vividly portrayed by the obvious malicious blood-lust of Shylock in the play.

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