merchant of venice
... overjoyed and calls her a wise young judge. His excitement doesn’t last long however as Portia discovers a catch in his bond – although he is entitled to his pound of flesh no blood has to be taken from Antonio’s body. This makes Shylock angry, annoyed and frustrated but he still attempts to find a way of getting his pound of flesh. His excitement takes yet another bash as he is instructed to forfeit his wealth, half to Antonio and the other half to Jessica and Lorenzo if he should die. If he isn’t by this point feeling terrible he is now as not only does he not get his pound of flesh and have to forfeit his wealth and bond, he also has to become a Christian. After hearing this he asks to be excused and suggests that the contract, which he has to sign, is sent after him, as he is feeling sick. I think Shylock is an exceedingly greedy and evil man and if I were Jessica I to would be ashamed and embarrassed to be called his daughter. From the moment Shylock is introduced to the play he makes it known how much he finds Antonio intolerable and how he loathes him. Although, throughout the play shylock shows himself to be an evil, greedy man he does for a moment show he too has feelings just the same as any respectable human being. He shows this side when he says “Hath not a Jew eyes? Hath not a Jew hands, organs, dimensions, senses, affections, passions? Fed with the same food, hurt by the same weapons, subject to the same diseases, healed by the same means, warmed and cooled by the same summer and winter, as a Christian is? If you prick us do we not bleed? If you tickle us do we not laugh? If you poison us do we not die?” Thus winning the audience’s sympathy, before quickly losing it when he continues “And if you wrong us, shall we not revenge?” Antonio appears to be a kind, generous and loving person, although when you delve deep enough into his character you discover that in some ways he and Shylock are not that different. They both loathe each other, they also have a less obvious likeness – they are both businessmen, of a sort. The main differences are Antonio shows he is a loyal friend to Bossanio, Shylock loves money, gold and jewels more than anything and Antonio has many friends whereas most people hate shylock. Antonio has most of the qualities of a great friend, his loyalty, for one, is outstanding as, although his money is all tied up in business, when Bossanio asks for a loan he agrees and goes to a moneylender (Shylock) who agrees to lend them the money. But instead of paying back the money with interest, Shylock tells them if the money isn’t paid back in three months, Shylock will be entitled to a pound of Antonio’s flesh. Antonio agrees to the bond as he is confident that he will be able to pay the bond. He tells Shylock “I do expect the return of three times the value of this bond.” One thing Shylock and Antonio have in common is their shared hatred of other religions i.e Christians and Jews. Antonio has shown maltreatment of Shylock in the past. He has called him names such as “Heretic, unbeliever, cut-throat dog, Jew,” spat upon his gabardine and scolded him about his financial deals. When Antonio hears the rumours that his ships have sunk he begins to worry as he realises he may not be able to pay back the money he owes Shylock. He writes to Bossanio and tells him of his sunken ships and how he will have to forfeit the bond. Bossanio feels terrible and realises he has to go back to Venice to try and deface the bond. This is a strong test of their friendship but they prove that they are good, even great friends as they get through it with their friendship still intact. Bossanio realises that Antonio may die o...