Lines 94 to 99 of Scene 3 show us of how Antonio treats Shylock. Antonio says,
“Mark you this Bassanio,
The devil can cite scripture for his purpose.
An evil soul producing holy witness
Is like a villain with a smiling cheek,
A goodly apple rotten at the heart.
O what a goodly outside falsehood hath.”
Antonio says that the devil can quote the bible for his own ends. Christians at this time were not allowed to lend money for interest.
In scene 3, lines 103 to 126, Shylock’s opinion of Antonio is made clear. Shylock talks about the way Antonio treats him. Shylock says. “You call me a misbeliever, cut throat dog, And spit upon my Jewish gabardine.” His gabardine is an ankle-length loose coat, worn by men, especially Jews.
In lines 127 to 139, Shylock appears to be kind towards Antonio. He says, “I would be friends with you, and have your love, Forget the shames that you have stained me with, Supply your present wants, and take no doit of usance for my moneys-and you’ll not hear me. This is kind I offer.” Shylock is pretending to be kind, nut is only doing this because he wants Antonio to accept the terms of the loan. Bassanio also says, “This were kindness.” He is saying this for the same reason as he wants Shylock to agree to the loan. Neither of them are being kind, but just trying to get the loan to be agreed.
In Act 2, Scene 2, Lancelot Gobbo, a servant of Shylock, is talking about his master. In lines 0 to 31, Lancelot is having a battle with his conscience about whether to leave Shylock’s service. He wants to go, but duty is telling him to stay. He says, “To be ruled by my conscience, I should stay with the Jew my master, who - God bless the mark – is a kind of devil.” Lancelot obviously dislikes Shylock as he calls him a devil. He also calls him, “the Jew.” He rarely calls him by his name, Shylock. This is quite disrespectful.
Then on lines 99 to 109, he talks about Shylock again. He says, “To him father, for I am a Jew If is serve the Jew any longer.” By this he means if he stays serving Shylock for any longer he might as well become a Jew.
In Act 2, Scene 8, on page 81, Salerio and Solanio discuss Bassanio’s departure and Shylock’s anger. Solanio calls Shylock a few nasty names. Solanio firstly calls Shylock a, “villain Jew.” On line 14, Solanio also calls Shylock a, “dog Jew.” They both also mock Shylock by copying Shylock’s actions by pretending to run through the streets and shouting.
On page 95, Shylock says a very important speech on the equality of Jews and Christians. He says, “If you prick us do we not bleed? If you tickle us do we not laugh? But even after his soliloquy, they still show a complete disregard for his feelings. Also further down the page Shylock says, “The curse never fell upon our nation till now, I never felt it till now. “By this, he is talking about losing his two best things in his life, his money and jewels and his daughter. He also says, “The thief gone with so much, and so much to find the thief.” He has to spend money to make money. In Act 3, on page 99, Tubal, Shylock’s friend, brings some news of Antonio. Shylock’s mood is completely turned around. He goes from being sad to very excited at Antonio’s misfortune. Shylock starts saying, “What, What, What? I’ll luck, I’ll luck?” and “I thank God, I thank God. Is it true, Is it true?” But as soon as Tubal mentions his daughter spending some money in Genoa, he doesn’t even show sadness for his lost daughter, only his riches. Tubal doesn’t show anger like Shylock, towards Antonio, but sympathy. I believe this is because Shylock has had a lifelong feud with Antonio and all he wants is a chance of revenge. I think this side of Shylock makes him a villain. All Shylock is after at this stage, is Antonio’s pound of flesh. He doesn’t care about his daughter, Jessica, at all. Tubal says, “But Antonio is certainly undone.” He does think that Shylock is a bit obsessed by Antonio’s bond.
One of the other main plots of the play is that of the relationship between Shylock and his daughter. They don’t seem to have a very relationship. Most fathers and daughters have a very pleasant bond, unlike Jessica and her father. As we can see in Act 2, Scene 3 on page 59, Jessica very much dislikes her father. She says, “Our house is hell, and thou a merry devil.” By this she means that her father is the merry devil living in the house. She calls him a devil for doing that. I think Jessica wants to turn her religion and become a Christian because of the situation she is in. One reason may be that she knows that many people hate her father, and her being her daughter, may think she’s hated too. Also, the fact that Lorenzo’s friend, Bassanio, is unhappy that his best friend, Antonio, is about to die. Maybe she would rather be on their side, than her fathers.
Before Jessica elopes with Lorenzo, Jessica steals all her fathers Jewels and Money. I am not quite sure why she did this, but I think one of the main reasons was just for spite. She also probably took them because they can have more use out of it than he can, like start up a new family. You don’t need lots of money and Jewels like Shylock, to be happy. But it clearly shows from Shylock’s reactions, how much of a selfish and mean man he really is.
Also, during Scene 3 of Act 2, Shylock’s servant, Lancelot Gobbo, decides to leave his master and go and work for Antonio, a much poorer master. This also backs-up the point of Shylock being a nasty man. I bet if Shylock wasn’t really mean and selfish, Lancelot Gobbo would probably stay with Shylock. But Lancelot Gobbo obviously doesn’t care about the money, but the type of person he is working for. This clearly shows that money isn’t everything.
At this point in the play, Shylock must know that he is hated by lots of people. His servant left him and so did his own daughter. I feel quite sorry for him as he is a lonely man but this is mostly due to his personality.
On page 99, Act 3, Scene 1, Shylock shows his delight and pleasure when he finds out Antonio’s ships miscarry. He also enjoys taunting Antonio. On page 129, Shylock is speaking aloud to Gaoler purposely so Antonio hears him. Shylock says,
“Gaoler, look to him, tell me not of mercy,
This is the fool that lent out money gratis.
Gaoler, look to him.”
Antonio then tries pleading with Shylock, but soon gives up hope after Shylock refuses to show mercy. Antonio says, “Hear me yet good Shylock” and “I pray thee hear me speak”.
During this point, Shylock is in a very obsessive mood. He keeps on repeating himself.
“I’ll have my bond, I will not hear thee speak.
I’ll have my bond, and therefore speak no more”.
Solanio then thinks that the Duke could help Antonio and stop Shylock. Solanio says, “I am sure the Duke will never grant this forfeiture to hold.” But Antonio knows the Duke cannot deny the course of law.
In Act 4, Scene 1, the Trial begins. The Duke tries to convince Shylock to change his mind. He uses words such as, “human gentleness”, “love” and “pity”. All these words are used to try and make Shylock’s mood more positive, so this could maybe change his mind. But still this wasn’t enough to change Shylock’s mind.
When Portia comes into the scene, a conversation on the definition of mercy and that Shylock should show mercy, begins. Portia asks Shylock does he confess the bond. Shylock says he does. She then says that Shylock should be merciful. She says,
“The Quality of mercy is not strained,
It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven
Upon the place beneath. It is twice blest,
It blesseth him that gives, and him that takes.
’Tis mightiest in the mightiest, it becomes
The throned monarch better than his crown.”
By this Portia means that it is better for a king to be merciful than have his crown. Shylock still intends to go ahead with it.
Bassanio offers shylock 3 times the bond and still then says that he will sacrifice himself to spare Antonio’s life. He says,
“I will be bound to pay it ten times o’er
On forfeit of my hands, my head, my heart.”
Just before Shylock goes ahead with it, Portia says that Shylock cannot shed a drop of Antonio’s flesh. This means that Shylock cannot proceed his duties. Now that Shylock cannot have his revenge, he tries to settle for nine thousand ducats. Bassanio agrees, but Portia says,
“Soft.
The Jew shall have all justice-soft, no haste-
He shall have nothing but the penalty.”
By this Portia means that Shylock cannot take more or less than the bond. Shylock wants to leave at this point, but there is now a case against him.
Gratiano starts to gloat and mock Shylock now. He says,
“Beg that thou mayst have to leave to hang thyself.
And yet thy wealth being forfeit to the state,
Thou has not left the value of a cord,
Therefore thou must be hanged at the state’s charge.”
By this Gratiano is implying that Shylock is broke and so can’t afford a rope, so he won’t be able to hang himself. Gratiano continues to mock Shylock. At this point I feel sorry for Shylock in a way because al he wants to do is settle for the original bond and leave, but now everyone wants to mock and give Shylock punishment.
Because Shylock has tried to kill a Venetian citizen, half of his goods must go to the intended victim and half to the state. Also, only the Duke can spare his life. Showing the mercy that Shylock would not, the Duke spares his life. At Antonio’s request, Shylock is allowed to keep half of his wealth, as long as the other half go to Jessica and Lorenzo, and then all of his wealth when he dies. Also, Shylock must become a Christian. Shylock is a broken man.
But does Shylock deserve all this harsh punishment? I think he should be punished for what he has done, but I wouldn’t punish him as far as the Duke and court did. Because of what Shylock had done, tried to kill Antonio through revenge and spite, I think he should give all of his money to Jessica and Lorenzo, instead of just half of it. But telling him to convert to Christianity is on a whole new level. In Shakespeare’s day, it was quite common for a Jew to be converted into a Christian. Nowadays though, nobody can be forced to change their religion. Religion is a big part of today’s society and I believe no one should have that taken away from them.