In Act 3, we see how many of the characters seem to miss the point of Shylock’s motivations. While Shylock’s actions are no doubt unreasonably cruel, Antonio completely misses the point. When Shylock repeats over and over again, ” I will have my bond”, Antonio believes that this is purely directed toward him. He thinks that Shylock is upset that he loses business due to Antonio’s no-interest loans. In reality, Shylock is upset at society and Antonio for their treatment of Jewish people like himself. He has lost his daughter and his servant due to anti-Semitism without any repayment. In Shylock’s perspective, He does not intend to let the anti-Semitic Antonio steal from him too.
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2 replies on “Merchant of Venice #2”
I’m glad you mentioned that Shylock’s anger was not necessarily directed towards Antonio, but rather the system itself. We saw this in the court room as he was reluctant on getting the pound of flesh because he clearly needed faith and reassurance from atleast the law of Venice. Overall, as much as Antonio and Bessanio believe Shylock cares a great deal about the money repaid, he actually cares for equality and for people to stop patronizing him about his religion.
I agree the idea that Shylockâs anger is multifaceted, reflecting personal conflicts with Antonio and broader societal oppression. He represents the mistreated Jewish minority in a largely Christian Venice, enduring regular humiliation and prejudice. This insistence is his way of resisting a society that treats him and his community as less than human, making readers think about the themes of injustice, mercy, and the consequences of discrimination.