My Three Shylocks A study of the character, Shylock

May 2, 2001 Paper #3 My Three Shylocks Shylock, the Jew, is the most memorable and controversial character in Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice. In the course of the four centuries that have elapsed since the first presentation of this work, the portrayal of Shylock has become a mirror of each succeeding Christian society's attitude towards the Jewish community in their midst. One of the most popular theories is that Shakespeare was pandering to the anti-Semitic views of …

…He gave up too easily to the pressures of the Christian court. This "Catalyst" cares more about honor than life. This Shylock the Catalyst is figuratively hauled "kicking and screaming" from the courtroom. He would rather die than renounce his heritage and feign being a Christian. Shylock the Catalyst will always be true to himself. Shakespeare missed the boat. He not only wrote for the common man, he could not rise above venerating common injustice.