《威尼斯商人》中夏洛克人物形象分析

ChapterOneIntroductionTheMerchantofVeniceisconsideredoneofShakespeare’smajorworks,butisoftenhighlycontroversial.AccordingtoGraebanier,thisisaproblemplaythathasprobablygeneratedmorediscussionthananyofShakespeare’sotherplays,withtheexceptionofHamlet.Thevillainoftheplay,Sherlock,isaJew,andShakespearemadesuchanartisticplayofSherlockthatthenameisnowsynonymouswithmisersandruthlessmoneylenders.DiscussionofSherlockhaslongbeenahottopicintheliteraryworld.SherlockisgenerallyseenasanegativecharacterbecauseinTheMerchantofVeniceheisportrayedasabestialmonsterwithalustforAntonio’slifeandhisactionsareseenascruelandstubborn.Sherlockhaslongremainedinthemindsofreadersasavicious,cunning,bitter,hatefulmiser.However,ifyoureadShakespeare’soriginaltextagain,itisnotdifficulttofindthecontradictionofthecharacterofSherlock.Ontheonehand,hisferocity,cruelty,andvitriolwererepulsive;ontheotherhand,theinjusticehesufferedwaspitiful.SomoreandmorescholarsbegintodiscussSherlock’stragiccharacters,thinkSherlockisavictim,oraherobypersecutionofChristians.Iagreewiththelatterview,andtherearestillmanypositivesinhispersonality.“Hemaybeanegativecharacter,butsometimeshehaspositiveelementsthatcan’tbeignored.”Forexample,helovedhisfamily,hewasloyaltohispeopleandreligion,andhewasanexcellentbusinessman.Theseshouldnotbeignored.Thispaperanalyzeshimfromthreeaspects:family,ethnicityandreligion,hopingtogivehimafairerview.ChapterTwoIntroductiontoTheMerchantofVeniceShakespearebeganwritinginthe16thcentury.Inhisearlydays,Shakespearewasenthusiasticandconfident.However,thedeteriorationofsocialcontradictionsinthelaterperiodmadehimfeelthatthecontradictionbetweenbourgeoishumanismandBritishsocialrealitywasirreconcilable.SointhelatesixteenthcenturytheMerchantofVenicewaswritten.Thecharactersintheworkaredistinctive,especiallySherlock.Inthiscomedy,ShakespearewillShylockgreedy,sinister,murderousimagedescribedincisivelyandvividly.Butatthesametime,heisapoormanwhoisostracizedeverywhere.Itjustreflectstheinjusticeofsocietyatthattime.Shakespeareisthroughthedescriptionofsuchacontradictorycharacterimage,thesocialcontradictionsshow.2.1CreationBackgroundIntheearly16thcentury,Britishcapitalismdevelopedrapidly.Thefeudalautocraticdynastyissuedfavorabledevelopmentpoliciesforindustryandcommerce,sothefeudalautocraticdynastywonthesupportoftheemergingbourgeoisieatthattime.Thebourgeoisiereachedatemporarybutfragilealliancewiththefeudalautocraticdynasty.Atthistime,althoughBritainmaintainedthesurfaceofprosperity,butinessence,theBritishsocietywasfullofvariouscontradictions.ThisistheearlystageofShakespeare’screation.Shakespeare,asabourgeoisdramatistandwriter,wasfullofenthusiasmandconfidencetosolvethesocialcontradictionsatthattime.FromShakespeare’searlyartisticcreation,wecanseethatShakespeareisfullofoptimism.Hecreated8comediesandplays,RomeoandJuliet,fromwhichwecanseethebourgeoishumanismideologyfullofloveandfreedom.Inthelate16thcentury,theapparentprosperityandstabilityofEnglandwentdownhill,andtheimpliedsocialcontradictionsgraduallybecameacuteandworsening.Inthecities,handicraftfactoriessprangupinlargenumbers.Inthecountryside,theEnclosuremovementbrokeout.Withsuccessivenaturaldisasterscausingpricestosoar,traderstookadvantageoftheopportunitytospeculate.Thepeasantsatthebottomofsocietyhadahardlifeandroseupagainstit.Atthistime,thepowerofthebourgeoisiegrewsignificantlyafterseveralyearsofcontinuousdevelopment,anditsshort-livedalliancewiththefeudalautocraticdynastywasbroken.ShakespearefeltthecontradictionbetweenbourgeoishumanismandtherealityofEnglishsocietywasirreconcilable.Atthistime,hisworkswerefullofirony.TheMerchantofVenicewaswrittenbyShakespeareatthistime.Throughtheupsanddownsoftheplot,theplaypraisedAntonio’skindnessandgenerosity,Portia'sboldwit,Sherlock’sloveofmoneyandruthlessness,Bassanio’spursuitoflove.Pureloveandfriendshipareinsharpcontrasttoruthlessgreed,butgoodwillprevailoverevil.Onthewhole,Shakespearepropagatedhisbourgeoishumanism.2.2ASynopsisoftheMainPlotAntonio,theMerchantofVenice,wasagenerousrichmerchant,andSherlock,anotherJew,usurypolicyistheopposite.AgoodfriendofAntonio’s,Bassanio,askedhimtolendhimthreethousandgoldpiecesinordertomarryPortia,abeautifulladyofBelmontwhohadinheritedagreatfortune.Antoniohadnomoneyleft,butaskedSherlocktolendhimthreethousandgoldpiecesascollateralforhismerchantship,whichhadnotyetreturnedtoport.SherlockhatedAntoniobecauseAntoniolentmoneytopeoplewithoutinterest,affectedtheusuryindustry,andinsultedhimself,sohehatedAntonioandtooktheopportunitytosigntheloancontracttosetatrapandwaitfortheopportunitytotakerevenge.SherlockwasangrywithAntonioforhispastactionsagainsthim,sohetooktheopportunitytodemandapoundofhisfleshinsteadofamerchantship.Afteralotoftalking,Antonioagreedandmadethecontract.BassaniowentjoyouslytoBelmont,wherehisfriendGratianofellinlovewithPortia’smaidNerissa,andthetwocoupleswerehastilymarriedatthesametimebyanunexpectedevent.Antoniohadwrittenaletterexplainingthathisshipwasmissing,andthatSherlockwasabouttodemandapoundoffleshfromhim,whichmightkillhim.SohewishedtoseeBassanioforthelasttime.Hearingthis,BassanioandGratianohurriedbacktoVenice.PortiaandNerissaalsosecretlydisguisedthemselvesaslawyersandsecretariesandfollowedtosaveAntonio.Incourt,PortiawiselypromisedSherlockthatshewouldtakeanypoundofAntonio’sflesh,butifanydropofbloodwasshed(thecontracthadonlywrittenapoundofflesh,butnotadropofblood),Sherlockwouldpayforitwithhislifeandfortune.Therefore,Antoniowassaved,andthecourtdeclaredthathalfofhispropertywasconfiscatedforthemurderofthecitizensofVenice,andtheotherhalfwasgiventoAntonio,whogavethisunexpectedpropertytoSherlock’sson-in-lawandhisfriend,Lorenzo.Sherlock,seeingthattheplothadfailed,hadnochoicebuttocomplywiththesentenceandconverttoChristianity.InthiswayPortiaskillfullysavedAntonio’slife.Meanwhile,PortiaandNerissateasedtheirhusbands.TheydemandedtheringaspaymentforAntonio’sdefenseandreturnedhome.Whentheirhusbandsreturned,theyscoldedthemforneglectingthemeaningoftheweddingringsandinsistedthattheymusthavegiventhemtoanotherwoman.Afteraseriesofawkwardexplanations,thetruthfinallycameout.Everyonehadahappyending,exceptSherlockwhowantedtodoharmtohimself.ChapterThreeImageAnalysisofSherlockWilsonhascommentedthatSherlockinTheMerchantofVeniceisundoubtedlythemostpuzzlingfigureinallofShakespeare'sworks.Hischaracterisverycomplex,includingaloanshark,asuccessfulbusinessman,anarrogantfather,aJewwhosuffersfromsociety’scoldeyes,andapowerlessvictimincourt.Asweallknow,theinterpretationofthecharacterimageinliteraryworksshouldbeplacedinthehistoricalbackground,familyenvironmentandreligiousbeliefsatthattime,andobjectivelyandcomprehensivelyanalyzethecharacterimageintheworkthroughthecharacter'senvironmentandthecharacteristicsofthecharacterinthishistoricalenvironment.3.1HatefulSherlockThecharacterofSherlockinTheMerchantofVeniceisfierce,butitisnecessaryforaJewtobeabusinessmaninthesocialcontextofthetime,especiallyforamerchantwhoisaloanshark.TheSherlockweseein“TheMerchantofVenice”isnotonlyfierceandgreedy,butalsohasafiercecrueltyandastrongrevengeaftersufferingfromvicissitudes,socialdiscriminationandbitterness.“Asaloanshark,Sherlockisnarrow-mindedandmurderous;asafather,Sherlockiscold-bloodedandtyrannical;asamaster,Sherlockismeanandstubborn.”[1]1363.1.1AViciousLoanSharkSherlock,oneofthefourmisersinliteraryhistory,isknownforhisferocity.Hewascruelandtreacherous.WhenhelentmoneytoAntonio,hepretendedtobeagoodmanandshowedkindnesstoAntonio.Infact,hewantedtolureAntoniotosignanagreementthathewouldcutapoundoffleshfromAntonio’schestifhecouldnotrepaytheloanontime.AntoniowasunabletoperformhiscontracttoreturnSherlock’sloanduetoalltheaccidentsofthemerchantship,becauseAntoniohadhumiliatedhimforSherlock’sloansharkbefore.Therefore,hehatedAntoniosomuchinhisheartthathealwayswantedtofindanopportunitytotakerevengeonAntonio.HetookAntoniotocourt.Hehadaheartofstone,andwouldnotbeswayedbyanyoneinthecourtwhowouldpleadforAntonio.InthefaceofBassanio’soffertogivehimanextrasixthousanddollarstodropthecase,hevigorouslyrefused.Portia,thedoctoroflaw,whoplayedtheroleofjudgeinthecourt,askedSherlocktofetchadoctorforAntonio,lesthebleedtodeath.Sherlock,however,refusedPortia’sofferonthegroundthattheagreementdidnotprovideforadoctor.Besides,Sherlockwassharpeninghisknifeonhisshoesincourt,eagertocutoffapoundoffleshfromAntonio’sbreast.HiseagernesstobringAntoniotohisdeathbroughtouthisferocity.3.1.2ATyrannicalFatherAsthefatherofSherlock,hewastyrannical,crueltodeprivehisdaughterJessica’slifelonghappiness.HewasautocraticandinterfereswithhisdaughterJessica’spersonalfreedom.HehadapersonalhatredforChristiansandwouldnotallowhisdaughtertohaveanycontactwiththem.HehadsaidtoJessica,“Listen,Jessica,lockthedoorofyourhouse,hearthestrangesoundofdrumsandflutes,anddon'tclimbuptotheWindows,anddon’tputyourheadouttoseethosesillyChristianswithpaintedfaceswalkingthroughthestreets.”KnowingthatJessicawasdeeplyinlovewithLorenzo,aChristian,hestillforbadethemtomeetandpreventedthemfromfallinginlove,whicheventuallyledtothemiserablecoupleagreeingtoelope.Afterlearningthathisonlybiologicaldaughtereloped,Sherlock’sfirstreactionwasnottocareabouthisdaughter’ssafety,buttocareabouthisdaughter’sstolenproperty,andcursedhisdaughterharshly:“Iwantmydaughtertodieatmyfeet,thosejewelsarehangingonherears,Iwanthertobeburiedatmyfeet,themoneyisinhercoffin.”WhenhelearnedthatJessicaspenteightydollarsonenightinGenoa,Sherlockwasnotatallhappytolearnofhisdaughter’swhereabouts,butlaments,“Youstuckaknifeinmyheart!I’llneverseemysilveragain!Eightydollarsatonce!Eightydollars!”SomoneywasmoreimportanttoSherlockthanfather-daughterlove.3.1.3ARuthlessMasterAstherepresentativeofmiserSherlock,hisgreedformoneynotonlymadehimneglectthefamily,butalsolethimtreatpeoplemean.Inthetext,Sherlock’sservantLancelotdescribeswhatitwaslikeworkingforSherlock:“Iwassohungrydoinghisworkthatyoucouldfeeleveryfingerofminefrommyribs.”Theindustriousservantsworkeddayandnight,buttheyoftenwenthungry,resultinginmalnutritionanddecay.Buttheservant’shardworkandhungerdidnotattractSherlock’ssympathy.HesaidofLancelot:“Thisfoolishmanisallright,butheeatstoomuch:hedoeshisworkasslowlyasasnail;hesleepsinthedaytimebetterthanawildcat.”Lancelot,theservant,doesn’thaveenoughtoeateveryday,butSherlockcallshimagreatgit.Theservantworkshardeveryday,butSherlocksayshesleepsallday.Theacerbic,ruthlessowner,Sherlock,isjaw-dropping.3.2LamentableSherlockForthiscomplexandcontradictoryfigure,weshouldjudgehimfromtheperspectiveofexamination.Thistwistedmanisalienatedbymoney.Hisworld-hatersfullofresentment,jealousyandrevengeisabhorrentandmakesuscriticize,butontheotherhand,heisaJewwhosuffersfromdiscriminationandabuseandhaslongenduredresentment.Inthecourt,hewasdefeatedandtriedtodefendhimself,whicharousedoursympathyfortheweak,andthisfigureismoreorlesswearingacertaintragiccolor.3.2.1StoicJewsAsaJewlivinginaChristiansociety,Sherlockisamarginalizedforeigner.HeenduredAntonio’stauntsandinsults,beingabandonedbyhisowndaughter,society’sindifferencetohismisfortunes,andthejudge’sstrangeeyes.SherlockwasaJew.JewswerediscriminatedagainstandpersecutedinthewholeofWesternEurope,andcouldnotengageindecentprofessions.Inthe13thand14thcenturies,theyhadtomakealivingbyusury,whichledthemtoattachgreatimportancetomoney.Basedonthis,Sherlockisarepresentativefigure,makinghimarepresentativeofthesufferingandsorrowoftheJews.ShylockchosethisoccupationforsurvivalandsoughtaplaceintheChristiansocietybyhisownwisdom.However,hewasoftenridiculedanddiscriminatedbyAntoniobecauseofhisoccupationandrace.WhenShylockusesbiblicalallusionstojustifyinterest,AntoniodescribeshimasasmilingdevilblasphemingtheBible.InAntonio'sheart,Shylockhaslongbeenlabeledasinferior.ShakespeareintheMerchantofVenice,throughthemouthofSherlock,onbehalfoftheJewishgrievances.Intheplay,SherlockpointedoutthesocialstatusoftheJewswhowereoppressedandbullied,andcalledontheJewstoretaliateandresist.“Hehatedoursacrednation,andevenreviledmeinpublicintheplacewherethemerchantsmet,reviledmytrades,reviledmyhard-earnedmoney,sayingitwasthemoneyofexploitation.IfIsparehim,ournationwillneverrecover.”That’soneofthemainreasonshewantsAntoniodead.AtthistimeShakespearestandsatthepinnacleofmankind,playingtheroleofGod,seesallpeopleashuman.Sherlockoncehadthisindignation:“JustbecauseI'maJew.Don’tJewshaveeyes?HavetheJewsnolimbs,nosenses,nofeelings,noflesh?Doeshenoteatthesamefood,thesameweaponsthatinjurehim,thesamemedicinethatcureshim,andbeequallycoldinwinterandequallyhotinsummer,likeaChristian?Ifyoustabuswithasword,won’twebleedtoo?Wouldn’twelaughifyoutickledus?Ifyoukilluswithpoison,won’twedietoo?Soifyoubullyus,won’twetakerevenge?Ifwearealllikeyouelsewhere,wearealikeinthis.IfaJewinsultsaChristian,howdoesaChristianshowhishumility?Revenge.IfaChristianinsultsaJew,howshouldtheJewshowhistolerance,accordingtotheChristianexample?Revenge.Youhavetaughtmethemeansofcruelty,andIwillfollowthem,andrespectthemtwiceasmuch.”ThroughSherlock’sappeal,italsoreflectstheuniversaldiscriminationofChristiansagainstJewsandJewsinEuropeansocietyatthattime.FromthispointofviewSherlockisworthyofsympathy,Shakespearestillstandsonthehumanitarianstandpoint,gentlycriticizedreligiousprejudiceandracialdiscrimination.Inthisway,youcanseethesadsideofSherlock.Asaplaintiffincourt,Sherlockalsofacesadifferentlookfromthejudge.WhenPortiaenteredthecourt,sheaskedtheduke,“Iknowallthedetailsofthiscase.Whichoftheseisthemerchant,andwhichistheJew?”.Portia,whohadlearnedthewholestory,knewSherlock’sprofessionasausurer.Butfromwhatshesaidtotheduke,PortiadidnotacknowledgeSherlock’sstatusasamerchant.IntheeyesofJudgePortia,Jewsarenotcitizensofsociety,butothers,soSherlockisreferredtoasaJew.Besides,PortiacalledAntonioamerchantwhensheaddressedhim,andSherlockaJew.ThisalsoimpliesPortia’sdiscriminationagainstJews.Everyoneshouldbeequalbeforethelaw,butSherlockstillcan'tgetequaltreatmentinfrontofthelawenforcement.3.2.2PowerlessVictimsSherlock,whowasalegalshoo-in,endeduplosingeverythinginaChristiancourt.WhenSherlockwasabouttocutoffapoundoffleshfromAntonio’sbreast,thejudgePortiasaidthatthecontractdidnotsaythatyoucouldhaveadropofAntonio’sblood,andthatifyoushedadropofChristianbloodintheprocessofcuttingofftheflesh,allyourpropertywouldbeconfiscated.AtthesametimePortiatellsSherlockthat,havingrejectedothersuggestions,hehasnochoicebuttocuttheflesh.WhenSherlockaskedtodropthecase,thejudgetoldhimthatifakidnapperwasprovedtohavedirectlyorindirectlyattemptedtokillacitizen,halfofhisgoodswouldbegiventothevictimandtheotherpartwouldbeconfiscatedbythegovernment.Thelifeofthegentilewasintheduke’shands.SinceSherlockhadexposedsuchanattempt,hewassubjecttolegalpunishment.Asthecourtdecided,eventhoughSherlockhadlivedinVeniceformanyyears,hewasstillconsideredaforeignerandnotacitizenofVenice.Sherlockappealedtothelaw,butthelaweventuallygavehimtheresultthathewasnotacitizenofVenice,hispropertywasconfiscated,andhispersonallifewasinthehandsofothers.InsteadofpayingbackthethreethousandhehadborrowedfromSherlock,Antonio,astheborrower,wouldgethalfofSherlock’sfortune.However,Sherlock,astheborrower,didnotrecoverthethreethousandyuanborrowedbefore,buthalfofthepropertywasconfiscatedbythecourt.Hewasalsoforcedtochangehisreligion,tobecomeadevoutChristian,andtoagreetogivehisremainingpropertytohisdaughterandhisChristianson-in-law.Sherlockistherealvictim,robbedofhisfortune,hisdaughterandhisfaithbyVenetianlaw.ChapterFourTheReasonsforSherlock’sTragicCharacterShakespeare’sfamousplayTheMerchantofVenicehasalwaysbeenunderstoodasacomedy,inwhichtheimageofSherlockhasbeenahottopicofdiscussionamongexperts,scholarsandordinaryreaders.ThereasonforthetragicappearanceofShylock’simageistheinfluenceoffamily,religiousbelief,ethnicdiscriminationandothersocialperspectivesonhim.4.1FamilyBackground Sinceancienttimes,familyhasbeenthemostimportantpartofourlives,andnothingcanreplaceourloveforfamily.ItiswellknownthatSherlockvaluesmoneyashislife,butweshouldnotforgetthatSherlockloveshisfamilymorethanmoney.“Hevalueshisfamilymorethanmoney.”Inhisheart,theloveoffamilyisirreplaceable.Intheplay,Sherlockstrugglestoraisehisdaughteraloneafterthedeathofhiswife.Ashisdaughtergrewup,hegavehisloveandresponsibilityasafather.Still,hisdaughterlefthim,makinghimafailureasafather.Sherlockdevotedallhislovetohisdaughter.Heworkedhardtoearnmoneytosupporthisdaughter.Moreover,healsohopedthathisdaughterwouldinherithispropertyandliveahappierlifethanhedid.Sohetoldhisdaughter,“Getmarried,getmarried.”Whenhegoesout,ourso-calledmiserwillnothesitatetogiveherthekey.Althoughhelovesmoneylikeafortune,heloveshisdaughterbetterthanmoney.Attheend,whenhisdaughtertookhismoneyintotheChristianarms,hesufferedafatalblow.Hewasdevastatedandsaid,“Iwantmydaughtertodiebesideme,eventhoughsheisbeautifulwithjewels!”.However,hestillspentalotofmoneytofindhisdaughter,doesn’tthisprovehisloveforher?WhenTubaltellhim,“YourdaughterisinGenoa,”Sherlocksays,“it’slikestabbingaswordinmychest.”Hewasdisappointedwithhisdaughterbecausehislovewasignoredbyher.Evenso,inthefaceofsuchdisappointmentandpain,inthefaceofhisgreatprejudiceagainstChristians,hesaidtothecourt:“Ihaveadaughter,ifonlyherhusbandwasnotaChristian!”.Suchwordsanddeedsonceagainprovehisloveforhisdaughter.Butthedaughterdidnotappreciateit.Thedaughtersaid,“Ourhomeislikehell.”Why?Becauseherlifeisalackofinterestandpassion,andherfatherlimitshergoingout,whichmakeshimmorerebelliouspsychology,makingthegapbetweenfatheranddaughterdeeperanddeeper.Overtime,suchagaphasbecomeaninsurmountablegap,thedaughterfinallyresenthisfather.Sheoncesaid:“Iamashamedofmyfather.Ihavehisbloodinme,butIwouldneverdowhathedid.”Tosumup,wecansaythatSherlock’sdaughterhatesherfatheranddespiseseverythinghedoes.Becauseshejustthoughtherfatherwasaselfish,greedy,murderousmoney-makingmachine.Butheneverknewhisfather’ssuffering,donotknowhisfather’shardmoney.Andunderherfather’sprotection,shewouldneverhavefeltthatpain.Ifshecouldunderstandherfather,shewouldnothavelefthimsodecisively.Instead,shewouldhavelovedherfatherashelovedher.However,itisimpossibleforhertounderstandhowheroldfatherfinallyenduredthepain,shetookthefather’smoneyfreeandeasytoleave,leavingafatherwholovedhisdaughtersad.So,wecometotheconclusionthatSherlockisasympatheticfather,aresponsiblefather,butalsoafailure.4.2EthnicDiscriminationIntheMiddleAges,JewswereregardedbyEuropeancountriesasaninferiorpeople,persecutednotonlyinreligion,butalsoinpoliticswithoutanypoliticalrightsandfreedoms,andsubjectedtovariousrestrictionsintheeconomy.Theyhavebeenpersecuted,discriminatedagainst,lootedandkilledbydifferentnationsanddifferentracesthroughouthistory.AsaJew,SherlockhadthesametragicfateasmostotherJews.Fortheirdependentsituation,theyhaveadeepsenseofinferiority,inordertosurvive,inordertofightfortheequalstatuswithotherethnicgroups,theytrytomaintainnationalcustomsandreligiousbeliefs,andunited,law-abiding,hardworkandbearhardships.However,notonlydidtheyhavenopoliticalrightsandfreedoms,butalsotheyweresubjecttovariousrestrictionsintheeconomy,butJewsweregoodatbusinessandfinance.Inthisfield,yougetrichbytakingadvantageofopportunitiesthatotherswouldnottakeadvantageof.Ofcourse,someofthemarewillingtodosomethingtoocruel,difficultandmeanwhenevertheycan,ifitisnotillegal.Asapagan,Sherlock,whowasdiscriminatedagainstbecauseofhisdifferentreligiousbeliefs,waswaryandvengefultowardsthosearoundhim.ThepoorJewishmerchantlivedinasocietysurroundedbyChristiansandaristocrats,anddespitehiswealth,hewassubjectedtodiscrimination,insultandridicule.Hehasadeephatredforthosewhosquandertheirancestralwealthandliveaprodigallife.Therefore,whentheopportunitycomes,Sherlockhopestotakerevengeonthesocietythathastreatedhimandhisnationunfairly.TheMerchantofVenicedepictsasocietywhereJewsarediscriminatedagainstateveryturn.Insuchasocialbackground,Shylock,asaJew,hasbeendiscriminatedagainstandinsultedbyothersforalongtime,andhasenduredabuseandpersecutionforalongtime.Thesceneintheplaycanillustratethispointforus:“Youcallmewrong,youcallmeaJewishdog,youspitatme.”ForaJewishnationthatwasdiscriminatedagainstandpersecuted,Shylockdidnothavetherighttochoosehiscareer.HelivedinVenice,whereJewsgenerallymadealivingbyusury,whichmadehimenterahigh-riskeraatbirth.Atthesametime,Shylockwasalsoakindofindustrythatpeoplediscriminatedagainst,anditwastheonlyindustrythatJewswereallowedtoengageinbylawatthattime.ItcanbeseenthatShylock,asaJew,enduredallthepersecutionimposedonhimbyChristianityandhadnochoicebuttoendure.Inthefaceofracism,heknows:“Jewsenduremore”and“Iwasbornthisway”.Still,thereisalimittowhatonecanendure,letalonesomeoneasself-absorbedasSherlock.WhenhewaspersecutedbyChristianityagainandagain,Shylock’sheartwasfilledwithhatred,andhedreamedthatonedayhecouldgetrevenge.TheonlythingShylockcouldn’tstandwasAntoniospittingonhim,althoughhedidn'thaveanyreactionatthattime,buthestilltookittoheart.Shylockwasamanofverystrongnationalbelief,sohecouldn'tstandthisinsult.WhenBassanioborrowedmoney,hewroteacontractandAntoniobecametheguarantee,whichgavehimthechancetoretaliate.Thisledtotheideaofaskingforapoundofflesh,soShylockwasamanofnationalfaith,notamercenarylender.Itwaslegalinthecontractualsocietyofthetime.IntheRenaissanceperiod,thespiritofcontractandtheconsciousnessoflawweredeeplyrootedintheheartsofthepeople,anditwasamatterofcoursetofollowsuchprinciplesandagreements.Thepoundoffleshagreementreflectsthisspirit,whichalsoreflectsthatShylockisverylegalawareness,andhegivesalotofexpectationstothelaw,butPortiapretendedtobeajudgeatthattime,claiminghumanity,butthisisalsoadisrespecttothelaw.Shylockhimselfwasavictim,buthecouldnotprotecthisrightsandintereststhroughthelaw,buthewasstillusedbyothersandbecamearealvictim.Therefore,hehadtogiveupthecontractandwasrejected.Finally,heexhaustedallhispropertyandjoinedChristianity,whichreflectedthetragedyofnationaldiscriminationandthetragedyamonglegaldefenders.AsaJewlivinginVenice,underthesocialatmosphereofracialdiscriminationandreligiousdifferences,SherlockwantstoretaliatenotonlyAntonio,butthewholeChristiancamprepresentedbyhim.ItistruethatSherlockgaveupalargesumofmoneyandinsistedoncuttingapoundoffleshoutofagreaterlustformoney,butastrongerdesirewastorelievehatred,whichclearlyshowstheseriousnessofnationaldiscriminationinthesocietySherlocklivedinatthattime.4.3ReligiousBeliefsAllmenarecreatedequal.Althougheveryonecomesfromdifferentcountriesandnationalities,peopleareequaltoeachother.Everyonehashisownrighttochoosehisownreligiousbelief,othershavenorighttointerfere,thisisanacceptedfacttoday.SowecansaythatSherlock,asaJew,hadhisownreligiousfreedom.ButinmedievalEurope,inthesocialcontextofSherlock'slife,thiswouldhavebeenimpossible.SoSherlock,whochosetobecomeaJew,wasdestinedtosuffertheinsultsandabuseofthepeople.Wasthisjustbecausehew