Shylock analysis essay

The controversies surrounding Shylock have no simple resolution. His views on human nature are profound and eloquent. His motivations are based on rectifying the injustice inflicted on his people by Christians. He is principled and adheres to his faith despite the social repercussions.

Some commentators have said that the character of Shylock is an example of Elizabethan (and Shakespeare's own) anti-Semitism. In contrast, many have seen the creation of Shylock as an attack on this kind of intolerance. But Shakespeare, they forget, was a dramatist.

Central to Shylock’s character is the historical role of Jewish people in 17th-century Europe. Jews were expelled from Britain in 1290 CE, so Shakespeare’s Elizabethan audience would likely never have encountered an openly Jewish person. In 17th-century Venice, moneylending was one of the few professions available to Jewish people.

As Shylock claims at the end of the trial, taking away his wealth is akin to killing him. So, even if Shylock is sometimes materially fixated, it is not without reason. However, his alleged greed is subverted on several occasions, such as when he finds out that Jessica sold the turquoise ring.