This paper aims to explore the evolving critical perspectives on Shylock, a character from W. Shakespeare’s play “The Merchant of Venice”, assessing whether he embodies the traits of an avaricious villain, a sympathetic victim, or a complex amalgamation of both. It includes a personal evaluation of Shylock’s multifaceted character, drawing upon biblical passages that illuminate the sin of avarice, as well as insights from ancient and medieval sources such as Plutarch, Gregory of Nyssa, Evagrius, Dante Alighieri, and Renaissance thinkers like Martin Luther, Pierre de La Primadauye, and Thomas Wilson. Beyond examining Shylock’s avaricious nature, the paper also investigates whether his character trajectory aligns with de La Primadauye’s contemporary portrayal of an individual who begins as avaricious and subsequently becomes consumed by anger and revenge.
Iliev et al. (Mon,) studied this question.