Journal Feb. 23

1. I believe that Shylock is a tragicomedic character; however, I think the play is a comedy. The play is a comedy because is comedies the character who causes the problem usually dies or is banished. In Merchant of Venice, Shylock, who causes the problem, has a spiritual death. He is forced to convert to Christianity, and to him it probably felt like he was disobeying Judism and that he would go to hell, which is worse than death. However, I believe that he was a tragicomedic character. He clearly has some traits of being a comedic villain. One of the main characteristics of a comedic villain is that they are stupid. Back when Shakespeare wrote this play, the audience probably thought that Shylock was one of the stupidest people on earth. They probably thought this because he was a Jew, and Jews were hated. He was also threatening a Christian's life. They thought that Christianity was the best religion and threatening a Christian was a very stupid thing to do. Another characteristic of being a comedic villain is that they are pure evil. The audience of this play back when Shakespeare wrote it probably thought that Shylock was pure evil because he was a Jew and he was threatening a Christian. However, I think that Shylock changes from being just a comedic villain to a tragicomedic character at loc. 3437. This is when Shylock gives his "Hath not a Jew" speech. During this speech, he shows that he is a tragic character. He says that he is doing this for revenge just like what a Christian would do if a Jew wronged them. He also shows that he is just a human and is not evil, he is just acting like how a Christian would if a Christian were in his position. This is why I believe that he is a tragicomedic character.