This is why some people say Shakespeare was an anti-Semitist. The Merchant of Venice is a play classified by some as racist. Even thought Shylock is referred to as the Jew all through the play except in two occasions, this does not mean it's discriminating. Rather, it shows us the way Shylock would be referred as in that time. There are many other things such as Shylock having to convert to the Christian religion at the end of the book, but we cannot mention enough that was something that happened back then.
Many people say Shylock is evil.