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Madeleine Kash

Mr. Rogan

ENG 2D1-06

4 March 2020

The Manifestation of Human Malice

Throughout the development of literature, several authors have explored the dual nature

of humanity. Humans have two facets of feelings, either genuinely good or evil. The benevolent

side leads to merciful and loving intentions. However, malevolence causes humans to be spiteful,

insulting and to yearn for ruthless revenge. In The Merchant of Venice by William Shakespeare,

there is much evidence of hatred and evil behaviors amongst the characters. It is apparent that

humans have a wicked facet to their nature as exhibited in this play.

As soon as the story begins, we discover that Antonio, the protagonist and titular figure,

is not always quite a kind and merciful person as he is depicted. Though he indeed shows much

love and generosity to his friends and fellow Christians, Antonio is very capable of prejudice and

loathing. We see the wealthy merchant demonstrate his malevolent facet to his nemesis, Shylock,

the “Jewish” money launderer. Antonio treats the “Jew” as if he were subhuman. On several

occasions, he spits on Shylock and insults him as well as his religion by calling him a cutthroat

dog. Antonio even tells the banker “I am as like to call thee so again, /To spet on thee again, to

spurn thee too” (Shakespeare, MV 1.3.128–129). He is openly admitting that he plans on

continuing to insult Shylock. Though Antonio feels his evil actions are justified by his nemesis’

cruel nature, he is being far from fair. Antonio says that he will not stop calling him demeaning

names or spitting on him. This is especially inconsiderate and rude as in reality; Shylock is about
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to lend him a large sum of money. Hence, Antonio should be more respectful of the man who he

is entering into a bond with instead of letting his evil aspect be exposed. His hostile comportment

towards his nemesis is evidently excessive. Due to the titular figure’s racism and offensive

behaviours, Shylock has an intense hatred for him. He also resents the fact that Antonio is a

Christian and that he gives out loans free from interest which lowers the money lender’s profits.

Therefore, Shylock’s desire for revenge is somewhat sensible due to how he has been treated.

His intense will to harm Antonio to the point of death, however, is not justified and it

exemplifies a truly malevolent nature. Furthermore, when the Merchant of Venice comes to him

for a loan, the evil money launderer engages him in a terrible bond, that puts his life at stake.

Shylock agrees to lend him three thousand ducats, on the condition that if the debt is not fully

paid off in three months, a pound of Antonio’s flesh will be extracted for collateral.

Unfortunately for the merchant, the debt could not be paid off in time and the evil “Jew” was

strict in demanding the fulfillment of his bond. Shylock declared “The villainy you teach me I

will execute, and it shall go hard but I will better the instruction” (3.1.70–73). He is saying that

he ought to have revenge, even though he is fully aware that killing Antonio is a larger crime

than the nobleman’s original offenses against him. Shylock also attempts to validate his desire

for vengeance by stating that he is only a villain since the Christians were first cruel to him and

because the wealthy merchant taught Shylock by example. Consequently, Shylock feels he is

right to take pleasure in a greater punishment for Antonio. Through his actions, the cruel “Jew”

shows how twisted and malevolent people can become. The play in general offers much proof of

the negative facet of humanity’s dual nature. Another written work that demonstrates hatred is

Les Misérables by Victor Hugo. This is a novel that follows several characters’ lives and

interactions but particularly examines the struggles and experiences of an ex-convict named Jean
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Valjean on his way to redemption. Jean had been arrested for a minor crime to begin with but has

tried to escape his sentence many times which has only increased it. Once he is fortunate enough

to get out of prison without being caught, Valjean realizes what a shame his life has become and

starts down the road to self-improvement. However, Javert, the police inspector, has

continuously been searching for the ex-convict and has become obsessed with finding him out of

abhorrence. The detective wants to return Jean Valjean to jail, where he feels he belongs. Though

Javert feels that capturing him is for the common good, it is more due to his false annotation that

lawbreakers never change, a thought which is biased by his malevolence and hatred for Valjean.

The narrator describes the moment when the eyes of the two men met, observing that “Javert, …

became hideous. No human emotion can wear an aspect so terrible as that of jubilation. He had

the face of a fiend who has found the victim he thought he had lost” (Hugo 1059). The

implication is that Javert became like a terrible beast because of his brutish jubilation at finally

finding his adversary. He was so exited to have a chance to punish Valjean for his past actions

because of his hatred for him. Javert’s innate enmity is demonstrated in this moment.

As explained through these works, is clear that there is an evil and hateful side to human

nature. The Merchant of Venice by the Bard of Avon manifests that humans are capable of great

racism and prejudice like Antonio towards the “Jewish” moneylender. Also, it is not uncommon

to hold grudges and yearn for ruthless revenge like Shylock did in his evil bond. In Les

Misérables by Victor Hugo it is shown that human beings occasionally become so consumed by

hatred, to the point where the good in things can no longer be seen. No matter the context or

application, the points brought up about the dual nature of humanity remain true. People can so

effortlessly fall into the lies of their malevolent facet, without realizing that hatred doesn’t

benefit anyone, it is simply an excuse to stop fighting the beastly human nature.
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Works Cited

Hugo, Victor “Les Misérables” Translated by Isabel Hapgood. Ed. Canterbury Classics: Printers

Row Publishing Group, 2012.

Shakespeare, William “The Merchant of Venice” Ed. Roma Gill: Oxford University Press, 2010.