Shylock is in many ways much more difficult for us to deal with today than for Shakespeare's audience. We have seen a hatred for the Jews since Shakespeare's time with Hitler's attempt to wipe out the Jewish race, but people in Shakespeare's day were unlikely to have met Jews who had not converted to Christianity as they had already been banned from England for three hundred years. So people in England would be opposing the character Shylock because they are ignorant of the Jews.
Jews had always been seen as a problem in the Middle Ages and had been practising Judaism privately and secretly giving the impression that they're scared and cautious of their religion, not being tolerated in this country.
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Throughout the last two thousand years, into the twentieth century, Jews have been the victims of random pogroms. For instance, the crusaders, who sought to rid the holy land of infidels in the middle ages, murdered Jews and pillaged Jewish property whilst travelling to the Middle East. .
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Racism still exists today and in The Merchant of Venice' through the sufferance and rogue character of Shylock. .
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Shylock is portrayed as both a victim and a villain. His character is ambiguous - he is portrayed as both a stereotypical Jew: vicious and cunning, and also as a fastidious, compassionate person who deserves our sympathy. His role is very complex. .
At the beginning of the play, we find out that Shylock has suffered lots of abuse at the hands of the Christians, particularly Antonio. Antonio publicly humiliates Shylock and criticises him about the way he lends money, which suggests he is a victim. This is demonstrated when Shylock says to Antonio:.
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Signior Antonio many a time and oft .
In the Rialto you have rated me.
About my moneys and usances:.
Still I have borne it with a patient shrug,.
For sufferance is the badge of our tribe.