What are some prejudice in the Merchant of Venice?

Answer 1

People judge Shylock because he is a Jew. He cannot escape the harassment that he receives for being Jewish.

Jessica is too nice to be a Jew, and therefore must convert to Christianity

There is only a happy ending for the Christian characters

Answer 2

Shylock, the Jewish moneylender in The Merchant of Venice, is the victim of constant prejudice on account of his religion. Shakespeare shows us this in two ways: he has many of the characters, Gratiano, Salerio, Antonio and Solanio particularly actually say cutting and nasty things to or about Shylock based on his religion, such as:

Antonio: Mark you this, Bassanio: the devil can cite Scripture for his purpose. (the "devil" here is Shylock)

Antonio: The Hebrew will turn Christian; he grows kind. (based on the strange belief that Jews are somehow less kind than Christians)

Solanio: Here comes another of the tribe. A third cannot be matched, unless the devil himself turn Jew. (This about the inoffensive Tubal, a friend of Shylock's)

Shylock also refers to the treatment he gets at the hands of Antonio. "You call me misbeliever, cutthroat dog, and spit on my Jewish gaberdine"

Shylock is also guilty of such sentiments. He says of Antonio "I hate him for he is a Christian" before getting into his real complaint--that Antonio lends money for free and thus cuts into his moneylending business (He's sort of a forerunner to the RIAA).

These nasty opinions and ideas are about religion, not race. Jessica becomes one of the gang the moment she changes her religion. But that does not really matter as the play (or rather this particular plotline) is about how prejudice can bring out the desire for revenge in its victims.

Answer 3

Prejudice is what the entire Shylock subplot is all about. Shylock seeks revenge on Antonio because Antonio and others have harassed Shylock over being Jewish, and following the trade of moneylender, one of the few occupations open to Jewish people at that time and place. The hostility of the others toward Shylock does not abate as the play goes on, and finally gleefully destroys him. But Shylock, in making Antonio the scapegoat for all the wrongs all of the Christians have done to him, is as prejudiced as the Christians are. Indeed he brags about it at the end of the famous "If you prick us do we not bleed?" speech and says he will "better their example". Basically, if you call him dog, best beware his fangs.

Answer 4

Prejudice is a major theme in Merchant of Venice. Shylock explicitly states that it is because he has been the victim of prejudice that he seeks revenge on Antonio. The Christian characters in the play constantly refer to him as "a devil" for no other reason that he is Jewish. Act 3 scene 1 (the scene with the famous "hath not a Jew eyes" speech) is a good example.

Answer 5

There are many themes that the Merchant of Venice have. One of the major theme is mercy, this is a large part of the play that ends it.