Please give 3 examples (with quotes) that show how Shylock was being treated poorly in Venice.

Despite Shylock's portrayal as a heartless, greedy Jew, Shakespeare creates sympathy for the play's villain by depicting how Shylock is religiously persecuted, marginalized, and ridiculed because of his religion and ethnicity. In 16th century Venice, Jewish citizens were discriminated against because of their beliefs. Several characters throughout the play portray this common prejudice throughout Venetian society by directly ridiculing Shylock or making derogatory comments about his religion and ethnicity.

1. In Act One, Scene 3, Antonio petitions Shylock for a loan in order to fund Bassanio's trip to Belmont. Shylock recalls the many times Antonio has treated him with contempt and publicly ridiculed him. Shylock tells Antonio,

"You call me misbeliever, cutthroat dog, And spet upon my Jewish gaberdine—And all for use of that which is mine own. Well then, it now appears you need my help. Go to, then! You come to me and you say, “Shylock, we would have moneys.” You say so!—You, that did void your rheum upon my beard And foot me as you spurn a stranger cur Over your threshold! Moneys is your suit." (Shakespeare, 1.3.109-117)

Shylock's comments reveal how Antonio has physically and verbally abused him in public. Antonio's contempt for Shylock is evident and is the reason Shylock resents the merchant. His insults are particularly degrading and depict Shylock as a subhuman malevolent being.

2. In Act Two, Scene 4, Lorenzo reveals his prejudice—which reflects the majority of Venetian citizens' perception of Jewish citizens—by telling Gratiano,

"If e'er the Jew her father come to heaven, It will be for his gentle daughter’s sake. And never dare Misfortune cross her foot Unless she do it under this excuse: That she is issue to a faithless Jew." (Shakespeare, 2.4.35-39)

Lorenzo insinuates that Jews cannot go to heaven, which is a prejudiced, ignorant comment that reflects the religious animosity of the time period. Lorenzo's comments cast Shylock in a negative light and portray him as an unfaithful villain simply because he is Jewish.

3. In Act Three, Scene 1, Salarino asks Shylock if he will actually remove a pound of flesh from Antonio if he forfeits on his loan. Shylock says that he will indeed take Antonio's flesh and use it for fish bait. In one of the most famous passages of the play, Shylock exposes the hypocrisy of his Christian neighbors by saying,

"He hath disgraced me and hindered me half a million, laughed at my losses, mocked at my gains, scorned my nation, thwarted my bargains, cooled my friends, heated mine enemies—and what’s his reason? I am a Jew. Hath not a Jew eyes? Hath not a Jew hands, organs, dimensions, senses, affections, passions? Fed with the same food, hurt with the same weapons, subject to the same diseases, healed by the same means, warmed and cooled by the same winter and summer as a Christian is? 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? If we are like you in the rest, we will resemble you in that. If a Jew wrong a Christian, what is his humility? Revenge. If a Christian wrong a Jew, what should his sufferance be by Christian example? Why, revenge." (Shakespeare, 3.1.53-72)

Shakespeare creates sympathy for Shylock as he laments at his terrible treatment by Venetian society. Shylock questions why he is unfairly persecuted and argues for his humanity. His passionate response reveals that he is an emotionally tortured man who is tired of Christians discriminating against him. In this scene, Shylock's humanity is depicted as he pleads to be treated with decency and respect. Shylock's complex personality is revealed during his response, and the audience empathizes with his unfortunate situation and condition.