English Coursework: The Merchant of Venice The "merchant of Venice" is a multifarious play with many levels of interpretation. Telling the story of a Jewish merchant living in the predominately Christian capital of Venice, it can be seen as a play about persecution, justice and of social cruelty. The "merchant of Venice" is representatively driven by the same set arguments of racial and religious prejudice that existed in Shakespearean society. In the 15th century, as …showed first 75 words of 1869 total…

…showed last 75 words of 1869 total…a total sympathetic view certain line were removed and edited. Shylock is both and neither of these, as in life he is both good and bad, he is human. It is through shylocks words in act 3 scene 1 that this point is stressed. "If you prick us, do we not bleed? If you tickle us, do we not laugh? if you poison us, do we not die? And if you wrong us shall we not revenge?"