In the play 'The Merchant of Venice' does Shakespeare sympathize with Shylock? What evidence? To what extent should an audience feel sorry for him?

Shylock is certainly portrayed as a mean old man, who isolates himself from the rest of the world. None-the-less, Shakespeare's depiction also allows the audience to sympathize with this character, as he is a victim of racism.

“eat/ with you, drink with you, nor pray with you.” ( I.iii/ ll. 33-34)

“Hath not a Jew eyes? Hath not a Jew hands, organs, dimensions, senses, affections, passions?” (III.i.54).