My Evil Not My FaultAn Analysis of the Image of Shylock外语系0804：杨爽 摘要 威尼斯商人是莎士比亚著名喜剧之一，而剧中的夏洛克更是一个经典形象，被人们一次次的分析。以前，尤其是16世纪，许多人认为夏洛克贪婪、自私、残酷、狡猾，而他的结局正是这部戏剧称为喜剧的一个原因。但是随着时间的发展，人们开始重新认识夏洛克，发现从夏洛克角度看是一个悲剧。夏洛克还有一些以前没被人们发现的特征：聪明、坦诚、勇敢、富有民族精神，这些特征慢慢地被人们发现。另外，论文分析了造成夏洛克悲剧结局的原因。关键词：夏洛克；宗教；法律；历史；悲剧AbstractThe Merchant of Venice is one of Shakespeares most famous comedy in the world. While Shylock is a classical figure and analyzed again and again. Before, especially in16th century, many people think Shylock was a greedy, selfish, cruel and so on, and his final result is a reason that this play is called comedy. As times goes by, people begin to re-analyze Shylock. They found when we analyze this play from Shylocks angle, it is a tragedy. Shylock also has other characters which was not discovered before and gradually accepted now, such as: clever, frank, courageous, rich national spirit. In addition, this paper talk some reasons why Shylock had a tragic result.Key words: Shylock, Religion, Law, History, TragedyII1.Social Background1.1 The History of the JewishThis is an old nationality, and comes into the world with the born of the Judaism. They start in Arabia, and live their life along with the float grass at first. Later, they became the farming nation. In 586 BC, many Jews descent into Babylonian Exile, and were dispersed all over the world. In the period ruled by Rome, Emperor Caracalla of Rome promulgated laws to alleviate ethnic contradictions in 212 AD, which made the Jews have the civil right of Rome in law. But with the times of Rome ending and the Nordic invading, the Jews and the Rome citizen became the denizen. Later, more and more Teutons Christianise ,became Christians. Thus, the boundary between denizens and Teutons were disappearing little by little, they became a big family which all the members believe the Christian. But for the Jews, they insist on their belief and refuse to accept Christianity. Beyond all question, this kind of behavior made them a denizen forever by those Christian, although they escaped from agriculture, smart Jews were still active in various industries in city. Until the 11th century, because many countries in Europe began to revitalizing, as the weak force, the Jews cant compete with them. Thus, in order to live, some of the Jews have engaged in usury. But this behavior made Christian have more reasons to scorn them, for Christians outlook，usury is a violation of the teachings. They considered the Jews just got others achievement. But whats more miserable, the rulers of European countries, through levy heavy tax, confiscation of property, and all kinds of means to cheat, robbed the wealth of the Jews. This made money become more and more important because the money is the only passport for them to live in such oppressed world. From the Middle Ages to early modern times, many folk tales and songs were popular with the Jewish story of the assassination of Christian children. In the era of Edward I(1265-1307) in England, Edward used to expel the Jews, but later, many Jews stayed in England in order to escape persecution by Spanish religious court. These Jews formed a small area. In 1594 years, Elizabeths physicianPortuguese Jews Lopez was accused of poisoning queen insidiously and he was interrogated. Although when Lopez stood next to the gallows, he sworn he was loyalty to the queen and said he worshipped Jesus Christ as the queen, but in London, whether they were noble or common people, people all tended to believe that Lopez was guilty. This was just because he was a Jew, for many prejudice were still kept fully and majestically in the Middle Ages.1.2 The Jewish Question Reflected in The Merchant of Venice The film The Merchant of Venice tells us some information at begin “Intolerance of the Jews was a fact of 16th century life even in Venice, the most powerful and liberal city state in Europe. By law the Jews were forced to live in the old walled foundry or Geto area of the city. After sunset the gate was locked and guarded by Christians. In the day time any men leaving the ghetto had to wear a red hat to mark him as a Jew.” The fact of social condition in England in 16th century was similar to the film described scene. At that time, Christian was in the drivers seat, the Jews had their own belief, so they have not social status and usually were persecuted. From the economic aspect, the Jews were prohibited to possess land, they were not allowed to have house property, because those Christians and officials would confiscate their property, so they had to be as a petty dealer, some of them practiced usurythe lending of money at interest. This made them have little cash and could survive. In law, many decrees were bad for the Jews. As Portia said in the drama：It is enacted in the laws of Venice,If it be proved against an alienThat by direct or indirect attemptsHe seek the life of any citizen,The part