Merchant of Venice (final)

        "Don't take your friends for granted and give them what they want, thinking that they will do as they say."  Many of the characters in the Merchant of Venice by William Shakespeare learned many life lessons as they developed throughout the play.  They have very unique personalities and style.   This includes characters such as Shylock, Portia, Antonio, and Bassanio. Shylock is one of the main characters in the Merchant of Venice.  He is selfish, cranky, and stubborn in his beliefs.  Shylock is an example of a greedy miser, meaning a person who hoards wealth and spends as little money as possible. Shylock also learned that doing business with a friend isn't always a good decision.

         Shylock is a selfish, greedy person who tries to make the cheapest deals he can possibly get, but doesn't always get what he wants.  Everything has to be perfect for him.  "Three thousand ducats for three months.  And Antonio as guarantor... I will be certain I can.  And to be certain, I'll think it over  May I speak with Antonio?" 1.3.10.  Shylock is being way too picky. If he really wanted the deal he would take it right away just in case they call it off.  He is a very  complicated character he should just say you want to make the deal even though it might cost him three thousand ducats.  Shylock has a thing about Christians. He can't stand them and does not stand to trust them.  "I've always shrugged this off, patiently, because suffering is the trade ark of our race."1.3.107-108 .  Shylock is not trying to be mean or racist about his dislike of Christians, it's just that he had a bad experience with them and they just don't get along.  Even though Shylock dislikes the Christians, he still has to make a choice whether or not to make the deal about the three thousand ducats.

          Shylock faces many conflicts throughout the play.  Many of his conflicts are due to his hatred of the Christians.  "I will buy with you, sell with you, talk with you, and so following; but I will not eat with you, drink with you nor pray with you." 1.3.9.  Shylock is being crazy about having these thoughts about the Christians because he should trust his friend, who is the one setting up the deal. Christians just don't believe in the same things as the Jews.  He is also overreacting because it's just a deal, it's not like they are going to be best friends.  Another of the conflicts Shylock deals with is again about racism.  His daughter Jessica leaves him to change to be a Christian and runs off to marry a Christian, Lorenzo.  "I'm sorry thou wilt leave my father so." 2.3.1. Jessica wants nothing to do with her father because he is unreasonable, selfish, and demanding.  However, she is in way over her head right now because even though her father is like that doesn't mean she should just run away like that. Those are some of the conflicts that Shylock experiences.

         Shylock is a sad and lonely man, who is not that patient or likable.  When something looks like a really good deal or everything is going well it turns out to be the most depressing thing that could happen.  "All of Antonio's ship has been lost and he has defaulted on his loan from Shylock." 1.3.1. Shylock should be mad at Antonio, however, he learns that not everything is perfect and going to go his way and he is forgiving.  Many of his personalities are very complicated.  He can't tell if it is going to be good or bad.  For example when his daughter Jessica ran away he didn't think that his daughter would do that.  "I'm sorry tho wilt leave my father so." 2.3.1.  Shylock learns that you have to go with the flow. He also learns that not everything goes your way.  That's what the character of Shylock learns throughout the play.

       Shylock is a complicated character who starts as a selfish, greedy villain that doesn't care about others and what they think.  A lot was going on for Shylock like his daughter running away from him, marrying a Christian, and taking his three thousand ducats away with her, him being a careless person, and not thinking what anyone else thinks of him, and so many more.  He had many problems going on during that time.  From the beginning of the Merchant of Venice to the end, Shylock learns how to manage his problems better.  At the beginning of the play, everyone thought less of Shylock and what kind of character he is.  Towards the end of the play, you tend to see that you'll feel sorry for Shylock and that he just has too much going against him.  He endured much abuse, but was forgiving, and upheld the customs and laws.