Shylock sums up his and Antonio’s past and how Antonio has treated him. This begins to almost make you feel some sympathy for shylock and doubt more of Antonio.
Shylock decides to load Antonio the money, however if it is not paid back before the agreed time Antonio must pay a forfeit of a pound of flesh from wherever Shylock should wish. Sympathy is felt towards Shylock because of the way he has been treated however his bond appears a incredibly sick and evil way to plot some revenge. Shylock knows that it is unlikely Antonio cannot pay however he also knows if he can’t he will have ‘caught him upon the hip’.
Antonio shows his ignorance and agrees to the bond without considering the possibilities of having to forfeit, ‘why fear not man, I will not forfeit’. Shylock suggests forgetting of old rivalry but really it is him who would find it the hardest to do this especially with his plot of revenge, ‘I extend this friendship’.
Shylock loves his daughter Jessica dearly and is proud to be her father however she feels far from the same about Shylock. She tells Launcelot of how she is unhappy due to her lifestyle, ‘our house is hell’.
Jessica is not proud of Shylock being her father or of being a Jew. This unusual as her father, the person who brought her up is extremely proud of her and his beliefs. She has plans of becoming Christian and marrying Lorenzo a Christian too, ‘if thou keep promise, I shall end this strife, become Christian and thy loving wife’, this would crush Shylocks heart and give him the extra fuel to drive him into his obsession of getting some revenge.
Shylocks thoughts become clouded with his plot of revenge. Shylock is asked to a meal with the Christians and he agrees not because he is there friend but because he thinks they are wasteful and he will waste more of there money, ‘ill go in hate, to feed upon the prodigal Christians’.
The meal is not arranged by the Christians for Shylock’s friendship, but so they can help Jessica leave the ‘house of hell’ with jewels stolen from Shylock. Shylock is too naive to consider possibilities why the Christians invite him this is due to his so desperately wanted revenge.
Shylock discovers that his daughter is gone and that she has stolen from him. Instantly Shylock forgets about his daughter and is much more concerned about the money which she stole, ‘stolen by my daughter, justice! Find the girl’. Shylock uses girl instead of daughter this may be because what she has done he no longer is proud of her being his daughter because she is a thief and a Christian.
Salerio and Salanio are discussing the rumour of one of Antonio’s ships being wrecked. The Christians are all having there first doubts about the bond except from Antonio who is too ignorant to understand the possibility of that happening.
Salanio and Salerio both know of what is going on with both Antonio and Shylock’s lives however they only have sympathy for Antonio who still now is far from suffering this is because they are both Christian and they have grown thinking that being prejudice towards Jews is the right way to behave.
A while later when rumours of his first ship is thought true, Shylock talks to Salanio and Salerio about how now he will definitely take revenge on Antonio is he does not payback what he owes by the deadline. Shylock also talks about Antonio in a way he would never before. He calls Antonio a coward which he would never at first because of the repercussions but now Shylock has his bond and a plot of revenge.
Shylock is now becoming obsessed with revenge, not for money or respect or even to teach Christians a lesson but for only his own pleasure, ‘if it will feed nothing else, it will feed my revenge’.
Shylock reminds himself of his precious jewels that Jessica stole, he then admits he would rather Jessica were dead if he got his jewels back, ‘I would rather my daughter were dead at my foot, and thy jewels in her ear’. This shows how Shylocks priorities have soon changed by circumstances and by his sick thoughts of revenge.
Shylock does not see wrong in his revenge, he feels he is a person and has the right like any other person or Christian to enact revenge however cruel it may be, ‘if you prick us do we not bleed? If you tickle us to we not laugh? If you do not poison us do we not die? And if you wrong us shall we not revenge?’.
Shylock has now made it clear he no longer wants the repayment of 3 thousand ducats but would much rather prefer a pound of flesh from Antonio. This is strange because Shylocks first priority was his money now it has become clear it is revenge and he blames Antonio for everything that has gone wrong in his life. Shakespeare makes you feel no sympathy for Shylock because now he is portrayed as a very evil character with one ambition to kill.
We learn from Salanio that Antonio has forfeited the debt. This means that Shylock stands to have his bond, his revenge of a pound in flesh and the life of Antonio. Portia ,new wife of Bassanio offers to pay the debt twelve time over which would be lots and lots of money but because Shylocks priorities have changed and his business sense has disappeared he we only be happy with his revenge.
Antonio pleads to Shylock to not have the bond but Shylock will not be reasoned with he wants revenge. Antonio shows here he does care about his own life and begs to Shylock a Jew which he has never ever done before. Shakespeare makes you feel sympathy for Antonio because he seems to be doomed for some things he has not done. Antonio may have treated Shylock like he has but Antonio has not known any better so it is not really fair for Shylock to force such a terrible punishment.
Portia and Nerrisa leave Belmont on a secret mission of saving Antonio because he has been such a good friend to his fellow Christians. The girls know that they cannot leave it in there husbands hands to save Antonio because they think they will not succeed so they dress up as men so they can enter the court and fight for Antonio.
Antonio is brought in front of the Duke of Venice to stand trial for failing to meet his bond with Shylock. The Duke informs Antonio that he feels sympathy for him and disagrees with what Shylock is doing, however tells Antonio that he cannot side with him because if he does Venice’s trade will decline.
When Shylock enters the Duke tells him he cannot understand why he would want such a sick revenge but expects whatever the reason for them to work something out and for Shylock to forgive and forget, ‘we all expect a gentle answer Jew’.
Shylock bravely replies to all the important Christians he hates and hate him so much that he will not let Antonio off. He also tells the Duke if you do let Antonio off then Venice’s trade will stop which is too true, ‘if you deny it, let the danger light Upon your charter and your city’s freedom’.
Shylock then gives reason to his obsession of revenge however know one else can understand as Shylock cannot give a concrete answer, ‘So can I give no reason, nor I will not, More than a lodged hate and a certain loathing, I bear Antonio’.
Bassanio tells Shylock how this is know answer and that it is just an excuse to be cruel. However Shylock soon answers back all the Christians by saying he does not care what they think or like. He says that if he lets of Antonio, he will do it again, ‘wouldst thou have a serpent sting thee twice’.
Shylock is appearing strong as ever, who is almost able to “knock down every stone that is thrown at him”. This is because he has so much hatred for Antonio and is so confident that he will get what he wants and that what he wants is right.
Antonio has now given up against Shylocks revenge. Antonio can only see one outcome and that of his death. Sympathy is now for Antonio he is going to die and everything seems to be said and done, Antonio is going to die for some expensive revenge.
Nerrisa enters the court dressed like a lawyers clerk. Shylock is so convinced that he has got his wish begins to sharpen his knife. Bassanio asks Shylock if he must take it this far but Shylock replies affirmative with no remorse or disgust as it has been a figure of Shylocks imagination and dreams for so long.
Nerrisa tells the Duke that a young doctor who is really Portia in disguise is here with reply for the letter he sent to Doctor Ballerio. Nerrisa asks if the young doctor Balthazar (Portia) can enter and be involved in the trial, the Duke wishes the young doctor to be admitted into the court as all the help is wanted to solve this horrid and rebellious bond.
Portia enters and already appears to be taken no favourites unlike most the Christian’s in the court who show they strongly disagree with Shylock’s evil intensions, ‘Which is the merchant here, and which the Jew?’.
Portia explains to Shylock a number or ways to solve this problem without having to kill a person, however Shylock is too obsessed with his revenge dismisses all of them. Shylock should really take the money he was offered and be extremely wealthy, he may have done this if it was in the first act however priorities have changed and an obsession build. His business sense is hidden behind his now evil scheme for revenge.
Shylock is now incredibly satisfied and feels he will now almost definitely be allowed to tear away a pound in flesh, ‘my deeds upon my head, I crave the law, the penalty and forfeit of my bond’.
Portia appears to have not helped but to boost Shylocks confidence and tell Antonio to get ready his bosom for the knife. Portia asks if they have a balance to weigh the pound of flesh, Shylock who is already prepared and eager for this replies I have got a balance with me.
Shylock is just about ready when Portia informs him that he can only take a pound of flesh but cannot shed even a drop of blood. Shylock is confused but understands his mistake. His obsession with his bond disappears and his businessman like state re appears asking for his bond paid three times open as he knows he cannot take a pound of flesh with drawing blood.
Gratiano offers the money instantly however Portia says no he will have his penalty of a pound in flesh. Shylock now wants to forgive and forget as things are turning round on him. Portia does not let him leave and tells him what is going to be done.
Shylock is to give half of his money to Antonio and half to the state which will consist mainly of Christians. He must also forget about being a Jew and become a Christian. Sympathy is felt towards Shylock because he has lost everything. His money, daughter and religion to Christians.
Shylock now has to become Christian, which is against all his former beliefs. Christians will now never accept him as a Christian who he will become and his Jew friends will also dismiss him because of being a traitor to his religion. Shylock has lost everything and some could argue he deserved it, however sympathy is still created for him.
In the end Antonio begins where he started from and all the Christians are happy. Shylock is the only the person left with nothing. Shakespeare gives some sympathy to Shylock even though you are unsure he deserves it due to the way he has been acting. Antonio has been let off lightly and should of learnt some valuable lessons.
By Rory Bradley
