Merchant of Venice

In the play 'The Merchant of Venice' does Shakespeare sympathize with Shylock? What evidence? To what extent should an audience feel sorry for him?

THE MERCHANT OF VENICE

BY SHAKESPEARE.

Refer to:

ACT 1 SC 3

ACT 4

ANY OTHER ACTS/SCENES WITH STRONG EVIDENCE

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Shylock is certainly portrayed as a mean old man, who isolates himself from the rest of the world. None-the-less, Shakespeare's depiction also allows the audience to sympathize with this character, as he is a victim of racism.

“eat/ with you, drink with you, nor pray with you.” ( I.iii/ ll. 33-34)

“Hath not a Jew eyes? Hath not a Jew hands, organs, dimensions, senses, affections, passions?” (III.i.54).

Source(s)

The Merchant of Venice