Act one scene three can be interpreted in more than one manner. Shylock can be seen as an evil man or as a man who is prejudiced against and misunderstood. My group chose to portray Shylock as a villain because of his deviousness in the scene. This choice can greatly affect an audience's understanding of the play because Shylock is a main character and is important to the plot and theme. Although our group chose to portray Shylock as a villain in this particular scene, the audience can be swayed side to side throughout the entirety of the play.
             Our group chose to depict Shylock as a villain because of the way we interpreted his dialogues. Shylock seems very devious and underhanded; the reader can tell that something is up his sleeve. Shylock is Jewish and possesses many of the bad stereotypes that Jews are commonly associated with. In reference to Antonio, Shylock states "How like a fawning publican he looks. I hate him for he is a Christian; but more, for that in low simplicity he lends out money gratis, and brings down the rate of usance here with us in Venice. If I can catch him once upon the hip, I will feed fat the ancient grudge I bear him." In this aside, Shylock basically tells the audience his detestation for Antonio because he is a Christian and lends out money free of charge. Shylock also states his desire for revenge on Antonio. This aside can easily make the audience see Shylock as an evil man, and this is why my group chose to depict him as such.
             The way a scene is directed and performed makes an enormous impact on the audiences understanding of the play. My group chose to portray Shylock as the villain, and Antonio and Bassanio as the protagonists. Shylock's intentions can indisputably be seen as evil, this is why we chose to display him as the antagonist of the play.
             Act one scene three contains many important speeches; however Shylock's aside on line thirty eight is
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