【正文】 rings downThe rate of usance here with us in VeniceIf I can catch him once upon the hipI will feed fat the ancient grudge I bear him.He hates our sacred nation, and he rails,Even there where merchants most do congregateOn me, my bargains, and my well=won thriftWhich he calls interest Cursed he my tribeIf I forgive him (Shakespeare,1996:7。 ACT Ⅲ SCENE Ⅰ )。 if he sheds a single drop of a Christian’s blood, his lands and goods will be confused by the State according to the law of Venice. Thus, Antonio is saved, and Shylock has to undergo certain severe penalties, including pulsory conversion to Christianity.(Zhang Boxiang, 2004:176) A brief introduction of the social backgroundIn 16th century, England is under the leadership of Elizabeth at that time. With the rapid development of capitalist economy and the growth of the bourgeoisie, the discrimination and exclusion towards the Jews has bee increasingly serious. Even in Venice, the strongest and most powerful country in Europe, the sufferings of the Jews are the inevitable facts. According to the laws at that time, the Jews were forced to live in the old plant or slums in isolation. They were under the guard of Christians after sunset. During the day, any Jews who wanted to leave the civilian area should always bring red hats showing that they are “Jews”. Because they were not allowed to possess private property, they could only deal in usurious loans for life, but this was against the laws of Christianity. The merchant of Venice turned a blind eye to their sufferings. But the Religious Fanatics who were hostile to the Jews would beat, abuse, and even deprive their rights to exist. And it is this kind of injustice that contributed to the main cause of Shylock’s abnormal personality. A brief introduction about Shylock in this tragic edy.Shylock, in this play, is the antagonist. He is the model of Jewish usurer and is the representative of the voice of an oppressed nation. Most people read him as a bogeyman, a clownish Jewish stereotype. He is selfish, cruel, avaricious and niggard. Once he has the chance to revenge his foes, he will try his best to make them into deathtrap. He loves money and cares it than anything else. He doesn’t care about his only daughter, and this makes Jessica’s elopement with her lover. In the court, he is clam and wisdom, even fights against several Christian’s attacks. All of this makes people take unkind attitude to him. But the character of Shylock has also been the subject of much critical debate: How are we meant to evaluate the attitude of the Venetians in the play toward him? Is he a bloodthirsty villain? Or is he a man “more sinned against than sinning”? One of the reasons that such questions are raised is that there are really two stages of Shylock in the play: first, there is the stage “villain” who is required for the plot。 even in his singleminded pursuit of a pound of flesh. Here, I am going to give him a positive image. Except for being a villain, he is a warrior also to life and even to the society.Key Words: Merchant of Venice，Shylock，Character, a creation of circumstance, a warrior1 Brief introduction A brief introduction of the whole storyThe Merchant of Venice is one of the Shakespeare’s famous edies in his early time. Its theme is to extol kindness, friendship and love. This story begins with the Venice businessman, Antonio. Antonio’s money is all invested in mercantile expeditions. In order to help his best friend, Bassano, he has to borrow from the Jewish usurer, Shylock. Shylock has made a strong bond that requires Antonio to surrender a pound of his flesh