How Shylock in the Merchant of Venice relates to a theme in the play

How Shylock in the Merchant of Venice relates to a theme in the play?By: Sujin 8B

Shylock, a Jewish moneylender in Venice, in the "Merchant of Venice" relates to the theme of the play about Prejudice as he clearly relates to Anti Christian Prejudice. The very first evident can be seen in At one when Shylock says to himself, "I hate him because he is a Christian.... May my people be cursed if I forgive him!" Throughout the play, the Christians are battling with the Jews and neither of them will listen to one another because their hearts are filled with intense prejudice. Shylock appears to despise the Christian religion throughout the story and he refers as 'Christian fools' (II, IV.877). This can also be seen when he refuses to dine with Christians when he said, 'I will not eat with you, drink with you, nor pray with you' (I, iii.363). Moreover, Shylock doesn't allow his daughter to be with Lorenzo just because he's a Christian and since Lorenzo isn't his servant anymore. However, at the same time, Shylock himself was also the target of a lot of prejudice himself.