In Act 2 Scene 5 Shakespeare presents Shylock as a person who adopted a superior attitude. For example, Shylock said to Lancelot ‘the difference of old Shylock and Bassano’. Shakespeare wants us to see Shylock as a person who is disliked by people. For example, he was disliked by his daughter Jessica and Lancelot; they both want to leave. Also we can see Shylock as a strict man; for example, from the play Shylock was strict when he said to his daughter ‘do as I bid you’. Shakespeare again represents Shylock as money obsessed, when he said ‘dream of money bags tonight’.
In Act 3 Scene 1 Shakespeare presents Shylock as angry and was very disappointed person after Jessica disappeared; he said ‘The curse never fell upon our nation’. Shakespeare reveals Shylock as a man, who wants revenge on Antonio; when Shylock said ‘It will feed my revenge’. Shakespeare wants us to see Shylock as a person who has been victimised, when Shylock said ‘Laughed at my losses, mocked at my gains’.
In Act 3 Scene 3 we see Shylock as a powerful man when he said ‘The Duke shall grant me justice’. Shakespeare presents Shylock as a proud person in front of Antonio, when he said ‘I will not be soft and dull-eyed fool’. Shakespeare wants us to see Shylock as a sarcastic person when Shylock said ‘Since I’m a dog beware my fangs’.
In Act 4 Scene 1 Shakespeare presents Shylock as a malicious person; for example when Shylock refused all ducats and insisting his bond. Shakespeare reveals Shylock as unreasonable man; he was insisting on his bond after the Duke pleaded with him. Also Shakespeare presents Shylock as a hateful person, Shylock hates Antonio and we can see this when he said to Antonio; ‘A certain loathing I bear Antonio’. Shakespeare wants us to see Shylock as a hypocrite person, when he wanted to take the money at the end while he refused to take them when the Duke told him to think about that before. He said ‘Pay the bond thrice’. Shylock was presented as a desperate man, when he said ‘Give me my principal’. Shakespeare also wants us to see Shylock has been humiliated by the decision of the court when he said, ‘Take my life and all’. Shakespeare reveals Shylock as a broken man after the decision of the court, when he said ‘I’m not well’. Also Shakespeare presents Shylock as resign person after he saw that he cant win his bond; when he said ‘I stay no longer questioned’.
In conclusion, Shakespeare shows us how Shylock changed compared to earlier, when he was hating Christians and when he refuse to take the money and he was insisting on his bond. But later he changed and agreed to be a Christian and he wanted to take the money.
