In the Merchant of Venice should one sympathies with Shylock?

Question

By shakespear

Answer 1

That is an excellent question. I would argue "yes," to a point. On one hand, Shylock is selfish and vengeful. On the other hand, he is also abused, tormented, and his trial is a mockery of justice. The significance of this play is understanding the nature of revenge and justice. Just because someone is malicious does not mean that they do not deserve justice and fairness. There are mitigating factors with Shylock that have to be considered. He is also a victim of anti-Semitism. In the end, the audience should sympathize with Shylock for the unfair treatment that drives his anger, but they cannot totally excuse his vindictiveness either. There is a balance to be found here, and finding that balance is the key to this play.

p.s. You'll want to cite me if you're using me for your homework. Teachers are getting pretty smart about this internet thing. It would not be hard to do a search and find this. ;-)