Merchant of Venice Characters Analysis features noted Shakespeare scholar William Hazlitts famous critical essay about the characters of The Merchant of Venice THIS is a play that in spite of the change of manners and prejudices still holds undisputed possession of the stage Shakespears malignant has outlived Mr Cumberlands benevolent Jew In proportion as Shylock has ceased to be a popular bugbear baited with the rabbles curse he becomes a half favourite with the philosophical part of the audie