How far is Shylock a character for whom we can feel sympathy? How would a contemporary audience’s response to him differ from that of an audience in Shakespeare’s time?

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How far is Shylock a character for whom we can feel sympathy?  How would a contemporary audience’s response to him differ from that of an audience in Shakespeare’s time?

        The Merchant of Venice was written by William Shakespeare in the Elizabethan period.  The play is a tragic-comedy written in his second period.  The action takes place in Venice and Belmont, although Belmont is imaginary.  The Merchant of Venice is about Shylock a Jewish money lender, trying to survive and make a living in a country, which despises and alienates him.  Throughout the play Shylock is looked down upon, humiliated, betrayed, deserted and punished by the Christian society.  In the Elizabethan period England was a strict Christian country, which taught its children the essentials of the Christian faith at an early age.  From the beginning of the play Shylock is condemned by the audience for being a Jew and a money lender.  At this time in England the Christian religion didn’t allow money lending and loathed the Jewish religion.  Jews were forbidden to engage in any sort of trade in England so the only occupation open to them was money lending.  In Venice, the Christians lived in the centre of the Venetian community and on the outskirts lived most of the Jews.  Jews were excluded from society and portrayed as inferior and lower than Christians.  Shylock is the father of Jessica, who elopes with Lorenzo during the play.  Shylock is a hated for his greed.  He is Antonio’s enemy and uses his power against him when Bassanio ask to borrow money.

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        Shylock’s first line in the play is

  ‘Three thousand ducats...’

This line can be interpreted in two different ways.  I can either be seen as a man trying to make a living or a very greedy man with only one thing on his mind; money.  I think he fits in with the cold greedy character as he guards his possessions with his life.  The only two significant things to Shylock are related to money, his wealth and his money lending trade.  During Act 1 Scene 3 Shylock seems quite jovial and as if he is an agreeable business ...

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