Shylock Being a Victim

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Act 4 1.) Portia asks Shylock to have mercy, explaining that he could be the better person in this situation. She tells him that, as someone who believes in God, he should be merciful and forgive Antonio, although he has done wrong to him. However, Shylock only cares about the rules being followed, much like the stories of rules and punishment in the Old Testament. Therefore, these appeals that Portia provides for Shylock have no effect on him. 2.) Shylock is adamant; he prefers the penalty of a pound of flesh to repayment of three thousand ducats. Why? "Say," says Shylock, "it is my humor." In other words, Shylock wants the pound of flesh for no rational reason. He wants it only because of "a lodged hate and a certain loathing" for Antonio. 3.) Antonio is ready to die, having seen his friend one last time, but he does not have to. Shylock is fooled by Portia who points out that there is a loophole in his contract. He omitted the request to shed blood in taking the pound of flesh. 4.) Portia, at the behest of her new husband Bassanio, disguises herself as a lawyer and, when she is unable to persuade Shylock to give up his claim even by accepting late payment with two or three hundred percent interest, argues that although the agreement allows Shylock to take a pound of flesh, it does not allow him to take or even shed any blood. 5.) Shylock's viewpoint, what would be just for him is to have what he wants in the bond- a pound of flesh. Shylock keeps him by the letter of the law so that he can gain revenge on behalf of himself who has suffered dearly Shylock did not receive a fair trial. He was sentenced to convert to Christianity by force and was also forced to promise his wealth to his daughter Jessica who ran away with a lot of his expensive jewels after his death. 6.) Portia and nerissa plan to give their husbands a ring.
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