The Elizabethan Theater was a place of entertainment located in England between 1562 and 1642. The theater was very famous at that time for the popular plays presented to the public. Shakespeare's novels were one of the most famous acts of Elizabethan theater. One of his most popular novels was The Merchant of Venice, which is still a popular novel today. The novel deals with relations between Christians and Jews. It is about Shylock, a Jewish lender, who seeks revenge on Antonio, a Christian merchant, unable to repay his loan. The novel is intended to be a comedy and makes the audience of the Elizabethan Theater laugh with each act performed. Today, perspectives have changed and what was considered humorous at that time can be considered tragedy today. In "The Merchant of Venice", Christians humiliating Jews, a daughter betraying her own father, and racism are examples of situations that can be considered a tragedy rather than a comedy. Discrimination against Jews in England began very early. year, in 1290. At that time, Jews were being expelled from England for following their beliefs. To this day, Christians have mixed feelings toward the Jews, who they believe killed Jesus Christ. At the time The Merchant of Venice was written, many Christians' feelings toward Jews were worse than they are today. In Shakespeare's novel, Shylock is a Jew who is constantly humiliated by Antonio, who is a Christian. Throughout the majority of the novel, Jews are physically and verbally abused for following their beliefs. Antonio spits and verbally disrespects Shylock because he is Jewish. Shylock reveals Antonio's behavior towards him by stating: You...... middle of paper...... United States of America. Even Christians' perspectives on other races have changed since the time of the novel, when Father Augustine Tolton became the first black Catholic priest, in 1886. Along with all these events of black achievement, views on the different races have changed. , and racism is a sensitive topic that affects various people in mostly negative ways. Perspectives have changed since Shakespeare's time. What was considered humorous by the audience of the Elizabethan Theater can, today, be considered a tragedy. Jews humiliated by Christians, a daughter betraying her own father, and racism are aspects of William Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice that could be considered and intended to be a comedy. Today, these aspects are offensive and brutal to many readers..