威尼斯商人中的人物形象分析

ChapterOneIntroductionDuringtheRenaissanceperiod,thetrendofhumanismdevelopedrapidlyandacompleteideologicalsystemwasformed,resultinginmanyexcellenthumanisticdramaworks,whichplayedanimportantroleinpromotingthecontinuousdevelopmentofhumanism.Shakespeare'srepresentativeworkTheMerchantofVenicehadasignificantimpactonthedevelopmentoflaterdramaticworks.InTheMerchantofVenice,moneyistheeternalthemethroughoutthewholetext,takingmoneyasthemainlineofthestorydevelopment,anddescribingthecharactercharacteristicsofthecharactersfromallaspects.Thecharacterimagesarevividlyportrayedbytheauthor,andreadersfeelthediversityofcharacterimagesinthework,andspeculateontherepresentativesignificanceofAntonioandShylock.Theacademiccommunityhasconductedmultipleanalysesandstudiesonthemaincharactersintheplay.Althoughthereiscurrentlynoconsensusonthethreemaincharactersinthetext,afteryearsofresearch,itisnotdifficulttofindthatthecharactersintheplayaremostlycompositecharacters.Thisalsoenrichesthehierarchyofthework.UnderstandingthelanguageandculturebehindthisrepresentativeBritishandAmericanliteraturecanstrengthenthedeepanalysisofEnglishworks.Itcanalsostrengthenfurtherunderstandingandunderstandingoflanguageandculture,therebyexploringBritishandAmericanliteraryworksfromamultidimensionalperspective.

ChapterTwoABriefIntroductiontoTheMerchantofVeniceTheworkTheMerchantofVeniceisunderstoodfromtwoaspectsandthecharactersinitareanalyzed.Ontheonehand,itisanintroductiontotheworkofTheMerchantofVenice,andontheotherhand,itisanintroductiontoShakespeare,theauthorofTheMerchantofVenice.2.1TheBriefIntroductionoftheWriterWilliamShakespearewasanEnglishRenaissancedramatistandpoet.ShakespearewasbornonApril23,1564,intoawealthyfamilyinStratford,centralEngland.Asachild,hewenttogrammarschoolinhishometowntolearnLatin,literatureandrhetoric.Lateron,healsohelpedhisfatherwithhisbusiness,andlaterhebecameanactorandscreenwriter.Withthetourofthetheatertroupe,hehadarelativelyextensivecontactwiththelivesofvarioussocialclasses.Fromthelatteryearsofthe90softhe16thcentury,thecontradictionsofBritishsocietygraduallysharpened.Thesituationofartisansandthepoorisdeteriorating.Peasantsandtheurbanpoorroseupinrevolt.Duringthisperiod,thepowerofthebourgeoisiealsobecamestronger,anditstemporaryalliancewiththeroyalfamilycollapsed.Thus,inseveralcomedieswrittenbyShakespeareafter1596,althoughthetoneisstillcheerfullyoptimistic,theelementofsocialironyhasincreased.TheMerchantofVenice,completedatthistime,isthemostsociallysatiricalofShakespeare'searlycomedies.2.2IntroductionofWorkInTheMerchantofVenice,Antonio'sconfrontationwithSherlockisaconfrontationbetweencommercialcapitalandusurycapital,aswellasthemoralprinciplesofemergingbourgeoishumanismandtheextremeegoisticcreedofusurers.Thisworkshowsdifferentunderstandingsofgoodandevil,explaininghowtobehumanandhowtotreatothers.Antoniowasregardedbyhisfriendsastheclosestfriend,oneofthekindestofhearts.Hewaszealousandaffectionate,andretainedinhimmorechivalrousspiritofancientRomethantheItalians.Sherlock,ontheotherhand,isknownasanunsympatheticevilmanwithaheartlikeastoneanddoesnotknowmercyandhasnocompassion.Intheplay,thesetwoVenetianmerchants,whohaveverydifferentoutlooksonlifeandmorality,haveaconflictbecauseof"lending"andhaveathrillingcontest.TheMerchantofVeniceisatypicaltheatricalwork.ThetextmainlytellsthestoryofAntonio,amerchantfromVenice,whoborrowedthreethousandgoldcoinsfromSherlockinordertohelphisfriendscompletetheirwedding.However,SherlockhadagrudgeagainstAntonio,sohepretendednottoacceptinterestonAntonio'sloan,butofferedtocutoffapoundoffleshonhisbodytorepayifhedidnotpayitontimewithinthespecifiedperiod.AntoniowassuedbySherlockduetoproblemswiththemerchantshipandcouldnotpaythearrearsontime.Antonioisindangerofcuttinghisflesh.InordertohelpAntoniooutofdanger,Borciapretendedtobealawyerandusedhisingenuitytowinthecase,whichendedinSherlock'sdefeatandhalfofhispropertyconfiscated.ThecomedyTheMerchantofVeniceisextremelyironic.Itcelebrateslove,benevolenceandfriendship.Atthesametime,italsorevealstheconflictsandcontradictionsbetweenusurersandthecommercialbourgeoisieintheearlystageofthedevelopmentofthecapitalistsociety.Throughthisironiccomedy,peoplecanseethatShakespearethinksdeeplyaboutandanalyzestypicalproblemsinthesocialcontext.ChapterThreeTheCharacterImageofShylockSherlockisarepresentativeofusurycapital,apennymiser,aJewishbillionairelivinginVenice,Italy.Hewasagreedy,miserly,crueldevil,andhewasalsoabulliedJewinChristiansociety.PeopledespisedSherlock'sgreed,hatedhiscruelty,andsympathizedwithhisracialoppressionandhumiliation.3.1TheExpressionoftheMerchant'sImageSherlock'spersonalitycombinesthecomplexitiesofinsatiable,miserly,cold,andvicious,aswellasasuccessfulbusinessmanandloanshark.Becauseofhisinsatiable,miserlyandextremelygreedypersonality,hewastreatedwithdisdainthroughouthislifebysocietyandthosearoundhim.3.1.1TheImageofWorshipingMoneyTheimageofSherlockinTheMerchantofVenicehaslongbeenconsideredoneofthe"FourMiserlyGhostsofEuropeanLiterature".Asarepresentativeoftheusurerswhooppressthepoor,Sherlockwillalwaysbelabeledasaninsatiableandmiserlyperson.Hehasastrongdesireformoneyandseesmoneyassomethingmoreimportantthanlife.HemadealivingbyloansharksinVenice,andhisfamilyhadcountlessfortunes,buthewasstillnotsatisfied,hopingthatthewealthofthewholeworldwouldbehisown.WhenAntonioapproachedhimhopingtoborrowsomemoneyfromhim,hemadenosecretofhisdesireformoney.Hehopedthatmoneycouldquicklyproducealotoflambsinashortperiodoftime,likeaewes,andearnalotofinterest.Atthesametime,hewasextremelystingy,hewasverystrictwiththeservantsinthehouse,themaids'wageswereverylow,andhislifewasverypoor.Healsohadaverystrongdesiretocontrolhisdaughter,andherestrictedthepersonalfreedomofhisonlydaughter.Thedaughtercouldnotstoodherfather'scontroloverhimandelopedwiththeChristians.AfterSherlocklearnedaboutthis,hedidnotshowreluctanceforhisdaughter,butinsteaddevotedhimselftoregrettingthemoneythathisdaughtertookaway.Hesaidthathewouldratherseehisdaughterdieinfrontofhimwithjewelsthanelope,andwouldratherputgoldandsilvertreasuresinhercoffinandbeburiedwithher.Whenheheardthathisdaughterhadspenteightyinonenight,hekeptbeatinghischestaboutit.Heregardedmoneyashislifebloodandwasextremelyinsatiableandmiserly.WhenSherlocklostthecourtcaseandthejudgeannouncesthathewillconfiscatehalfofhispropertyandgivetheotherhalftoAntonio,Sherlockfeltthathislifewasnolongermeaningful,andhisgreedycharacterwasonceagainrevealed.Shylockwasashrewdlender,andthelawsofthemerchantorcommodityeconomypursuedthatmoneyhadalreadydissipatedandpermeatedallaspectsofhisbody,mind,andlife.ThepursuitoftheGoldenFleecemadehimprofitorientedandevenledtohisownalienation,coolingmanyemotionsandlosingloveforothers;Healwayscalculatesandlendsmoneywithagreedymentality,looksatotherswithawaryeye,andworriesaboutbeingcalculatedbyotherswhencalculatingthem;Makehimliveaharshandfrugallife,whilealsotreatinghisdaughterandborrowersharshly.Shylockisindeedshrewdinlendingathighinterestrates,butheistoomercenaryandhisdesireformoneyhascompletelypenetratedeveryporeofhisbody.Therefore,herepeatedlyignoresthecoldandhotemotionsoftheworld.Hecanignorethelifeanddeathofhisdaughter,andhecanrefusehissixrelativesformoney.Heisverystingytowardsothersandhisdaughter,andmaintainsastateofvigilancetowardsothers.Thisdehumanizingandgreedystateistrulyoutrageous.3.1.2TheImageofCruelShylockwasarepresentativeofusurycapital,apennilessmiser,andaJewishmillionaireresidinginVenice,Italy.ButShylock,whowasobsessedwithwealth,wentagainstthenormatthebeginning,notrepayingseveraltimesmorethanborrowing,butwantingauselesspieceofhumanflesh.Itcanbeseenthathisheartisnarrowandhisrevengeisextremelystrong.Atthefirstopportunity,hewillfiercelyretaliateagainstthosewhoareunfavorabletohim,andmustkillhisopponent.Itcanbeseenthatheiscoldandruthless.Shylockisamerchantwholendathighinterestrates.Heisnarrow-mindedandseesmoneyashisdestiny.HeisverydisgustedwithAntoniobecausehelendsmoneytoothersbutdoesnotchargeinterest.ShylockbelievedthatAntonio'sbehaviorseriouslyaffectedhisbusiness.TheborrowingmethodsofAntonioandShylockcreateasharpcontrastintheircharacterimages.SherlockalsodevelopahatredforAntonioforthisandwanttowaitforanopportunitytotakerevengeonAntonio.HelentAntoniohismoneywithoutcharginganyinterest,usingtheillusionofagoodmantotrickAntoniointosigninganunequaltreaty.Hepretendedtobeagoodpersonwhileplayingtricks.AfterAntonio'sshiphadaseriousaccident,herevealedhissinisterandtreacheroustrueface.Incourt,hepressedhardanddemandedthatAntoniocutapoundoffleshinhischestasliquidateddamages.SherlockwouldratherhaveapoundofAntonio'smeatthanaccepttripletheinterestandprincipal.Doesn'tSherlocklikemoney?Ofcoursenot.Sherlock'sattempttocutoffapoundofAntonio'sfleshisactuallyborrowingacontractandthelawtolegallykillAntonioandeliminateaverypowerfulopponent.Fromthispointofview,onlyapersonwhoisgreedytotheextremecandosuchacruelandvengefulwaywithouthumanity.Hedonothesitatetosacrificethelivesofotherstoachievehisgoalofrevenge.Whenhisgoalofrevengecannotbeachieved,moneybecomeshishighestpursuit.Sherlock'scrueltyiscrueltyintheguiseof"hypocrisy".Hemadeacontractto"cutapieceofflesh"ratherthan"paywithhislife."Obviously,thisisjustameansofSherlock,whichmakespeoplefeelinvoluntarilyabsurdandridiculous.3.2TheExpressionoftheNationalReligiousGuardImageSherlock,asaJew,ishumiliatedatthattime,butheisstillnottobeoutdoneandfoughtforprogress.Hestillloveshispeopleandhasthecouragetostanduptoothers.3.2.1TheImageofLovingtheNationIntheextremelycomplexsocialenvironmentatthattime,moneycouldnotdetermineaperson'sstatus.Thevariouspressuresofproductionandlifebroughtaboutbyracialdiscrimination,aswellastheirreconcilablecontradictionsbetweenthecommercialbourgeoisieandtheusurybourgeoisie.TheseallmadeShylockfeeltheunfairnessandvariouspressuresofsociety.ShylockwasaJew.TheJewishraceisabranchoftheHebrewpeopleandisadescendantoftheancientSemiticpeople.Jewshavealwaysbeendriftingaroundwithoutfixedterritories.Therefore,duringsuchexiledays,theywerediscriminatedagainstbyvariouscountries.Somecountriesevenprovokeracialandreligiousconflicts.Thesecountriesusethemtoachievethegoalofoppressingtheruledclassandresisting.TheclimaxofthispersecutionoccurredintheMiddleAgesofEurope.Duringthisperiod,thePopelaunchedrepeatedcampaignsagainstandexcludingJewsinordertomaintainhisrule.ThesehaveledtothestrongestpersecutionofJews,withtheirlives,property,andhomesseverelydamaged.Theyhavelostalltheirrightsinlaw.ThebourgeoisiealsohasastronghatredtowardsJewsandregardsdeprivingthemoftheirlivesasloyaltytoChristianity.Shylockwasdeeplyravagedbyracialdiscrimination,andhedeeplyfelthislowstatus.AllwalksoflifeinsocietyarestrictlysuppressingJews,whoarenotqualifiedtoholdpublicpositionsandhavenolandtosupporttheirlivelihoods.TheprofessionoflendingathighinterestratesisoneofthefewprofessionsallowedinChristiancontrolledsocieties.Therefore,hehopestodrivetheimprovementofsocialstatusthroughtheaccumulationofmoney,hopingtonolongerbesuppressed.Heconstantlyengagedinresistanceandtenaciousstruggleagainstunfairclassforces.Shylockneverallowedotherstomockormockhisownnation,andhebelievedthatsuchactionswereunforgivable.HealoneusedallmeanstofightagainstChristianityforallJews.Althoughheultimatelyfailed,hedeservesamorefairview,andwecannotdenyhisloveforhisownnation.Inshort,heisaloyalandrespectednationalfighter.Sherlocklovehispeople,andthestrongnationalspiritoftheJewsandtheextraordinarynationalcohesionareepitomizedinhim.Hebelievesthataperson'snationaldignitycannotbetrampledon,andeveryoneshouldfighttotheendtodefendtheirnationaldignity.Inasocietythatisoppressedeverywhere,hestilladherestohisinnerspirit,obeysallregulations,anddoesnotfearandavoidthepersecutionheissubjectedto,butdrawsaclearlinewiththeoppressiveforcesandfightsfiercelyagainstthedarkforces."Icandobusinesswithyou,butIwon'teatatthesametablewithyou."Thesewordsfullyreflecthisstrongsenseofnationalprideandcourageanddeterminationtodefendnationaldignity.HebelievesthatevenifhisdaughterisJewish,herhusbandshouldbeloyaltoher,andshouldnotjustseeherasatoolforinheritance.WhenShakespearecreatethecharacterofSherlock,hedonotcompletelyportraySherlockasacompletevillain,butapersonwithmultiplepersonalities.AlthoughShakespeareisinasocialenvironmentfullofhostilityandprejudiceagainsttheJewishpeople,heisnotinfluencedbyittowriteSherlockastheembodimentofpureevil.3.2.2TheImageofbeingBraveEnoughtoResisttheBullyOnthesurface,Shylockappearedtobeamercenary,cunning,vengeful,anddemandingloanshark.Hewasobsessedwithmoneylikehislife,starvinghisservantandforcinghisdaughteraway.Fromthe"poundoffleshdebt"hedemanded,itcanbeseenthatheisacreditorwhoisnotafraidofbloodandisnotaffectionate.AlthoughShylockhasmanyshortcomings,thereisalsoabravesidetohischaracter.Heisclever,sharp,intelligent,andarticulate,loyaltohisbeliefs,steadfastinhisgoals,andnevergivesupuntilhereachesthem.Heknowshowtojudgethesituation,swallowhiswordswhenAntoniohaspower,andrevealhisferocitywhenhegoesbankrupt,retaliating.Andheisalsoadebater.Whenfacingthecursesofothers,heisfearlessandclearinhisresponse.InWesternculture,therehasalwaysbeenantiSemiticideology,andJewsareconsideredtraitorstoJesusChrist.Jewsareconsideredspeculatorsanddespicableraces.InmedievalEurope,Jewswereconsideredinferiorpeoples.Theydonothaveanypoliticalrightsandpoliticalfreedom,andtheyarealsosubjecttomanyeconomicrestrictions.Shylock,likeotherJews,sufferedfromoppressionintermsofethnicityandreligion.AsaJew,Shylocksuffereddiscrimination,persecution,andhumiliationduetohisextremelylowsocialstatus.However,thereisalimittoaperson'sendurance,andasilentvolcanothathasbeenenduringhardshipswilleventuallyerupt.Thelong-termoppressionoftheJewsbytheChristianscausedSherlocktorebeltoomuch,andfinallyroseupattherighttime,determinedtotakerevenge.ThereasonsforSherlock'srebellionareevidentinhisseveralruthlessaccusationsagainstChristians.WhenSherlocklearnsthatAntoniohasbeenshipwreckedoverseasandintercedeswithSherlockinadvance,Sherlockmadeafieryaccusation.Evenifhismeatisnoteaten,atleasthecanbreatheoutofme,hehasinsultedmeslanderedmypeopledoeshehaveanyreason?ThispassageexpressesShylock'sangertowardsChristianswhodonotregardtheirJewsashumanbeings.Therearemultipleconfessionsandaccusationsinthework,whichresearchersbelieveislargelyduetoShylock'sdesiretoresistandseekrevenge,notonlybecausehewantedtoretaliateagainstAntonio'spreviousinsults,butalsobecausehewasaJewwhowantedtoavengetheunfairtreatmentsufferedbyhisownnationandfellowcountrymen.Shylockfoughtforthedignityofthenationandtheindividualwithouthesitation.Hewouldpayanypricetoavengehisenemies.Hecouldberegardedasanationalherofightingfordignity.ChapterFourTheCharacterImageofAnthonyAntoniowasasuccessfulbusinessmanaswellasanupright,kindChristian.HestrictlyfollowedtheteachingsoftheBible;Withakindheart,helendsmoneytothoseinneed,butneverchargesinterest.4.1TheExpressionoftheMerchant'sImageAntoniowasamerchantoftheemergingbourgeoisie,whocherishedfriendship,integrity,kindness,andChristiancompassionandtolerance.Atthesametime,healsocommittedactsofracialdiscriminationandreligiouspersecution.4.1.1AnUprightCharacterImageAntonioneverchargesinterestonborrowingmoney.Heisveryhonestandkind.AlthoughhedislikedShylock'soppressivebehaviortowardsthepoor,hestilltreatedShylocklikeafriend.EventhoughhealreadyknewthatSherlockwasplottingtokillhimself,hestillpleadedwiththejudgeandaskedtheDuketoreturnhalfofSherlock'sconfiscatedpropertytohim.ForSherlock,whoisgoingtocutoffpoundsoffleshfromhimself.Antoniostillchosetounderstand,andeventhoughtofhishappinessinhisheart.Whenhecouldnotdoevil,hekeptthegreatestkindnesstothefriendhimself.PeoplehavetoadmitthatAntoniohasaverynoblecharacter,andhisspiritofrepayinggrievanceswithvirtueisadmirable.Antonio'scharacteristheoppositeofSherlock,andShakespearegivesAntonioasentimental,philosophicallysoundspiritualtemperamentthataddsabitofcolortothetext.ItisnotdifficulttoseefromAntoniothattheauthorShakespearestillbelievesinthegoodnessofhumannatureandfirmlybelievesthatgoodwilleventuallytriumphoverevil.4.1.2ACharacterImagewithaStrongSenseofFriendshipIntheplay,Antonioisportrayedastheembodimentofjustice.Asabourgeoisbusinessman,heiskind,upright,helpful,andmostimportantlyvaluesfriendship.Hepossessesalltheexcellentqualitiesthatapositivepersonshouldpossess.Inthetext,ShakespearedescribeshisrelationshipwithBassanioinordertodemonstratehisintegrityandvaluefriendship.EventhoughBassaniohadrepeatedlyborrowedmoneyandrefusedtorepayit,Antoniowasstillwillingtolendittohim.ThisindicatesthatAntoniohasreachedacertainlevelofimportanceforfriends.Inaddition,Antoniooncesaidintheplay,"Ifherefusestohelphisfriendswithallhismight,itwillmakehimfeelevensadderthanspendingallhismoney."ThisisastarkcontrasttoShylock'sgreedyandstingypersonality.ThereisnodoubtthattheAntonioportrayedbyShakespeareintheplayisanidealizedrepresentativecharacterofthebourgeoisiewhovaluesemotionsbetweenpeopleanddoesnottransferthembasedonfinancialrelationships.ThisalsoindicatesShakespeare'scriticismoftheconceptofpureinterestsbetweenthebourgeoisie.ItcanbesaidthatcomparedtoShylock'sgreedandstinginess,Antonioisundoubtedlyaherolikecharacter.AntonioandShylockbothlentmoneytoothers,andShylockchargedhighinterest.However,withoutaskingthesepeopleforapennyofinterest,itcanbesaidthatAntonio'spersonalityisverycleanandpure.Antoniooftenlentmoneytopoorpeopleandhisfriendswithoutinterest,butSherlockchargedhighinteresteverytimeheborrowedmoneyfromsomeone.SherlockwasveryunhappywithAntonio'sapproach.Atthesametime,AntoniooftenaccusesSherlockinperson,soSherlockhasalwayshadadeepgrudgeagainstAntonio.ButAntoniowillnothandlethingsbecauseofpersonalgrievances.AndwhenBassanioneededmoney,Antonioobviouslydidnothavemoneyinhishands,buthehadtobowhisheadtoborrowmoneyfromSherlock.AntonioandSherlockhavebeenatoddsforalongtime,buttheyarestillwillingtosacrificetheirfacetoborrowmoneyfortheirfriends.Thisshowshisdedicationandemphasisonfriendship,evenifhisfinancialconditionsdonotallow,buthestillgoesallouttohelphisfriends.Inthissecularsociety,moreandmorepeopleputtheirowninterestsfirst,andforgetabouttheso-calledemotions.AndthefriendshipbetweenAntonioandBassanioinTheMerchantofVeniceisdifficulttomeasurewithmoney,andwhenfriendsareintrouble,Antoniodoesnotsayawordtohelp,evenatthecostofhisownlife,theirexampleisourbesttextbook.4.2TheExpressionofChristianImageAntonioisanuprightandkindChristian.HehasthemercyandtoleranceofChristianity.4.2.1ALoyalCharacterImageAntonioisasuccessfulbusinessmanandanuprightandkindChristian.HestrictlyabidesbytheteachingsoftheBibleandholdsabenevolentheart.Whenincourt,AntonioadheredtotheteachingsofChristianityandkepthispromises.Whenhefacedhumiliationanddeath,healsoinsistedonkeepinghispromise.Antonioisalsotheauthor'sidealChristian.InChristiandoctrine,borrowingdoesnotconformtotheteachingsofChrist.Therefore,Antonio'sbehavioriscommendable.AntoniohadChristiankindnessandtolerance,andwasultimatelywillingtoreturnhalfofhispropertytoShylockandbegrantedbythecourt.ButhealsoputforwardconditionsthatonlyShylockbelievedinChristianityandrequiredacontracttodeclarethatthepropertywouldpassontohisdaughterandson-in-lawafterhisdeath.Antonio'sbehavioralsoreflectsthespiritofChristianity.4.2.2TheImageofRacialPersecutionAlthoughJudaismwastheprecursorofChristianity,ChristianityhasbeenincompatiblewithJudaismsinceitsinception.ChristianshavealwaysrejectedJewswhopersecuteJesus.ChristianitywasestablishedasthestatereligionintheancientRomanEmpire.WiththeestablishmentofChristiandominanceinvariousEuropeancountries,theanti-Jewishwaveintensified.IntheChristianworld,"infidel"Jewshavelongbeenpersecutedandliveindirestraits.AlthoughAntonioisextremelytolerantandbenevolenttoChristians,whenheseesJewsitisacompletelydifferentgesture,andheinsultsSherlockasaviciousdog.TheyspitonShylock'sfaceandJewishrobes.ThisnotonlyrepresentsAntonio'sattitudetowardsShylock,butalsotheattitudeoftheentireChristiandoctrinetowardsJewsandreligion.ItreferstothemedievalChristianrejectionandhumiliationoftheJewishnationandJudaism.AnimportantreasonfortheconflictbetweenShylockandAntonioisthatAntoniorepeatedlycursedandhumiliatedShylockinpublic.AntoniomadenosecretofhisdiscriminationagainstShylock.WhenthecourttriedShylockattheendofthearticle,AntonioandPortiawantednotonlyAntonio'slifebutalsotoemptyShylock'smoney.Atthatmoment,theywereasgreedyasShylock.InmedievalEuropeansociety,intheChristianworld,JewswerealwayschargedwithbetrayingJesusandweresubjectedtohatredandpersecutioneverywhere.ThelawprohibitsJewsfromengaginginagriculturalproductionandservingingovernmentdepartments,forcingthemtoengageincommercialandfinancialindustries.Jewsarenotallowedtoownland.Jewslivingintownsarebeingsqueezedoutofvarioushandicraftindustries.Legally,theonlyeconomicactivitythatJewsareallowedtoengageinisdebtlending,whichisseenbyChristiansasadirtyandevilindustry.Shylockwasdespisedandbulliedbythepeoplearoundhim.ItwaspreciselythisthatsparkedShylock'shatredtowardsChristians.Shylockissuchatypicalcharacter,butalsoaspecialperson.InShylock,heblendedhisethnicityandthereligionhebelievedin.Infact,histragedyisnotonlytheresultofhispersonalpsychology,personality,andotheraspects,butalsotheconflictbetweenthetwomajorsectsintheentirehistoricalcontext,namelyJudaismandChristianity.However,anotherimportantfigure,Antonio,wasarepresentativeoftheemergingbourgeoisieinBritain.Intermsofinternationalstatus,BritainhasenteredtheranksofEuropeanpowersthroughindustrialreform,andAntonioisaproductoftheemergingbourgeoisie.ThethrivingcapitalistpowermadehimthecurrentdarlingofBritainandasymbolofnewpower.HeisaChristianandhasastrongdislikeforJews.HenotonlywantstoexcludeShylockintheeconomicfield,butalsohashostilityanddiscriminationtowardshimintermsofreligiousbeliefs.HeandhisfriendsimmediatelycursedShylockasapagan,avillainandvillainwhobelievedinGod.HealwaysbelievesthathisfaithinChristianityisremarkable,andonlyChristiansareworthyofdialoguewithGod.Hebelievesthatonlytheypossessthetruth,sotheyhavetherighttodominatethediscourseofpoweranddeterminethelevelofpeopleinreality.HewantstouseChristianitytofirmlycontrolpeople'sthoughts,words,andactions.Anyonewhoisdeclareda'heretic'byhimandhisfriendshasactuallybeenplacedinadifferentregisteranddeprivedoftherighttoexist.Inthisway,Antonioincorporatedreligionintotherealmofpoliticsanddirectlyactedasthespokespersonfortherulingclass.Hecarriesthebannerof'equalitybeforeGod',butinreality,heimplementstheprincipleofinequality.Therefore,Jewsbecameanationthatwasabandonedbypeople.ChapterFiveInspirationGainedfromAnalyzingCharactersMoneyisimportant,buttherearemanythingsinthisworldthatarefarmoreimportantthanmoney.Itisevenmoreimportanttohaverarefriendshipsandmaintainakindheart.Everyoneshouldlearntobetolerantinreallifeandnotlookatotherswithcoloredeyes.5.1TheRevelationofGreed,CrueltyandHatredofHumanNatureFrommaterialpoverty,embarrassmenttospiritualabundance,fullness,andnobility,itisanimportantwaytoachievehumanequalityfrominequality.Tochange