What is the importance of the scene act2 scene 2?

Act II, Scene II, exposes the true bias that Shylock lives with in his daily life. It is an important scene because through Launcelot, and his blatant contempt for Shylock, which is based solely upon his being Jewish, actually makes the audience feel sorry for the old man. Shylock, of course, remains the villain, but we also get a closer look at the man.