| Shylock | |
|---|---|
 Shylock after the trial | |
| Created by | William Shakespeare |
| Information | |
| Gender | Male |
| Occupation | Moneylender |
| Children | Jessica |
| Religion | Judaism |
Shylock is a keycharacter and theantagonist inShakespeare's 1596 or 1597playThe Merchant of Venice. He is aJewish moneylender.
Shylock agrees to a bond with Antonio, the merchant ofVenice. This bond requires Antonio to give a pound of his flesh next his heart should the money not be repaid on a certain date. When Antonio fails, Shylock goes to court to get the pound of flesh. Antonio had previously insulted and spat on him in the Rialto (the commercial centre of Venice). This helps to explain why Shylock demanded hispound of flesh.
Meanwhile, Shylock's daughter Jessica falls in love with Antonio's friend Lorenzo and converts toChristianity. This adds to Shylock's rage.
Shylock fails in court, and Antonio is released. Shylock is charged with attempted murder. Shylock is then forced to give half of his properties to the country and the other half to Antonio and to convert toChristianity.
Shylock has a famous speech beginning "Hath not a Jew eyes?" Famous actors who have played Shylock includeLaurence Olivier.
In Shakespeare's time, no Jews had beenlegally present in England for several hundred years (sinceEdward I's Edict of Expulsion in 1290). But the idea of Jews as money lenders remained from theMiddle Ages. Historically, money lending had been a fairly common occupation among Jews, perhaps because Christians were not allowed to practiseusury.