Conflicts in "Merchant of Venice"

Conflicts in "Merchant of Venice" occur as a result of four major life themes: love, money, prejudice and disguise. Shylock, the Jewish moneylender is usually, and somewhat unjustly, held responsible for many of these conflicts. Though Shylock's behaviour is, in many ways, evil,and should by no means be exonerated, the conflicts he does cause are most often merely his vengeful attempt to respond to the prejudices he has experience caused by his religion. In …

…for revenge. Though Shylock's dogged determination to kill Antonio was too extreme for the circumstances, his hatred and mistrust of the Christian community in general is both understandable and expected. Had Shylock not felt that retaliation was necessary, Shakespeare would have created an almost inhuman character, too righteous to have been conceivable, especially as he was a Jew. As a result, it is prejudice which has caused the majority of conflicts in "Merchant of Venice".