Interpreting Shylock in The Merchant of Venice

Shylock is one of the most controversial figures created by William Shakespeare in The Merchant of Venice. Whether he is a comic villain or a tragic hero kindles heated discussion among Shakespearean critics. In my article, I do not simply classify him as comic or tragic figure. I interpret Shylock from three perspectives and then draw a conclusion--Shylock is a multi-dimensional character and Shakespeare reveals to us how the social factors and Shylock’s personality result in his tragic life.