Monday 1 February 2010

Question for 1st February

X is a character from a play written in the late 16th century, and was involved in a profession that the majority thought was sinful. X and his community (who were minorities) were repeatedly insulted by the majority and this served to antagonize X against them, especially Y, who is one of the main protagonists of the play. Initial depictions of the play potrayed X as a straight villian and Y as a man with honour. However, starting from the 19th century, a tradition of playing X more sympathetically evolved, and X was frequently shown as a more complicated character who was justified in seeking revenge against Y. For example, a 2004 movie based on the play starring Al Pacino developed the character and settings to show how X's community was abused by the majority population. Indeed, one of the more poignant passages of the play is a famous speech by X (speech edited for this question):

"Hath not we eyes? Hath not we hands, organs; fed with the same food, hurt with the same weapons, subject to the same diseases as you are? If you prick us, do we not bleed? If you tickle us, do we not laugh? If you poison us, do we not die? And if you wrong us, shall we not revenge?"

Identify X.

9 comments:

PS said...

Shylock, the moneylender in the Merchant of Venice, who asks Antonio for one pound of flesh in return for the money he owed him.

Ankur said...

Shylock

anuj said...

Shylock from merchant of venice

IC said...

X = Shylock the Jew.
Y = Antonio.
The play = Merchant of Venice.

Rahul said...

Y- Shakespeare's Othello.
X- The villian, I forget his name.

Dev said...

Shylock, from the Shakespearean play "The Merchant of Venice".

Nikhil said...

This has to be Shylock from the Merchant of Venice.

Unknown said...

OMG! Shylock from Merchant of Venice :D

The Answer said...

The answer is indeed Shylock from The Merchant of Venice. Congrats to Pravin, Ankur, Anuj, Ishani, Dev, Nikhil and Niky for the correct answer. Sorry Rahul, right author, wrong play.