As an audience we see Shylock in two different ways, as a villain and as a victim. Whereas in the play most of the other characters just see him as a villain the whole time. In this essay I am going to explore how he is presented as a villain and a victim, the language he uses, how he is treated and his behaviour in the trial scene.

Throughout the play Shylock is presented as a victim. The first main way is when Shylock does his famous plea for equality in Act 3 Scene1.When he tells the audience about the abuse he has suffered from Christians in general and from Antonio in particular.

"I am a Jew. Hath not a Jew eyes? Hath not a Jew hands, organs, dimensions, senses, affections, passions? Fed with the same food, hurt by the same weapons, subject to the same diseases, healed...