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 the Elizabethan era when he penned this comedy. The possibilities of honing Shylock's persona are vast. I have ch…
