"The Merchant of Venice": Critical Evaluation

In this essay I intend to decide whether Shylock is a victim or villain, whether he is good or bad evil and twisted or just driven by revenge.
"The Merchant of Venice" is set in Elizabethan times, when Jews were hated and persecuted for their religion. Jewish people had to adapt. They lived in tight knit communities. They worked hard and became lawyers, doctors and successful business men. In turn this caused Christians to be jealous of their success and hate them more. As a result of this Shylock becomes bitter and twisted. However it is when his daughter runs is away with his enemy…