A Jewish moneylender. Often seen as the villain, but he is also a victim of intense bullying and systemic prejudice.
: Many editions include an expanded literature guide with key questions, plot analysis, and quotes organized by theme or character. no fear shakespeare merchant of venicepdf
Character descriptions and commentary offer context for complex scenes. Themes in The Merchant of Venice A Jewish moneylender
Understanding Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice with No Fear Shakespeare The edition of The Merchant of Venice Shylock, who has been mistreated by Antonio, demands
Bassanio, a young nobleman, needs 3,000 ducats to court the wealthy heiress Portia. His friend Antonio, a merchant, borrows the money from Shylock, a Jewish moneylender. Shylock, who has been mistreated by Antonio, demands a "pound of flesh" as collateral if the debt is not repaid in three months.