https://padlet.com/doubled1019/4efz8nc9jf3o6xm0 Made by Dallas Yarnal en-us 2021-05-15 00:22:12 UTC 2026-03-14 19:58:03 UTC hello@padlet.com https://padlet.net/icons/png/1f4d3.png doubled1019 https://padlet.com/doubled1019/4efz8nc9jf3o6xm0/wish/1526473549 Before one can make assumptions of how he'd be interpreted in the modern ways, we must take a look at how he was interpreted in the past, then we can begin cracking down on specific parts of what would need to change or what would be unable to be interpreted because of how the world's thinking has changed.

Shylock, back in the days of Shakespeare, was a Jewish moneylender that did not even want his job but was more so forced into it due to the fact that everything else denied him a job due to his religious beliefs. In turn, this turns him bitter and makes him very determined to get his payment from Antonio. Antonio was anti-Semitic, but this was a lot more common back then due to the fear of Jewish people in Christian communities, and this lead to the interpretation that Shylock was evil from the start and all his actions were ill natured, be it out of bloodlust, greed, or other motives. However...]]> 2021-05-15 00:24:22 UTC https://padlet.com/doubled1019/4efz8nc9jf3o6xm0/wish/1526473549 doubled1019 https://padlet.com/doubled1019/4efz8nc9jf3o6xm0/wish/1526485918 In a completely modern interpretation, a person would have to be anti-Semitic or believe the stereotypes about Jewish people to call Shylock's religion into question to determine if he is good or evil. In fact, I'd argue people are more likely to see Shylock was a victim of circumstance and find his actions believable in the circumstances due to the suffering he has endured at the hands of Christians, which molded him into the businessman he is today. This, in turn, does a complete one eighty of what past interpretations would have due to how the world was back then, and shows the progress everyone has made to not believe everything in regards to supremacy or fearing another religion.]]> 2021-05-15 00:36:43 UTC https://padlet.com/doubled1019/4efz8nc9jf3o6xm0/wish/1526485918 doubled1019 https://padlet.com/doubled1019/4efz8nc9jf3o6xm0/wish/1526492277 Naturally, as seen in the play, Shylock is an extremely "vicious" businessman that wished to get his just payment for loaning money to someone who views him as less, and it was the agreed upon payment. While, yes, a pound of flesh is a bit brutal, it was what he wanted in return for lending the money and I believe audiences now and days would sympathize with him struggling to get his just dues. They would also see that, while a pound of flesh could not be equal to getting the money back, it is his business nature and could be based on how he was treated by the world, making him more brutal. Hence, he is a creation of circumstance and the cruel world making him this way.]]> 2021-05-15 00:43:14 UTC https://padlet.com/doubled1019/4efz8nc9jf3o6xm0/wish/1526492277 doubled1019 https://padlet.com/doubled1019/4efz8nc9jf3o6xm0/wish/1526521291 The problem with how Shylock's fate is at the end of the play is this; it is completely just jumping through loopholes and, back then, this was seen as heroic and awesome because it was putting the antagonist in their place and making the protagonists happy. However, I believe that a modern interpretation of how the play ended for Shylock would be seen as downright unfair and not see it as a good ending, considering that I've already stated that many would see Shylock as a victim of happenstance, not an antagonist even! He was just given a bad hand in life, and he is punished by those that are wrong in the end, given that he was always beaten down in life and had to adapt to the cruel world. That is why I believe that a modern audience would not support this sort of ending.]]> 2021-05-15 00:52:58 UTC https://padlet.com/doubled1019/4efz8nc9jf3o6xm0/wish/1526521291 doubled1019 https://padlet.com/doubled1019/4efz8nc9jf3o6xm0/wish/1526529426 In terms of the themes shown in regards to Shylock, especially the one in terms of mercy, I believe that some would hold, while others would hold like a water in a basket with holes. In regards to the theme of a hatred-bound circle due to the abuse the Christians gave him, in turn making him more vicious, I would say this holds up because people would be able to sympathize with a person for changing with the world, even if it does make him more evil. However, in terms of the theme of mercy being divine, I'd argue that is unable to hold up because people wouldn't see getting your just due as merciful or brutal, just you getting what you deserve. They'd also see Portia's brutal ways of taking everything away from Shylock as hypocritical of a person preaching mercy while he is just a man trying to get what he deserves from the deal.]]> 2021-05-15 01:00:34 UTC https://padlet.com/doubled1019/4efz8nc9jf3o6xm0/wish/1526529426 doubled1019 https://padlet.com/doubled1019/4efz8nc9jf3o6xm0/wish/1526532391 In a simple term, no. This play, especially due to the treatment of Shylock, would not fly because it isn't a play that ends in the right way. It is a play that, given a modern interpretation, shows the evil winning and people that are truly brutal getting nothing but cheers. Shylock is a prime example of why it wouldn't fly, as he is an antagonist that isn't evil, or bad, or anything too negative. He may have done some vicious stuff, but that is due to how he was brought up in the world that hated him just for being Jewish, and that is the biggest reason why a modern version of this wouldn't work; it is completely based on the hatred he had placed on him as a Jew, and changing it to a race or anything else just would add to the reasons why it wouldn't work. A modern audience would sympathize with a person being put down over their religion, race, what have you and they would be quick to note the ending supports the wrong side.]]> 2021-05-15 01:03:41 UTC https://padlet.com/doubled1019/4efz8nc9jf3o6xm0/wish/1526532391