ABSTRACT

This paper first analyzes Shylock’s main characteristics, including cruelty, miserliness and vengeance. The second part analyzes the causes from three aspects: the ritual murder legend, racial discrimination and religious persecution against Jews. After reading The Merchant of Venice and the study of the characteristics and the various causes, the author finds that Shylock is not only a miserly usurer and vengeful villain but also a sorrowful tragic figure. The analysis of Shylock’s characteristics and the causes may be helpful for readers to have a better understanding of Shylock.

Key words: Shylock  Characteristics  Racial Discrimination  Religion  Causes

摘  要

本文通过分析夏洛克残忍，吝啬以及复仇心重的性格，进而从犹太传说、种族歧视和宗教迫害三方面分析了夏洛克性格形成的原因。通过仔细阅读《威尼斯商人》和分析促成夏洛克性格形成的多种因素后，作者发现，夏洛克不仅是一个贪婪、吝啬的高利贷者和复仇心重的坏蛋，同时也是一个处境凄惨的悲剧人物。希望通过对夏洛克的性格及其成因的分析，能够帮助读者更好地了解夏洛克这一人物。

关键词：夏洛克  性格  种族歧视  宗教  原因

Chapter One    Introduction
1.1 Introduction to the Author
William Shakespeare, an English playwright and poet, is recognized in much of the world as the greatest of all dramatists, as well as one of the greatest writers in the literary world. His works mainly consist of about 154 sonnets, 38 plays, two long narrative poems, and some other poems. Many of his plays have been translated into many major living languages. His Hamlet, King Lear, and Macbeth are considered some of the finest works in the English language. What establish his reputation as a gifted and popular poet are the sonnets, but it is the 38 plays that have firmly built his reputation as the greatest dramatist who ever lived in the world. Of Shakespeare’s four mature “romantic” comedies, The Merchant of Venice is essentially different from the three others in its much more serious theme which reveals clearly Shakespeare’s ever-present, strong sympathy for the oppressed, and his almost instinctive antipathy against oppression of any kind. The author also wants to tell the reader that we may meet unfair treatment, but we shouldn’t become a merciless and vengeful person no matter what will happen to us.