Do you sympathise with Shylock? Consider the presentation of his character and the way he is treated by Venetian Society.

A Jewish moneylender in 16th Century Venice named Shylock was badly treated by Venetian society. This does not entitle him to any sympathy, as much of his treatment he brings upon himself. His thirst for revenge and his harshness to other characters in the play are proof of this.

The main thing wrong with Shylock is his love of money. His makes readers unsympathetic towards him. We first meet Shylock in Act one scene three. His first words were ‘Three thousand ducats’; this is a message from Shakespeare to show his love of money. On the other hand in the courtroom scene in act four he turns down the amount of ‘If every ducat in six thousand ducats were in six parts and each part was a ducat’. He does this for his extreme hatred of the Christian community, especially Antonio. Yet this the only serves to amplify the readers dislike of this man, because he has lost his love of money in his more extreme hatred of another human being, which is fuelling his vengeance....