Antonio displays great hostile feelings towards him, mocking him, but Antonio while saying this is trying to get a loan off of Shylock. Other points in the play where Solanio refers to Shylock as a "dog", "As the dog Jew did utter the streets." He is labelled as an animal here but on what grounds is he called this, as there is no clear evidence. He again. Is labelled as "devil" by Bassanio on two separate occasions, " And curb this cruel devil of his will." And, "Here to this devil, to deliver you." His own daughter even calls him a devil, when talking to Launcelot she describes her house and father, " Our house is hell, and thou a merry devil.".
There is clear Christian prejudice towards Shylock. There seems to be no sound basis for the hatred of this man. Clearly people hate him because of his success in business and the vogue of hating Jews at that point in time. Shylock has structured the play to empathise with the Christian point of view. We can tell this because Shakespeare has introduced us all properly to Christian characters which makes the reader want to associate with them. We first feel sympathy for Antonio, as he is worried about his ships. On the contrary when introduced to Shylock it is during a business deal and he is being shrewd and tough. This makes us want the Christians to succeed and Shylock to loose. Shakespeare associates "good" with Christians and "bad" with the Jews, when clearly he is biased.
But what makes the Christians right? Somehow this group of Christians are like vultures; picking at the vulnerable one.
Bassanio who labels Shylock as a "devil" but can he be taken seriously? A man who freely admits he lives by chance, "For as I am, I live upon the rack" speaks this. Also Bassanio is willing to seal to a bond that could see his dearest friend Antonio die. How do we know Jessica is a good daughter to Shylock? Jessica is courting a Christian behind her father's back, which clearly demonstrates deceit.
