Introduction
Shylock is presented as a villain as shown by his stringent terms he gave Antonio while borrowing loan from him. Shylock is evil because he treated Antonio unfairly because he was a Christian. He gave very strict conditions of repaying his loan. He argued that if Antonio failed to pay the loan a pound of flesh will be cut from his body. This condition showed how inhuman Shylock was towards the Christians. "Two thousand ducats in that and other precious, jewels my daughter were dead at my foot " Act 3 Scene 1 line 83. Shylock also wanted her daughter Jessica dead because she left him. These words show that Schlock is not a good father for wishing her daughter dead.
Shylock is also portrayed as a persecuted human being in the play. He suffered from very heavy persecution. He was persecuted because he was a Jew. He was insulted constantly and the people made him feel like not a human being in reality. Antonio treated Shylock in a very harsh manner. “He has disgraced me, laughed at my lossesscorned my nation, heated mine enemies" Act 3 Scene 1, line 52.
Shylock is also portrayed as a figure of fun and comedy while keeping his money and her daughter in check. The comic character of trait of Shylock was also seen when he was forced to convert to Christianity. This was funny because Shylock had a negative attitude towards Christianity but at the end of the trial he was forced to convert to Christianity. Shylock was very funny while comparing the Jews to Christians claiming that Jews also shed blood when pricked. "Hath a Jew not eyesIf you prick, us do we not bleed? “Act 3 scene1 line 59-70.
