I thought these points were quite useful in getting to grips with the Shylock character.
Fretful Porpentine
“So, I’d argue that Shakespeare does not depict Jews as inherently evil or despicable. He doesn’t, however, depict all religions as equally valid – there isn’t ever any real question that Christianity is supposed to be superior.”
Shakespear’s audience (Christian) would have thought of themselves as superior to Jews. So the play reflects his time.
eclectic wench
“Shylock is the only main character in that play who never does anything devious. He, unlike everyone else, is constantly upfront.”
If Shylock had simply be the stereotypical Jew, it would just have been another “The Jew of Malta” and we wouldn’t be really discussing it today. The fact that he does play the stereotypical Jew out for his “pound of flesh” but not in the stereotypical cartoonish way Jews were often portrayed in his day, gives his character more depth and a human quality.