His daughter's elopement with a Christian and the theft of his money and jewels also give us pause for thought about our attitude towards him (Act 2 Scene 5). Shylock leaves the house he gives Jessica the responsibility of being in charge of the house. He strictly instructs her to keep the house and goods secure. This is quite ironic as whilst he is gone, she takes his wealth and disguises herself in order to elope with Lorenzo. This isn't surprising as in Act 2 Scene 3, Jessica talk about how unhappy she is living with her father. Jessica is ashamed of Shylock, which congregates feelings of compassion for him because of the fact that she is ashamed of him. However, the comic way in which he is displayed as reacting to this event and his cry of 'my ducats', evoke laughter, not sympathy. Solanio and Salerio also derive amusement from discussing Shylock's public woe in Act Scene 8 as they continue to mimic his cries for his ducats, his jewels, his daughter and justice. This mocking is not exaggerated as in Act 3, Scene 1 we hear his own words as not being very different. The interpretations of his cry for justice come across as being effectively a cry for revenge, which adds to the malignancy of his character.
In Act 2, Scene 1 there is the first hint of the trial to come as there is talk of Antonio's ships being at risk. They comment on the fury of Shylock and the fear for Antonio's ships and they warn that Antonio should beware of Shylock's hatred as his grief may be taken out on Antonio. Act 3, Scene 1 opens in Venice and we learn that one of Antonio's ships is reported to have been sunk. Shylock enters soon after. His concern that his daughter has fled is a source of entertainment to Salerio and Solanio and they draw the distinction that even though Jessica is his daughter, she is no more like him than Portia.
One of the most famous speeches in this play is the one that Shylock recites. It is well known because of its emotion and passion. Shylock first lists the wrongs that he says Antonio has done to him, and then he proceeds to consider the similarities between Christians and Jews. He says that they are both human with the same 'organs, dimensions, senses, affections, passions…' and 'If you prick us, do we not bleed?' Shylock's eloquence is powerful and in circumstances like this, very moving. He has an effective use of repetition and he stresses the common humanity of Jew and Gentile/Christian. He emphasis the message that both Jews and Christians often forget in the play.
However Shylock soon turns to thoughts of revenge and not mercy as we expected. It is ironic that his words, which sounded like a plea for forgiveness, would suddenly go the opposite way; he wants revenge.
All the sympathy that Shylock gained as a result of his impassioned speech quickly evaporates as they hear him rail against his daughter. His only concerns are for his wealth and, more foreboding, his revenge. By the end of the scene any empathy for Shylock is effectively negated by the spectacle of him being mischievously tortured by Tubal, showing him at his worst. Tubal comically goes from two extremes. He repetitively reports about one of Antonio's ships being sunk off the coast of Tripoli and that various of Antonio's creditors, who worry they will not be paid, but then he talks about Jessica spending his money and of selling a ring of sentimental value. Shylock goes from being suddenly overwhelmed with great happiness to being annoyed and parsimonious. Shylock's only concern throughout this scene is of himself. He elevates his suffering above that of all the Jews persecuted over the centuries. It's an identification with his race, but a very selfish one. He sees himself as suffering as the representative of his people. His final words to Tubal were 'were he (Antonio) out of Venice, I can make what merchandise I will' shows that he wants to make profit through revenge.
Shylock is determined to have his bond and justice. He is obstinate that he wants nothing to do with mercy. Antonio makes a last, useless plea to Shylock but Shylock rejects it, demanding the forfeit of the bond. There is no mercy for Antonio in Shylock's heart.
In Act 4, Scene 1 Antonio is brought to trial so that Shylock may claim the forfeit of his bond. He rejects pleas for mercy from the Duke and demands the law. There are continuous examples of times when the Duke or Portia offers Shylock the choice of money rather then the forfeit.
The Duke damns Shylock with great forcefulness, calling him 'A stony adversary, an inhuman wretch.' Even though this obviously isn't a suitable judge, Shylock has already lost our pity and the Duke's words merely serve to confirm the audience's views and to summarise the character that Shylock has become. The Duke does try to reason with him and attempts to play upon feelings of compassion and mercy for a fellow human being. However Shylock would rather have the pound of flesh because it humours him and the only reason he can give is that he has a 'lodged hate and a certain loathing' against Antonio. The Duke burdens him with one more question: 'How shalt thou hope for mercy, rendering none?' and this prepares us for the time when the court and officers show no mercy to Shylock later on. Shylock here, effectively, seals his own fate by rejecting mercy and desiring only law. Whatever Shylock's justification for his actions, he could still have been merciful, and instead he chooses the law and his rights. The horrid scene of watching Shylock eagerly sharpening his knife brings about feelings of disgust as we watch him eager and ready to cut Antonio's flesh.
Justice is what Shylock demands. Portia shows that justice will bring none of us to salvation unless we also have mercy. However, she concludes that if Shylock rejects the plea for mercy then this 'strict court of Venice' must give judgement against Antonio, the merchant of Venice. Portia encourages Shylock to show everyone how far he is prepared to go, and the true inhumanity and lack of any mercy, which accompanies the deed. He has brought his own set of scales to weight the flesh and is unfavourable when he asks if it's really necessary to have a surgeon present.
Shylock has gained justice according to the bond, and soon his enemy will lie dead. But his happiness does not last long, for Portia intervenes just as he is about to cut Antonio's flesh. The very law by which he hoped to gain his aims will prove to be his downfall. Shylock may have the forfeiture of the bond, but nothing else. If he takes the merest too much or too little of Antonio's flesh and spills even a drop of Antonio's blood, then he loses his goods and his life. Naturally, he declines and prepares to depart with nothing. However, the law has yet another hold on him. Because he, a foreigner, conspired to take the life of a Venetian, half his goods must go to Antonio, half to the state of Venice and his life at the Dukes mercy. The Duke does not have him executed and Antonio intercedes on his behalf so that the court may quit the fine for one half of his goods. He will use the other and on Shylock's death will forgive it to Lorenzo. Shylock is also forced to become a Christina, and given Shylock's well-known hatred of Jews this is appropriateness, if not mercy.
The bloodthirsty and homicidal attitude of Shylock contrasts greatly to the love and friendship of many of the other characters, for example his daughter and Lorenzo. Shylock is a character that indeed suffers wrongs who has a valid point of view on Christian failing, but is in no way seen as admirable character. He is the central character of the play. There are several times when the audience feels sympathy for Shylock, for example when he makes his speech: 'If you prick us, do we not bleed?' However, essentially audience compassion is turned away from Shylock by his hatred of Antonio, to the extent of murder and the ruthless pursuit of profit. The Elizabethan audience would have seen him as a stereotypical monster of greed and in the nineteenth century there was a tradition of presenting him as a villain, followed by another tradition of Shylock as a noble victim. Shakespeare is, however, more balanced and subtle than any of these. Shakespeare uses situations to provoke feelings of condolence towards Shylock because he is the victim of Christian hate (which proves to be very non-Christian). Nevertheless Shylock will always be the villain of the play as he is in contrast to Antonio and surely no victim would seek death of any fellow human being or care only for his money and not his daughter.
