The Merchant of Venice brings together different characters of different religions. Shakespeare uses the character in this play to reflect sixteenth century views on

Christianity and Judaism. The character Shylock is used to re-enact the religious conflicts of the Elizabethan era. There are scenes where Shylock is portrayed as evil but their moments when we see him as the victim. Everyone will perceive him differently. Whether he is the villain of the play is debateable.

Antonio describes Shylock as the Devil in act 1 scene 3:

`The devil ca cite scriptures for his purpose'.

The `devil' is described in the dictionary as, supreme spirit of evil and nowhere in the text or in Shylock's actions does it suggest this. Clear resentment and tension is between shylock and Antonio. In Shylock's aside:

`I hate him for he is a Christian'.

A contemporary audience during Shakespeare's time would have been deeply offended...