In William Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice, the Jewish moneylender Shylock emerges as the play's most memorable character because of his vindictive determination to oppose the benevolent will of the Venetian public. Shylock is clearly presented by Shakespeare as the antagonist of the story, but is also granted a two-dimensional personality not typical of other Shakespearean villains. This personality is comprised firstly of a collection of Shylock's actions, which are witnessed and recognized by the Venetian public (the majority), and secondly of a deeper, more thorough understanding of Shylock's tortured past and revealing monologues, which can only be fully understood by Shylock himself. By focusing solely on the actions of the character, Shylock, who demands a pound of Antonio's flesh as a reimbursement for a loan, can be seen only as a vengeful and immoral antagonist. But by considering the discrimination and persecution he has been subjected to...