The Merchant of Venice Group

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arman7763
arman7763

How was Shylock defeated in his cruel intent? What was his intent? Who was responsible for his defeat?

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Posted by arman7763 on Friday October 9, 2009 at 8:54 PM and tagged with antonio, bassanio, portia, shylock, the merchant of venice.

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  1. lit24
    lit24 Teacher
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    eNotes Editor

    Shylock's main aim was to take revenge against all the insults heaped upon him by the Christian merchant and moneylender Antonio:

    "I hate him [Antonio] for he is a Christian,
    But more for that in low simplicity
    He lends out money gratis and brings down
    The rate of usance here with us in Venice.
    If I can catch him once upon the hip,
    I will feed fat the ancient grudge I bear him.
    He hates our sacred nation, and he rails,
    Even there where merchants most do congregate,
    On me, my bargains and my well-won thrift,
    Which he calls interest. Cursed be my tribe,
    If I forgive him!" Act I Sc.3.

    So when he lends him three thousand ducats, he makes Antonio sign a bond stating that if he does not repay the money within the stipulated time he will have to allow Shylock to cut a pound of his flesh from any part of his body:

    " let the forfeit
    Be nominated for an equal pound
    Of your fair flesh, to be cut off and taken
    In what part of your body pleaseth me." Act I Sc.3.

    It so happens that Antonio is unable to repay the money within the stipulated time and Shylock gets ready to cut a pound of flesh from near his heart and thus seek his revenge. However he is saved at the nick of time by the clever Portia who insists that Shylock must take only one pound of Antonio's flesh but that he must not shed a single drop of his blood! In Act V Sc.1 Portia saves Antonio's life by reminding Shylock that while  cutting a pound of flesh close to Antonio's heart he must not spill even a single drop of his blood:

    "This bond doth give thee here no jot of blood;
    The words expressly are 'a pound of flesh:'
    Take then thy bond, take thou thy pound of flesh;
    But, in the cutting it, if thou dost shed
    One drop of Christian blood, thy lands and goods
    Are, by the laws of Venice, confiscate
    Unto the state of Venice."

    This is how Portia defeats Shylock's evil intentions.

    Sources:
    http://www.enotes.com/merchant-of-venice/critical-commentary
    http://www.enotes.com/merchant-of-venice/essays
    http://www.enotes.com/merchant-of-venice/themes

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    Posted by lit24 on Friday October 9, 2009 at 10:08 PM