merchant of venice

This essay studies the way in which Shylock, the moneylender, is depicted in Shakespeare's Merchant of Venice in the First Act. The essay studies the language used by Shakespeare himself and how this would affect the Elizabethan and modern audiences.

This essay is from the Merchant of Venice. Shylock is a Jew, a member of a race feared and despised by the Elizabethans for a reason that is complex and historical, and only partially religious. The Jews were hated for their blibical role in the crucifixion of Jesus and European countries from the twelfth century. This essay provides a complex look into the character Shylock in the "Merchant of Venice".