The entire play is centred around racial prejudices between Christians and Jews and their hate for one another. In The Merchant of Venice Shylock, the Jew, is characterised as the scapegoat, just as the Jewish have been throughout history. Shylock’s prejudice and dislike for the Christians is largely based on their mistreatment of him:

“Signior Antonio, many a time and oft in the Rialto you have rated me about my moneys and my usences: still have I borne it with a patient shrug, for sufferance is the badge of all our tribe. You call me misbeliever, cut-throat dog. And spit upon my Jewish gaberdine, and all for use of that which is mine own.”

Shylock feels the wrath of an unequal soc

Shakespeare demonstrates love in The Merchant of Venice amongst the Christians. He also distinguishes between the love of friendship and marital love. In Act 4, Shakespeare implies that Bassanio and Gratiano’s love for their friend Antonio is greater than that for their wives. Both men broke vows that they had with their wives because of Antonio:

The Merchant of Venice is a play both about love and hate. This can be seen through the Jewish and Christian prejudices, the relationships between the characters and the two settings for the play, Belmont and Venice. Shakespeare often incorporated the themes of love and hate in his plays, either as the main plot, or a sub plot as such in The Merchant of Venice. Love and Hate are the backbone of the main plot, collectively they hold the story together.

Some topics in this essay:
Venice Belmont, Shylock Jew, Hath Jew, Christians Jews, Merchant Venice, Bassanio Gratiano’s, Shylock Bassanio, Jessica Lorenzo’s, Venice Shakespeare, Brutus’ Portia, love hate, merchant venice, themes love hate, love friendship marital, main plot, love friendship, marital love, friendship marital, friendship marital love, settings play, settings play belmont, themes love, prejudices christians jews, shylock jew, towards love,