of a business rival and hated enemy.Shylock says, "I will have the heart of him if he forfeit, for were he/ out of Venice I canmake what merchandise I will" (III, ii, 120-121). This portrayal of a murderous Jew issupported through the play. Shylock's own daughter, Jessica says, " When I was with him,I have heard him swear/ To Tubal and to Chus, his countrymen,/ That he would ratherhave Antonio's flesh/ Than twenty times the value of the sum/ That he did owe him" (III,ii, 284-288). During the trial scene, Shylock whets his knife when he discovers the forfeitthat is owed to him. Shylock rejoices in the thought of cutting Antonio, saying, " Ay hisbreast---/ So says the bond, doth it not, noble judge?/ "Nearest his heart"; those are thevery words" (IV, i, 252-254). Shylock's murderous nature becomes very evident with thisconstant blood-lust. Shakespeare's choice of words also depicts Shylock as nothing more than aninhuman villain. He is rarely refereed to by his name. Instead, he is simply called "theJew. This prejudice is demonstrated throughout the play with tell tale phrases such as"dog Jew" (Ii, viii, 14) and " currish Jew" (IV, i, 291). Eventually Shylock is demotedfrom man to animal. He is cursed by Gratiano in the phrase, " O be thou damned,inexecrable dog" (IV, i, 128) and later describing Shylock's desires as , " wolvish, bloody,starved, and ravenous" ( IV, i, 138). In the Elizabethan society Jews were almost on thesame level as dogs. After Shylock is stripped of his humanity it is easy to identify Shylock the worstallusion, the devil. In the first scene including Shylock, Antonio comments that " Thedevil can cite scripture for his purpose" (I, iii, 95). This reference is continued throughtthe play. Launcelot refers to Shylock as " the very devil incarnation" (II, ii, 27), andJessica his daughter refers to his home as "hell" (II, iii, 2). Upon entrance of Shylock,Solanio once states, " Let me say Amen betimes, lest the devil cross...
