Not everyone is who they seem to be when first introduced. Merchant of Venice
by William Shakespeare has characters that fit this description. It is a play of different
people, and their troubles in their life. You find out in the end who the characters really
seem to be, and their real reactions and personalities. Mainly there is two important
parts of the story. There is a man named Bassanio, and he has love for Portia, a
princess, who also has feelings for Bassanio. On another side of the story, a Jew
named Shylock makes an agreement with Bassanio, and his good friend Antonio, a
christian merchant. Their agreement is to take a loan from Shylock for Bassanio to be
with Portia. Shylock, the Jew, seems normal and somewhat snobby in the beginning,
but as the story goes on, he is a crazy, poor, greedy man who loses everything.
Shylock has had many disturbances with Christians because he is a jew, so is serious about any deal he makes with Antonio. Although, Antonio is also serious about the deal. “If you don’t repay me on such a day, at such a place, such sum or sums as are in the contract, let the forfeit be agreed for a full pound of your fair flesh.” 2.6.49-50. Shylock is being crazy in the first place for ever wanting a pound of Antonio’s flesh. Even if the deal involves 3,000 ducats, a dead man does not equal up to that money. Something better would be a double up of money, not a pound of flesh. Shylock has always been bullied by people like Antonio. He says that the week before, Antonio spit on him for being a Jew. Shylock just wants revenge from all the Christians. With this bond, Skylock will always be on top, as it seems. He gets 3,000 ducats, or Christian flesh. Which, he doesn’t mind having since he hates Christians. Shylock is a crazy man who wants revenge and money
This Jew is also known for his greediness. His daughter Jessica has ran away from him with Lorenzo, a Christian. She wants to transform into Christianity, and forever leave her father. Through Shylock’s eyes, this isn’t the big problem. “My daughter! Oh, my ducats! Oh, my daughter! Fled with a Christian! Oh, my Christian money! Justice!” 2.8.15-16. Even if his daughter is running away from him, he is still worried about his money. His daughter robbed him, but he doesn’t care as much about her, but for the money. Shylock tells Jessica to stay in the house and not leave with Lancelot, Lorenzo’s friend. He doesn’t do a good job of making her listen. She dresses as a man and runs away with her love. This shows that Shylock doesn’t have as much care for her than his money. If he loved her, he would’ve put guards, and make sure that she wouldn’t flee with the “damn” Christian. His greediness overtakes him, as you can see, this is important towards the end as Shylock does not only lose his daughter.
Shylock has had many disturbances with Christians because he is a jew, so is serious about any deal he makes with Antonio. Although, Antonio is also serious about the deal. “If you don’t repay me on such a day, at such a place, such sum or sums as are in the contract, let the forfeit be agreed for a full pound of your fair flesh.” 2.6.49-50. Shylock is being crazy in the first place for ever wanting a pound of Antonio’s flesh. Even if the deal involves 3,000 ducats, a dead man does not equal up to that money. Something better would be a double up of money, not a pound of flesh. Shylock has always been bullied by people like Antonio. He says that the week before, Antonio spit on him for being a Jew. Shylock just wants revenge from all the Christians. With this bond, Skylock will always be on top, as it seems. He gets 3,000 ducats, or Christian flesh. Which, he doesn’t mind having since he hates Christians. Shylock is a crazy man who wants revenge and money
This Jew is also known for his greediness. His daughter Jessica has ran away from him with Lorenzo, a Christian. She wants to transform into Christianity, and forever leave her father. Through Shylock’s eyes, this isn’t the big problem. “My daughter! Oh, my ducats! Oh, my daughter! Fled with a Christian! Oh, my Christian money! Justice!” 2.8.15-16. Even if his daughter is running away from him, he is still worried about his money. His daughter robbed him, but he doesn’t care as much about her, but for the money. Shylock tells Jessica to stay in the house and not leave with Lancelot, Lorenzo’s friend. He doesn’t do a good job of making her listen. She dresses as a man and runs away with her love. This shows that Shylock doesn’t have as much care for her than his money. If he loved her, he would’ve put guards, and make sure that she wouldn’t flee with the “damn” Christian. His greediness overtakes him, as you can see, this is important towards the end as Shylock does not only lose his daughter.
Shylock is a poor man, but it’s his fault for being so careless and stupid. Antonio loses his ships, and cannot repay the debt. By this time, Shylock is crazy, so he is very eager to take his Christian flesh. Bassanio offers to pay him more, but he refuses ti take the money. “You’ll ask my why i rather choose to have a weight of carrion flesh than to receive three thousand ducats: I’ll not answer that!” 4.1.40-42. Shylock is still greedy, but not for money. He is now greedy for his revenge on the Christian, He’d much rather have the flesh now, he’s lost everything, and this is the only thing that he can own, and be happy with. “But in the cutting it, if thou dost shed one drop of Christian blood, thy lands and good due by the laws of Venice confiscate undo the state of Venice.” 4.1.449-450. Portia comes to the court, dressed as a lawyer, and saves Antonio’s life by finding a loop hole in the bond. Shylock is depressed, mad and not to be blamed. Although, he could’ve read the bond, and know that whoever wrote the bond was not on the favorable side of Shylock. It does not make sense to cut flesh and not have blood. Due to Shylock’s carelessness he is now very depressed and doesn’t want to live. He doesn’t know what to do with his life. He was crazy ever since the beginning, and now he seems to be the innocent one, but also the enemy.
Shylock is a greedy, poor, and careless man with nothing. There were just problems building on top of each other for him. First, his daughter runs away with his money, and then figures out in the end that the “better” end of the bond failed for him. He was too selfish and greedy. he tried to rush everything, and didn’t pay attention to more important things. Instead of just thinking of ducats or Christian flesh, what about the actual bond. He was being stupid about the bond and how it was written. He didn’t even read the bond. There were many different perceptions of Shylock in this book, from beginning to end. He turned out to be crazy in the end, but also having nothing. That’s who he really is, and how he turned out to be in the end, a maniac.
