Villian or Victim?

Shylock: Tormented or Victim?
What makes a villain? How would villainy be defined? Villains may have a desire to kill, to steal, or to cause suffering. To define a villain is not done by just evaluating their actions but by looking at the circumstances and their intentions. In "The Merchant of Venice" by William Shakespeare, Shylock would appear to be the obvious villain showing cruel and cold-hearted traits.   However, Antonio creates an emotionally complex personality in the character of Shylock. A villain is someone in whom pain is inflicted upon them by another, someone who is victimized unreasonably with no purpose for it, and someone who is not capable of changing the actions towards them. Shylock possesses all these traits, this shows that he is the victim in "The Merchant of Venice".   The bitterness he displays to the world is a direct effect from years of suffering he has endured.  
    Prejudice is the main cause of misery in Shylock's life. Over the years he has been mocked for being a Jew. “For sufferance is the badge of all our tribe” (Shylock, act 1 scene 3).   This quote directly relates to the fact that he is treated with inequality everywhere he goes.   Shylock is taunted by such harsh names such as “This currish Jew”, “Mark, Jew”, and “Tarry Jew”. He is also taunted with “cut-throat dog” and “inexecrable dog”.   The fact that he is described as an animal shows others regard him as less than human. He has been isolated in a Christian community and even in the courtroom he is treated like an outsider; “Go one, and call the Jew into court” (Duke, act 4 scene 1). This injustice that is constantly displayed has clearly generated fierce feelings of anger, and a deep-seated desire for revenge. Therefore I would say this is the cause for his desperate craving for Antonio's bond.   It may seem as Shylock is victimizing Antonio, which would make him the villain. But really it is Shylock being victimized by the Christian community surrounding him, especially...