Parallels between Snape and Shylock in "The Merchant of Venice"

[Mari]

No: HPFGUIDX 134964

 Sherry:
 
> I agree that modern audiences see Shylock as ambiguous, but 
> Shakespearean audiences would not. 

Mari again:

This is something I find fascinating. Shylock has indeed been 
historically interpreted in different ways; Shakespeare's 
contemporaries took the comic villain route, later the tragic hero 
interpretation was in vogue, and in modern times, as you say, it 
is the vogue to allow him to be ambiguous.

<snip> 

Sherry:
 
>He was intended to be the villain, but Shakespeare is a great 
> character author and transformed Shylock from a flat 
> stereotype to a complex character.  In support of your point, 
> Snape is seen as a death eater, which is also considered evil.  
> Once again, instead of a stale character, we have rich, complex 
> characters.

Mari again:

One of the reasons I enjoy the HP series so much is because 
Rowling is similarly very good at creating complex characters 
that aren't stock figures or archetypes. Even where they are 
based on fantasy or other archetypes (hero, villain, sidekick) she 
extends and develops these archetypes further for the purposes 
of her story. 

I'm glad you found this interesting! :-)

Mari.