书评

Antonio is the central figure of the play, embodying the virtues of friendship, kindness, and generosity. He is willing to borrow money to help his friend and even faces life-threatening danger without complaint. However, Shylock’s cruelty and cunning are also depicted in a chilling manner. He lends money to Antonio under usurious terms and enters into a harsh contract, hoping to profit massively if Antonio fails to repay the debt. The contrast between these two characters highlights the good and evil, light and darkness within human nature. The climax of the drama is the courtroom scene where Portia, disguised as a man, appears as a lawyer and cleverly defends Antonio, ultimately causing Shylock’s plot to unravel. This scene not only represents the triumph of wisdom and justice but also exposes the discrimination and exclusion faced by Jews in society at the time.