The Merchant Of Venice Foil Essay

Both William Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice and Christopher Marlowe's The Jew of Malta employ anti-semitic stereotypes to portray their main Jewish characters, Shylock and Barabas. Both of these characters embody exaggerated and stereotyped Jewish characteristics that directly juxtapose with the traits of their Christian foils. Through the comparison of these two religious depictions, these negative portrayals of Jewish characters can bring out either the positive or negative elements in Christianity. In The Merchant of Venice, Shylock's selfishness and greed is presented as a foil to Antonio's good and selfless morality, meanwhile, Barabas' barbarity brings out revenge, violence, and immorality in even the most pious Christians in

Where moments before Shylock was seemingly desperate to take Antonio's life regardless of money, when the tables are turned Antonio insists that Shylock's life be spared. Thus, Antonio's Christian mercy is presented in contrast to Shylock's Jewish rage and bloodlust. The contrast between these two characters can be seen most evidently in their separate interpretations of the biblical story of Jacob and his sheep. Shylock views Jacob as a businessman, cleverly breeding and collecting all the spotted sheep for his 'interest', "This was a way to thrive, and he was blest. / And thrift is blessing, if men steal it not" (?????). In this interpretation, Shylock equates himself to the thrifty Jacob, merely breeding his money as Jacob did the sheep. However, Antonio, a Christian, interprets Jacob's earning as a blessing sent from heaven, not a result of intentional thrift or cunning, but instead a reward that Jacob earned from diligently tending to the sheep. Shylock's twisting of this Christian story puts further emphasis on the righteousness of Christianity and of Antonio, all while further incriminating the Jewish