Shylock's contribution to the play and effective qualities, which are used for a dramatic conclusion

The first 200 words of this essay...

Shylocks contribution to the play and effective qualities, which are used for a dramatic conclusion

In this essay I shall be looking closely at the character of Shylock, analysing his contribution to the play all the way through the essay and the effective qualities, which are used to make the dramatic conclusion. I intend to investigate what Shakespeare does to create such an immense character, filled with many layers of personality, which are completely unpredictable. I also wish to examine how Shylock contributes to such a phenomenal conclusion. But first I shall look at relationship between Christians and Jews, as this is the key storyline underneath all of the drama.

Nowadays there is a large fraction of Christians on the planet, and just a handful of Jews in comparison. The Jewish religion has always been in the minority. When the play was set the ratio was still very similar. The Jews were hated and treated awfully since 250BC. The Jews were hated because they possessed too much wealth and power compared to the Christians. In some areas Jews were not allowed to have jobs so the only job they could do was lending money. Another reason