Yes, Shylock is stereotypical, and Shakespeare definitely plays off the stereotypes and preconceptions his contemporaries held about Jews. But we are also made to feel pity for Shylock when he bemoans the loss of his daughter, or when the court makes a decision that isn’t just at all.

Also, consider for a moment taht the idea of Christianity is supposed to be the concept of love-thy-neighbour and how little of that charity is shown by any of the supposedly Christian character (which, of course, culminates in forcin Shyloc to convert). So while, on the surface, Shylock is the villain, he isn’t shown as “bad because he is Jewish”, and it doesn’t take much insight to see how bleak a picture of Christianity Shakespeare draws.

Hope that gives you some pointers for your essay.

The way I understand it, Shakespeare probably never met a Jew in his life and was completely relying on Jewish stereotypes based on public opinion at the time. Shylock’s speech, “Hath not a Jew eyes…” complicates the anti-semitic reading, however, and has often been quoted out of context as a plea for tolerance.

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