Midchuck, while I could plainly see the lump of tongue in your cheek, your reference to Merchant of Venice prompts me to comment.

While the contemporary view of Jews as the background of Merchant of Venice is negative, it seems to me that the role of Shylock is best understood as positive. He's a rough, aggressive businessman, without question, but very human, clearly tortured by the hostile discrimination to which he's subject. Altogether one of the best, richest roles in Shakespeare, to my mind, and if acted right, very sympathetic.

Dave Oesterreich