Shylock: Victim or Villain?

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Shylock: Victim or Villain?

For this coursework I will be studying Shylock and if he is a victim or villain or indeed both. For the past term, I have been studying "The Merchant of Venice" and how he relates to other characters very closely to get a real feeling what about Shylock's personality is like.

Jews in Venice had formed strong communities taking pride in their religion. Jews were known as being intelligent, hard working people who had a good business sense in the real world, However not everyone liked the Jews. Shylock also had to endure cruelty from the Christians of Venice and Shakespeare specifically focuses on Antonio and the Court's treatment to him.

Shylock suffers constant verbal abuse which he has to endure. Antonio's treatment by his fellow Venetians is a great example of what Jews have had top put up with over the previous centuries, being called a "faithless Jew" meaning they are cruel, evil people. Everyday Shylock would have to endure this constant abuse from every angle making him feel like an outsider. The verbal abuse would suggest Shylock should die with the public calling him "old carrion" this would make Shylock