Shylock

Shylock is very materialistic. Money means a lot to him, as we can tell when he instructs his daughter,
Jessica to guard the house as he had a bad dream about money. He doesn’t instruct Jessica to guard
herself, only the house, which could mean that he cares more for his things than his own daughter.

His own daughter doesn’t seem to like him which can also be seen as evidence of Shylock not being a
very good man. Jessica is desperate to get away from him and calls her house and living with her father
“hell.”

However, at the same time, we don’t really see any actual evidence of Shylock being a bad father. When
he instructs Jessica not to stand at the window, it can also be seen as a sign of protectiveness. In a way,
our view of him is shaped by the opinions of those closest to him.

Even though his servant and daughter do not like him, their descriptions make him a little sympathetic,
especially Lancelot, because it appears Lancelot doesn’t like Shylock just because he is a Jew.

Jessica, too, voices no real complaint about her father, other than the boredom of life with him, but she
seems eager to escape her Jewish heritage, which she sees as a stain on her honor.

Therefore, in these scenes, it can be argued that Shylock is portrayed as materialistic, but not wicked.

Value of Relationships

The relationship between Shylock and Jessica reveals that the value of relationships was not always
based on blood, but was affected by one's sense of self esteem and self worth. Jessica defines her
relationship with her father as being connected to religion, a religion she wishes to escape completely in
order to begin a relationship that she actually wants in her life, with a Christian man, Lorenzo.

The play shows that the value of relationships is what one makes of them. If you don't value them, then
you don't want those people in your life. If you do value them, you want them in your life and will do
anything to make sure of that, the way Jessica and Lorenzo do.

Prejudice

One of the most prominent themes of the play is prejudice, specifically religious prejudice. Shakespeare
wrote at a time when religious stereotyping and prejudice was very common. The Jews, although wealthy,
were mocked and taunted. They were resented for not having converted to Christianity and their religious
beliefs were held as sin. There were a great deal of animosity between the Christians and Jews.

Although the scene between the Gobbos is there for comic relief, we can still see the theme of prejudice,
for Launcelot is shown to hate Shylock for no other reason than the fact that he is a Jew. Launcelot, we
learn, is not leaving his job because Shylock has proved to be a cruel or harsh master, but because he
fears being polluted from being so close to a Jew.

Jessica, too, voices no real complaint about her father, other than the boredom of life with him. She
seems all too eager to escape her Jewish heritage, which she sees as a stain on her honor.
Jessica

Jessica is Shylock’s daughter. She shows what it was like to be a young Jewish girl at the time who felt
desperate to get away from the insults that came her way because she was a Jew. She hates her father
and thinks her life at home is hell. She wants Lorenzo to rescue her and she is all too willing to convert to
Christianity.

However, at the same time, we don’t feel complete sympathy for Jessica either, because she seems to
show no love or sympathy for her father, who raised her all these years. She is also too ready and willing
to renounce her religion, which shows self loathing, and a lack of integrity and self respect.