Sympathetic Portrayal of Jews through Shylock

Through Shylock and Antonio’s heated dialogue and Antonio’s cruel treatment of Shylock, Shakespeare illustrates the harsh discrimination of Jews during the 16th century and portrays Shylock and other Jews in more a sympathetic light, as the Christians’ hatred of Jews is unjustified. Shylock states, “You call me misbeliever, cut-throat, dog, / And spit upon my Jewish gaberdine, / And all for use of that which is mine own” (1.3.108-110). Antonio has repeatedly insulted Shylock, calling him a “dog,” yet Antonio still asks for a loan of three thousand ducats. The Christians treat Jews like scum, but then immediately turn around and try to do business with them. Shylock feels indignant and undeserving of this terrible behavior. Shakespeare heavily emphasizes Shylock’s problems through his dialogue, as Shakespeare understands what Shylock is experiencing. Antonio, on the other hand, sees nothing wrong with these terrible actions and says, “I am as like to call thee so again, / To spit on thee again, to spurn thee, too” (1.3.126-127). Antonio openly admits that he would slander Shylock again, as the hatred of Jews was widespread and considered normal. Shylock has done nothing except identify with the Jewish religion, yet he comes under such harsh humiliation by everyone, even his business partners. Shakespeare empathizes with Shylock’s indignation and, in a larger sense, the Jews’ plight, for Shylock should not be receiving Antonio’s perpetual criticism. Earlier in his speech, Shylock comments, “Signor Antonio, many a time and oft / In the Rialto you have rated me / About my moneys and my usances. / Still I have borne it with a patient shrug, / For sufferance is the badge of all our tribe” (1.3.103-107). During business transactions, Antonio constantly “rate[s]” Shylock for his usury, while Shylock passively accepts the criticism. Jews all across Italy have experienced this animosity and quietly suffered through, and Shylock brings that to Antonio’s attention. By writing compassionately through a Jew’s perspective, Shakespeare depicts Jews positively. Shakespeare highlights the Christians’ antipathy toward Jews in order to emphasize the fault in this malice between the two religions; Shakespeare shows that the unwarranted resentment simply because of religion is absurd with his sympathetic characterization of Jews.