Intention of Creating Shylock (Term 3 week 5)

I feel that Shakespeare created Shylock with the intention to attract the Elizabethan's attention and evoke sympathy for the Jews. In the past, the Jews were considered as the inferior race by the Christians and were discriminated and insulted. In the book, Shylock who is a Jew was portrayed as a villain, like what the people back then viewed them to be in those days. However, the action done towards him clearly showed a different story in which he was discriminated and abused widely by the people in the court.

In Act 4 Scene 1, when Portia tried to convince him to show mercy towards Antonio, he refused to do so. He replies blatantly by saying: 

My deeds upon my head. I crave the law,
The penalty, and forfeit of my bond.

To the Elizabethans watching the film, this would capture their attention as it was exactly what they thought the Jews were like. Therefore, by creating Shylock, Shakespeare was injecting a sense of realism into the play so that it was applicable to that era. And only by doing so, the Elizabethans would then be attracted to the film. 

At the same time, he also tried to evoke a sense of pity for the Jews. In Act 1 Scene 3, he spoke of  how he was discriminated against by Antonio. He said:
Signor Antonio, many a time and oft
In the Rialto you have rated me
About my moneys and my usances.
Still have I borne it with a patient shrug,
For sufferance is the badge of all our tribe.
You can call me misbeliever, cutthroat dog,
And spet upon my Jewish gaberdine ----
And all for use of that which is mine own.
Well then, it now appears you need my help.
Go to then! You come to me and you say,
“Shylock, we would have moneys.” You say so! ---
You, that did void your rheum upon my beard
And foot me as you spurn a stranger cur
Over your threshold! Moneys is your suit.
What should I say to you? Should I not say,
“Hath a dog money? Is it possible 
A cur lend three thousand ducats?” Or
Shall I bend low and in a bondman’s key
With bated breath and whispering humbleness
Say this:
“Fair sir, you spet on me on Wednesday last;
You spurned me such a day; another time
You called me a ‘dog’ --- and for these courtesies 
I’ll lend you thus much moneys?’

In this speech by Shylock, he was obviously subjected to a lot of discrimination. His daughter betrayed him and ran away, with his valuables. In this story, there many moments where the readers really had to sympathised with Shylock even though he was a "villain". 

Therefore, I think that Shakespeare created Shylock to draw the Elizabethan’s attention and evoke sympathy for the Jews by portraying Shylock as someone who is some sort evil but also being discriminated at the same time.