During the period when Antonio is securing his money bond with Shylock, Shylock seems to be worrying Antonio and friends by telling how simply Antonio’s wealth could be lost if something was to go wrong at sea. Shylock seems to show that he wants something to go wrong for Antonio and Shylock feels that he deserves revenge. Seeing that Shylock is so eager to secure revenge upon any one he can, the audience is lead to believe that Shylock is a deeper and darker person than previously believed. Not only do all characters in the play feel something about Shylock is wrong but so does the audience. As Shylock is portrayed as a dark and mysterious character there is little support for him until it becomes apparent that there is more reason for Shylock to seek revenge than previously believed.
In Act I scene III after the deal to lend Antonio three thousand ducats is secured Bassanio asks Shylock to dine with him but Shylock is quick to turn down the offer, as Bassanio would insult Shylocks religion if the food were not kosher. Shylock turns down the offer of dinner for a fairly strong reason, but once Antonio arrives in person Shylock gives more reason to be disliked. Antonio and friends are stood in a group when Shylock turns away and under his breath says,
“I hate him for he is a Christian.”
Although Shylock is turned away from the group Antonio still hears his spiteful words.
This shows the villainous side to Shylock and although the reasons for such dislike towards Antonio and friends is just, there is no need for the words he just uttered. Throughout the first section of Shylocks appearance he is victimised because he is a Jew, Shylock never actually does a hideous deed to make so many people despise him.
In Act III scene I Solanio and Salerio are discussing the wrecking of Antonio’s ship on the Goodwin’s, a stretch of well know shoals where many sailors and merchants have perished due to the grounding of their vassals. Once Shylock hears about the grounding of Antonio’s vessel he becomes villainous when he talks about Antonio keeping the bond. Shylock is asked by Salerio what he plans to do with Antonio’s flesh if the bond is broken. Shylock answers in an evil way saying;
“ To bait fish with! If it will feed nothing else, it will feed my revenge”
This shows why Shylock wants to take a pound of flesh and shows how hungry for revenge he actually is.
When Jessica, Shylocks only daughter leaves him to marry Lorenzo a Christian there is huge sympathy from the audience because although Shylock may have miss treated Jessica no one should abandon their own family in that way. When Shylock tells Bassanio “My daughter is my flesh and blood” Shylock is saying that with Jessica gone part of his life has gone as well, this shows his love for Jessica.
During Shylocks plea for equality when he is saying how a Jew is the same as a Christian except for his religion the audience feel a little pity for Shylock. All the pity that Shylock gets is soon put to waste during the trial scene. Shylock made a bond with Antonio when he was lending the money. Shylock said that if the money were not repaid he would have a pound of Antonio’s flesh. Seeing as Antonio’s ships crashed then he is unable to pay the money so he and Shylock go to a trial to see if the money should be repaid.
The leader of the court the Duke tries to persuade Shylock to take pity on Antonio and allow the money to be paid at a later date. Shylock puts pressure on the Duke to continue with the court case saying;
“ Venetian law would be a farce if rights are not upheld.”
This makes the Duke worried because he doesn’t want Antonio to get hurt. Shakespeare puts some dramatic irony in the court scene when Shylock is so convinced that he will have a pound of Antonio’s flesh he allows Portia to look at the bond. Portia then finds that no blood can be spilt because it is not written in the bond. This gives the Duke a chance to stop the court case and gives Antonio a let off from Shylocks revenge.
The audience no longer shows pity for Shylock because he is a villain and has no pity for others he only cares about his own revenge. Shylock is seen as a dark character because he is so keen to get revenge and never allows any previous experiences to pass. Shylock always wants the upper hand, which results in him becoming a miserable man.
