Character Analysis

In the book, The Merchant of Venice by William Shakespeare has many different and unique characters. Each character has their own special personality that makes them who they are. In the book there are four main characters: Portia, Shylock, Antonio, and Bassaino. They all have different problems, but they all relate in some way. A Christian named Antonio makes a deal with Shylock who is a Jewish man who does not like Christians. Since they do not like each other it is hard for them to come to an agreement. Throughout the story, one person stands out with a unique personality. That is Shylock. He is like the Scourge from A Christmas Carol. Shylock is said to be a complicated grumpy old guy who wants his enemies to suffer if he doesn't get his ways. He has a lot of money so he tends to make a lot of deals with people. He only makes deals with people to get more in return.

Shylock is a Jewish man who has a lot of money. He loans money out to people later to get the money back and the some. He is in some terms like a bank. In act 1 scene 3 he makes a deal with Antonio, Bassanio's best friend, that if he doesn't pay him the money he borrowed from him, he will be able to cut off a pound of flesh from Antonio from wherever he likes if he doesn't draw blood. "Be nominated for an equal pound of your flesh to be cut off and taken". This was their agreement if Antonio does not pay back Shylock. Antonio agreed to this bond and promised to pay him back. Shylock is hoping that Antonio will fail to pay him back so that way he can hurt Antonio because he and Antonio are enemies. When Shylock finds out that "he's lost a merchant ship, coming from Tripoli" Shylock is excited to hear that because it means that Antonio can not pay him back. Shylock dose not like Antonio so he is hoping that he will fail to pay him back the money. Their deal shows what type of person Shylock is. He wants to cut a pound of flesh off of Antonio because he doesn't like him.

Throughout the story, when everyone else is showing a different side of hem Shylock stays the same. Shylock is also a father who has a daughter that would rather flea his side then to be known as his daughter. She has left him and stole most of his money and jewels. He has lost whatever money he had to pay off his deals with his other clients. Shylock is upset that his daughter left him and took his money. " You knew-nobody better than you-of my daughter's flight" Shylock is yelling at Solanio and Salerio for knowing that his daughter would leave and they did not tell him. Now that Shylock is upset with his daughter he will take his anger out on anybody, mostly Antonio. "He'd better honor his bond! He used to call me a money lender. He'd better honor his bond!" Shylock is telling the two merchants standing next to him knowing  that he will not be able to pay him back due to the ships that he lost at sea. The two merchants are asking him what he would use a pound of flesh for and Shylock says "To bait fish with! If it feeds nothing else it will feed my revenge . He has disgraced me, and hindered me, half a million times". Shylock doesn't have any use for the flesh, only to harm Antonio if he cannot get his money.

Shylock mostly has things fall into place for him but not this time. When it is time for Antonio and Shylock to meet in court to pay their bond things go bad for Shylock. "This bond does not give you one drop of blood. The words expressly say "one pound of flesh". So take your bond. Take your pound of flesh. But if, in cutting it, you shed one drop of Christian blood, your lands and goods, under the laws of Venice, will be confiscated to the state of Venice". If Shylock wants to cut Antonio he will lose everything he has left, but if he doesn't cut him he would only get the three times the original amount of money he loaned Antonio. Shylock doesn't want the money he wants to cut Antonio, but he cant so he takes that money. "I take the offer then, pay he bond thrice, and let the Christian go". Shylock did not get what he wanted but he at least got three times the money he lent to Antonio in the bond.

Shylocks personality does not really change though out the whole story. Shylock is a complicated grumpy old Jewish man who does not like Christians. He loses most of his money and doesn't get what he wants in the end of the book. Shylock is written as a very unique character in the story. The author writes him with only one personality, but that is okay. The actions he makes can change the whole storyline. He is some what predictable throughout the story by just being who he is but he keeps the book interesting with what he does. Shylock is different from the other characters that's what makes him an original and unique character in the story. Each character in the story has their own personality with problems of their own to solve.