What's ironic about Shylock's grudge towards Antonio in Act 1, Scene 3 of The Merchant of Venice?

In Act One, scene three, of Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice, anger runs deep in Shylock's heart as he plots his revenge against Antonio.

Earlier on in the scene, Shylock airs his disgust with Christians. He insists:

“I will not eat with you, drink with you, nor pray with you.”

Then Shylock says that if he can just get the best of Antonio once, he:

...will feed fat the ancient grudge I bear him.

When Shylock finally deigns to notice Antonio, pretending not to have previously seen him as the money lender speaks to Bassiano, he says:

Your worship was the last man in our mouths.

There seems to be a play on words here, between "feed" and "mouths," but what I see as ironic is that while Shylock refuses to eat or drink with Antonio, a Christian, he refers to his revenge in terms of "feeding fat," and then speaks to this Christian as being worshipped (complimented) "in his mouth." Even as a figure of speech, this comment completely contradicts Shylock's feelings towards Antonio, the Christian.

It is also ironic (or hypocritical?) that Shylock has just been thinking about how to avenge himself for Antonio's past insults, and then turns around speaking to Antonio of how he was just praising him.

What image of Shylock does Shakespeare present in Act 3, Scene 1 of The Merchant of Venice?

In this scene, Shylock is clearly presented as a vengeful, bitter man who is eager and insistent in getting his revenge. He is filled with bitterness and contempt for the man he accuses of having treated him in a profoundly unjust and prejudiced manner. He wishes to avenge the humiliation he had suffered at the hands of Antonio and wants the ultimate punishment. He seeks a pound of flesh from Antonio, which would obviously kill him - for a debt which Antonio could not repay.

So passionate is Shylock about this, that he will not allow anything to stand in his way. He is absolutely unforgiving and is not prepared to show any weakness or remorse as illustrated when Salarino asks him what he would do with a pound of Antonio's flesh:

To bait fish withal: if it will feed nothing else,
it will feed my revenge. He hath disgraced me, and
hindered me half a million; laughed at my losses,
mocked at my gains, scorned my nation, thwarted my
bargains, cooled my friends, heated mine
enemies;

Shylock feels that he is justified in his quest, for he believes that the only reason Antonio had mistreated him was because he is Jewish, for no other reason. Through rhetorical questions, he illustrates that Jews are no different to Christians - they have the same feelings, passions, fears and so forth. He furthermore contends that both Christians and Jews are in agreement that the only recourse one has for another's prejudice and abuse is revenge.

It is also clear from this scene that Shylock is overwhelmingly materialistic. He clearly cares more about the valuables and money that his daughter, Jessica, had taken from him to elope than he does about her. He shockingly states that he would prefer her dead than lose his valuables as shown in the following lines:

I would my daughter
were dead at my foot, and the jewels in her ear!
would she were hearsed at my foot, and the ducats in
her coffin!

These are the words of a man obsessed by material possessions. He comes across as demented, a man who has lost all reason and who has not an iota of compassion. Truly, a cold-hearted man.

Shylock is depicted in much the same way throughout the play. He is relentless and stubborn and refuses to budge even in court. Even though Portia (disguised as a lawyer) offers him many times the amount owed by Antonio, he insists on having what he wants.

Proceed to judgment: by my soul I swear
There is no power in the tongue of man
To alter me: I stay here on my bond.

He hardly enquires after his daughter's well-being and indeed, shows more shock and surprise at having lost so much when he hears reports about her freely spending his money and giving away his jewels. Even at the trial he condemns and curses his daughter, wishing that she should have married one of Barrabas' heirs (the criminal chosen by the Jews to be released and Christ to be crucified).

I have a daughter;
Would any of the stock of Barrabas
Had been her husband rather than a Christian!

Shylock's remorseless vindictiveness brings about his own downfall, for he loses half his property and is forced to become a Christian at Antonio's request to the Duke. Antonio further requests that the court make a ruling that all Shylock's property should go to his daughter and her husband upon his death.

Shylock leaves the court a broken man.

Pray you, give me leave to go from hence;
I am not well: send the deed after me,
And I will sign it.

How might an audience react to Shylock’s character in Act 3, Scene 1 of The Merchant of Venice?

In this scene, Salarino and Salanio mock Shylock. Though Shylock is hard on his daughter, who has eloped with a Christian and stolen some of his money, the audience may sympathize with him in the face of such taunts. The men have no sympathy for him: “There is more difference between thy flesh and hers than between jet and ivory.” When they ask Shylock about Antonio, Shylock repeats, “let him look to his bond.” This repetition is like a mantra, conveying to the audience Shylock’s desire for vengeance and possibly his instability.

In a powerful speech, Shylock describes why revenge against Antonio is justified. He lists the ways in which Antonio has hurt him, effectively gaining the audience’s pity: “He hath disgraced me, and hindered me half a million; laughed at my losses, mocked at my gains, scorned my nation, thwarted my bargains, cooled my friends, heated mine enemies.” Shylock says this is all because he is Jewish.

He systematically notes how similar Jews and Christians are, comparing their ability to bleed, to get sick, and to laugh. His logical conclusion is that Jewish people have every right to revenge themselves as Christians do: “If a Christian wrong a Jew, what should his sufferance be by Christian example? Why, revenge.” The monologue is extremely convincing if not wholly sincere: Antonio appears to hate Shylock’s moneylending more than his status as a Jew. Still, the limited opportunities of Jews in Venice at the time make it so Shylock’s occupation and his religious and ethnic identity are directly intertwined.

Shylock loses some sympathy by stating, “I would my daughter were dead at my foot, and the jewels in her ear!” However, his grief over Jessica’s stealing and trading of his wife’s ring depicts Shylock as a character with genuine pain. It is difficult to know how people would have reacted when the play was first performed, but now, especially after the Holocaust, audiences tend to feel sorry for the dynamic, wronged Shylock who fights against the antisemitic society in which he lives.

What are your impressions of Shylock in act 4, scene 1 of The Merchant of Venice?

The court has convened for the trial of Antonio, who hasn't managed to pay back the money he owes Shylock. The moneylender is in an unforgiving mood, determined to enforce the terms of his “merry bond” to the absolute letter. There's no hint of mercy or magnanimity about Shylock; he will have his pound of flesh come hell or high water. Even a request for mercy from the Duke falls on deaf ears.

In the early stages of the scene, then, Shylock comes across as cruel, callous, and vindictive. It soon becomes clear that enforcing the bond is a matter of pride for him, not money. We know this because he turns down a sum of money from Bassanio that's double what Antonio owes. This isn't about justice, but revenge.

However, over the course of the scene, our initially negative assessment of Shylock undergoes something of a change. When it becomes clear that the legal proceedings are effectively rigged against Shylock, we start feeling sympathy towards him, despite his undoubted vindictiveness. And when these rigged proceedings, which make a mockery of justice, finally end, with Shylock being forced to convert to Christianity, we can only feel for the Jewish moneylender, who once again is on the receiving end of some deeply unpleasant prejudice.

Why does Shylock, in The Merchant of Venice, hate Antonio and Christians?

Shylock hates Antonio because Antonio has the privilege of being a wealthy Venetian who charges no interest on his loans, and he also hates Antonio for being a Christian. Additionally, Shylock hates Antonio for the outspoken disdain that Antonio displays towards him.

Early in act I, Shylock expresses his hatred for Antonio.

I hate him for he is a Christian. . .
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. (1.3.34-38)

Antonio not only loans money interest-free to many, he has also covered the loans of Shylock's victims without charging them interest to repay him. This action has enabled Shylock's victims to escape total ruin, as they pay off their loans to Shylock quickly without having to pay most of the added charges for these loans. Then, they can repay Antonio simply for the amount of their loan. Furthermore, Antonio's action also undercuts Shylock and forces him to lower his interest rates in order to get others to borrow from him. 

In addition to undercutting Shylock, Antonio has denounced Shylock in public, calling him a dog. He has even kicked and spat upon Shylock. Shylock reminds Antonio of these insults: 

In the Rialto you have [be]rated me About my moneys and my usances. Still have I borne it with a patient shrug. . . You call me misbeliever, cutthroat dog, And spet upon my Jewish gaberdine— And all for use of that which is mine own. (1.3.105-111)  

What are your feelings about Shylock after the trial scene in The Merchant of Venice?

After learning that Antonio's merchant ships have been lost at sea, Shylock excitedly anticipates the payment on his contract with Antonio. It appears as if Shylock's wish for the demise of Antonio will be realized.

Shylock makes his formal appeal to the Duke of Venice for fulfillment on the bond he has made with the Christian merchant. When the Duke sees Shylock, he tells him that he fully expects that Shylock, out of humanity and love, will not demand payment of Antonio's flesh, and that he will also forgive some portion of the debt. However, Shylock replies,

I have possessed your grace of what I purpose,
And by our holy Sabbath have I sworn
To have the due and forfeit of my bond.
If you deny it, let the danger light
Upon your charter and your city’s freedom. (4.1.35-39)

Even when Bassanio tries to offer Shylock twice the amount of the loan, the usurer refuses. He justifies his demands, saying that the Christians refuse to release those that they use "in slavish parts/Because you bought them." The angered Duke replies to Shylock by saying that he would dismiss the court were it not for a learned doctor of law's expected arrival.

Soon, Portia, disguised as a lawyer, appears with a letter from Dr. Bellario, stating that "he" is to represent the learned Bellario. Approaching Shylock, Portia offers him triple the amount of the debt, but Shylock insists upon the strict interpretation of the agreement. So, Portia agrees, cleverly noting that the "strict" interpretation allows no spillage of blood.

Also, Portia cleverly informs Shylock that there is another legal hold on Shylock: Since he is an alien in Venice, who seeks the life of a citizen, Shylock has broken Venetian law and his wealth can now be divided between the public treasury and the injured citizen, Antonio. Moreover, Shylock's own life is in jeopardy because of what he has attempted.

Falling upon the mercy of the court, Shylock is forced to convert to Christianity and loses half of his possessions.

Here are some points to consider in forming an opinion about this scene:

While there are different reactions by readers to this scene, even though Shylock has made terrible demands upon Antonio, Antonio did agree to them. But, when the Duke urges him to be merciful and offers him twice the monetary amount, Shylock has the opportunity to save himself the misery which he is finally dealt.

Shylock is blind-sided by the legal punishments dealt him by Portia. Nevertheless, when he makes a logical point about the Venetians' treatment of their "slavish" workers as not much better than his demands upon Antonio, his punishment does appear to be very harsh. Certainly, forcing him to convert to Christianity is extreme, and does not seem to serve any practical purpose. Still, Shylock has had the opportunity to accept three times the debt, so he has only his own greed to blame for his fate. 

Why does Shylock hate Antonio in The Merchant of Venice?

Perhaps Shylock is simply an angry person in general and doesn't like anybody. That's possible, but the text shows specifically that Shylock really does not like Antonio.  

Shylock is a Jew, and at the time of the play, Venetian laws segregated Jews with extra laws. Antonio is a Christian, and Shylock sees Christianity and Christians as the reason Venetian law is what it is. In fact, Shylock specifically states that he hates Antonio, because Antonio is a Christian man.  

I hate him for he is a Christian...

Shylock is a money lender.  He also charges high interest rates.  That wouldn't be a problem if he was the only money lender around or all of the other lenders charged the same interest rates.  That isn't the case, though.  Antonio also lends out money at times, and he doesn't charge any interest.  Shylock hates Antonio because he is a business rival that is massively undercutting his business.  

But I think the main reason that Shylock hates Antonio is because Antonio has publicly insulted Shylock and spit in his face.  It would be tough to walk away from that perfectly cheery and happy.  

How would you describe Shylock's mood in the trial scene of The Merchant Of Venice, and do you sympathize with him?

When Shylock appears before the Duke, his initial mood can best be described as vengeful. He takes an uncompromising stance and wishes to exact his revenge. Even when the Duke asks him to be merciful and kind to the unfortunate Antonio, he refuses to budge and states, in part:

I have possess'd your grace of what I purpose;
And by our holy Sabbath have I sworn
To have the due and forfeit of my bond: ...

He continues to state that he does not wish to answer to the Duke's appeal and his query as to why he so much wants a pound of Antonio's flesh since it would be worthless to him. He then suggests that it is to suit his disposition and for no other reason. He then provides a variety of examples of what one could possibly dislike or not without any substantial reason but that it cannot be tolerated. He asks a rhetorical question about whether one should be embarrassed even further in removing such an irritation after having been humiliated by it already. 

Shylock is suggesting that he finds Antonio an irritation but states:

... So can I give no reason, nor I will not,
More than a lodged hate and a certain loathing
I bear Antonio, that I follow thus
A losing suit against him.

He refuses to explain exactly why he seeks a pound of Antonio's flesh, but for the fact that he has a deep hate for him and finds him repugnant. It is for this reason that he seeks redress from the court since Antonio has forfeited on the bond. 

He retains this obstinate attitude practically throughout the trial. Shylock demands what he believes is justice, for he tells the Duke:

The pound of flesh, which I demand of him,
Is dearly bought; 'tis mine and I will have it.
If you deny me, fie upon your law!
There is no force in the decrees of Venice.
I stand for judgment: answer; shall I have it?

He says this even when he is offered twice the value of the bond. He refuses to give in and extend mercy and insists that he will have his way. If not, then Venetian law is worthless and contemptible and, therefore, has no authority. He insists on having a ruling made and asks whether he will be given one.

The Duke is clearly irritated by Shylock's attitude and states that he has the authority to dismiss the court and thus not pass judgement unless a learned doctor of laws, Bellario, arrives to address the court. It so happens that Portia, disguised as the famed doctor's emissary, comes to address the court on the matter.

When Portia, after asking Shylock to show mercy, which he obviously refuses to do, informs the court that he is within his rights to make his claim and that Antonio should prepare his bosom so that Shylock may cut out his pound of flesh, the Jew is mightily pleased. He calls her all kinds of flattering names and believes that he has succeeded in his petition. 

When Portia then makes Shylock aware of the more particular requirements of the law, that he should not shed one drop of Antonio's blood in the cutting of his flesh since he would then have to forfeit all he has to the state, he backs off and requests that he would then rather have thrice the amount owed to him and let Antonio go. 

Portia, though, has another ace up her sleeve and informs him that in terms of Venetian law he may remove the flesh he wants but that its weight should not be an inkling more or less than a pound. If it should, he would be executed and all his goods forfeited to the state. Shylock then asks for only the money that he is owed but Portia tells him that he can have only what he asked for. Surely, Shylock has a dilemma.  

It is at this point that Portia plays her trump card. She informs the now miserable Shylock that in terms of Venetian law, if any foreigner directly or indirectly seeks to harm a citizen of Venice, he shall forfeit half his estate to the target of his malice and the other half to the state. A decision about his fate would be determined by the Duke. 

Since Shylock has sought to harm Antonio, he is told that he should beg the Duke for mercy. The Duke then decides that Shylock should give half his estate to Antonio and the other half to the state. Shylock is deeply distressed and asks that his life rather be taken since he will not be able to survive without having the means by which he lives. 

Antonio finally beseeches the court that Shylock's property should be divided and that half be given to Lorenzo, Shylock's son-in-law and the other half willed to both Lorenzo and Jessica upon his death. Shylock must also become a Christian.  

One cannot sympathize with Shylock since he had brought all this upon himself. If he had not been so overwhelmed by hatred, revenge, and recalcitrance, none of what had befallen him would have happened. All that he had to do was to be merciful -- something he rejected with contempt.

How much do you sympathize with Shylock in The Merchant of Venice?

Shylock, in William Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice, is a complicated character. While it is possible to feel some sympathy for him, he does create many of his own problems.

Several elements about Shylock do (or could, anyway) engender some sympathy from the reader. First he is a Jew, and in both the play and in history, Christians had a great and active disdain for Jews. To that extent, what happens to Shylock because he is a Jew makes him a sympathetic character. Second, he is a father whose daughter elopes without his permission and with his money; both of these things certainly create some sympathy for Shylock. Finally, he is a moneylender, a profession which Venetians abhor but whose services are evidently needed or Shylock would not stay in business. It is not a crime to do business and make money; in fact, most readers want to do that, too.

Other aspects of the moneylender are based on choices he makes, and they are less likely to prompt any sympathy from the audience. They are obvious and they provoke the audience to despise Shylock. He treats Antonio abominably, he seems to care more about his lost money than his lost daughter, and he is so insistent on revenge that he goes to court to get his "pound of flesh."

When the two things intersect, the issues become a bit muddied. Yes, Shylock is a Jew and therefore ostracized and tormented; however, he still makes the choice to react as he does. Yes, he does seem to care more for his lost ducats than he does Jessica; however, he is not without sentiment and mourns the loss of an inexpensive brooch his dead wife gave him. Yes, he refuses to show Antonio any mercy; however, Antonio has been abusive of Shylock for many years, including spitting on him in the Rialto. Yes, he is disdainful and even cruel to Christians; however, he makes the point that he learned such tactics from Christians.

In short, there are some extenuating circumstances behind some of Shylock's most heinous acts, but it is his famous speech in Act III and the sentence he receives which move me the most in terms of sympathizing with Shylock.

Hath not a Jew eyes? hath not a Jew hands, organs,
dimensions, senses, affections, passions? fed with
the same food, hurt with the same weapons, subject
to the same diseases, healed by the same means,
warmed and cooled by the same winter and summer, as
a Christian is? If you prick us, do we not bleed?
if you tickle us, do we not laugh? if you poison
us, do we not die? and if you wrong us, shall we not
revenge? If we are like you in the rest, we will
resemble you in that. If a Jew wrong a Christian,
what is his humility? Revenge. If a Christian
wrong a Jew, what should his sufferance be by
Christian example? Why, revenge. The villany you
teach me, I will execute, and it shall go hard but I
will better the instruction.

This reminder of his humanity is sufficient to make me feel some sympathy for him. His desire to exact revenge because of injustices is natural and makes him more sympathetic, as well, since most of us can relate to that; however, the degree to which he is willing to go and the depth of his hatred diminish my sympathies.

When Shylock loses his case against Antonio, his punishment is outrageous--just like so much of the treatment Shylock has received over the course of his life. He loses everything material that he has as well as the ability to earn; what is most devastating is his forced conversion to Christianity. He loses everything, and with that I sympathize. 

Why does Shylock deserve sympathy in The Merchant of Venice?

The most obvious source of sympathy for Shylock is that he is part of a despised minority, treated with contempt and loathing on the basis of his religion. As a Jew in an overwhelmingly Christian city, Shylock is subjected to all kinds of humiliating restrictions, both legal and social. Money-lending, or usury, to give it its old-fashioned name, was one of the few occupations open to Jews at that time, as it was regarded as sinful for Christians to lend money at interest. Despite having little choice in the matter, Jews were loathed by Christians for engaging in the very occupation which they themselves had forced the Jews to pursue.

Shylock's treatment by his daughter Jessica is also appalling. She runs off with her Christian lover, Lorenzo, but not before stealing some of her father's hard-earned money. Although Shakespeare's portrayal of Jessica is largely sympathetic, her behavior does come across as willful, selfish, and ungrateful. And even if we do find Shylock a tad controlling in relation to his daughter, there can be no excuse for stealing under any circumstances.

Finally, one would have to sympathize with Shylock over his forced conversion to Christianity. This comes at the end of a very public humiliation when the law is twisted and distorted to ensure that Shylock comes off worst in his agreement with Antonio. Again, whatever we may feel about the precise details of Antonio's debt to Shylock, with its notorious stipulation of a pound of flesh being forfeit, there's no doubt that forcing someone to convert to another religion is completely unacceptable.

Why does Shylock hate Antonio in The Merchant of Venice? Is Shylock a victim in his community?

Shylock hates Antonio for two main reasons. First and foremost, Shylock is Jewish, while Antonio is Christian. Their differences in faith create a rift between the two, which is furthered by the larger implications of the historical Christian persecution of Jews. We see this realized in the play through the fact that Shylock is forced to live within the Venetian Ghetto under the decree of the Republic, which was largely Christian; this geographic containment was meant to restrict the physical, economic, and cultural presence of Jewish people, their faith, and their businesses. Antonio himself regularly behaves in an Anti-Semitic manner and has no qualms about bullying Shylock and mocking his Jewishness. The feelings of animosity between the two worsen once Shylock's daughter Jessica runs off with a Christian man (and Shylock's money), with Shylock proclaiming,

He hath disgraced me, and hindered me half a million; laughed at my losses, mocked at my gains, scorned my nation, thwarted my bargains, cooled my friends, heated mine enemies; and what's his reason? I am a Jew.

Secondly, Shylock dislikes Antonio because he regularly lends money to others without charging interest on those loans. This directly hurts Shylock's profits as a moneylender, since Antonio is consistently undercutting his rates and, thus, siphoning business away from him. As a Jewish man in Venice, Shylock does not have many other vocational opportunities; the interest he charges on loans is his livelihood.  

I would argue that, despite Shylock's status as the antagonist within the play and his outwardly miserly attitude, he really is a victim within the community. Antonio, Shylock's own daughter, and the Christian authorities of Venice treat him unfairly and cause him great grief; it is no wonder that he is filled with spite.

Who was Shylock in The Merchant of Venice and why was he hated?

Shylock was a Jew who practised usury, that is lending money at highly exaggerated interest rates to "get rich quick."

In many countries in Europe, Jews were already forbidden to own land, so quite naturally they turned to trade to earn their living instead. Then when they becane prosperous at that, both prejudice and jealousy over their newly found wealth ostracized them as a marginalized group even more.

Shylock is a good example of a stereotype or stock character: he looks like and behaves as one would expect, according to the mold into which he has been cast.  A Jew is first and foremost penny-pinching, right? - and this is the primary trait which comes through in his character profile. There is little or no room left over for personalized expression, nor is there much surprise in store from him, either. The character of Shylock also serves as a foil for Portia since his vices put into value her virtues by contrast:

http://www.enotes.com/merchant-of-venice/portia-character-analysis

Who was Shylock in The Merchant of Venice and why was he hated?

Shylock was a Jewish merchant and money-lender. There is occasional criticism of this play as being anti-Semitic, because several characters refer to Shylock in negative terms and the pejorative 'Jew' is paraded frequently. But Shylock himself is not usually portrayed as a sympathetic character. He is cruel, calculating and heartless. He does gain some sympathy in his exchanges with his daughter, who he thinks highly of. He is hated in Venice because of his usurious ending practices (charging high interest on loans) and for his cold-blooded acts of revenge against those who have wronged him, as when he draws up the 'pound of flesh' agreement that will allow him to murder Antonio.

Who was Antonio in The Merchant of Venice? Why was there enmity between Antonio and Shylock?

Antonio is a nobleman who has business dealings with Shylock, a Jewish merchant and moneylender. Shylock lends money to Antonio's friend, Bassanio, who wants to be able to become a suitor of Portia, a wealthy woman of Belmont. In the agreement Shylock declares that if the money is not repaid, he will be able to extract a pound of Antonio's flesh; Shylock does this because he resents Antonio's previous treatment of him. Antonio frequently mentions that Shylock is a Jew, and belittles him in public, calling him a dog and spitting on him (according to Shylock). Shylock is a calculating man who guesses that Antonio may not be able to repay him; so the 'pound of flesh' stipulation is his way of getting revenge and publicly punishing Antonio for his cruelty and humiliating treatment.

Why was there enmity between Shylock and Antonio in The Merchant of Venice?

The enmity between Shylock and Antonio stems from their religious differences and contempt for each other's business practices. In act 1, scene 3, Shylock briefly speaks with Bassanio about loaning Antonio three thousand ducats. In an aside, Shylock expresses his contempt for Antonio, which primarily concerns his business practice of loaning money without interest. Antonio's practice of loaning money without interest lowers the rates in Venice, which hurts Shylock's business.

In addition to disagreeing with Antonio's business practices, Shylock resents the fact that Antonio treats him with contempt because he is a Jew. Shylock mentions that Antonio has publicly insulted him at the Rialto in the past, called him a "cutthroat dog," and spit on his clothes. Antonio is a Christian who believes that Shylock is a greedy heathen, he and also resents his business practices. Overall, their enmity towards each other stems from their religious differences and disagreements concerning each other's business practices.

What are some reasons to have sympathy towards Shylock in The Merchant of Venice?

There are a number of reasons to sympathize with Shylock. For one, he is a Jewish man in the Catholic Venice. In a sense, he is a stranger in his own country. In the play’s conclusion, the Christian Antonio is referred to as a citizen, while Shylock is considered an alien. Shylock does not have the same rights as Christians do. Even though Shylock’s daughter Jessica marries a Christian, Launcelot Gobbo “jokes” that she will still be damned because her father is a Jew.

Jessica’s elopement with the Christian Lorenzo is another reason to pity Shylock. He is distraught that she has run off, especially with a man who is not of her faith. While the Christians consider her to be condemned for being Jewish, Shylock says that “she is damned” for marrying a Christian against his will. On top of that, Jessica stole some of Shylock's most prized positions. He values money above almost everything else, and Jessica spends it prodigally. Shylock is especially distressed to hear Jessica traded a ring for a monkey. He had the ring “of Leah when [he] was a bachelor;” it seems that it was a treasured gift from his deceased wife.

The Christian characters mock Shylock and gloat at his losses. When he laments the departure of his daughter, “his own flesh and blood,” Salarino replies, “There is more difference between thy flesh and hers than between jet and ivory.” Shylock mourns, “no sighs but of my breathing; no tears but of my shedding.” Numerous characters refer to him as a devil and hurl antisemitic insults his way. Antonio spat on him, kicked him, and called him “misbeliever, cut-throat dog.” Shylock’s powerful “Hath not a Jew eyes?” speech about the similarities between Jews and Christians falls on deaf ears.

No doubt, Shylock is a difficult and dangerous man, calculating and ruthless. Still, he is also a desperate and sympathetic character.

In The Merchant of Venice, which scenes evoke sympathy and antipathy towards Shylock?

In The Merchant of Venice, the audience is first introduced to Shylock in Act I, scene iii. Bassanio is negotiating with him for a loan which Antonio will take out on his behalf and which will allow Bassanio to woo Portia. Portia is a wealthy heiress from whom Bassanio believes he previously received "fair speechless messages" (I.i. 164), meaning that he thinks she is attracted to him. The audience senses a shrewd businessman in Shylock as he deliberates on the potential loan of three thousand ducats but is also aware almost immediately of his dislike of Antonio, foreshadowing what will follow.

When Antonio enters, Shylock verbally attacks Antonio and the audience is shocked at the intensity of his hatred. This makes the audience feel unsympathetic towards Shylock because his feelings do not seem justified. Shakespeare has cleverly painted a picture of a virtuous Antonio at this stage and the audience is unlikely to understand the implications of Shylock's words as it is offended and has no idea that Antonio has contributed to Shylock's complete mistrust and revulsion. The exchange between the two men is full of double meaning and the audience begins to see another side to Antonio as he patronizes Shylock and is indifferent to his claims. Antonio even admits that he will continue to "spit on thee" (I.iii.126) and, even though Shylock will lend him the money, Antonio asserts that he is still his "enemy" (130). Just as the audience begins to feel sorry for Shylock because of Antonio's treatment of him, Shylock delivers his blow. He adds a condition to the terms of the bond and, if Antonio cannot pay it back, he must allow for "an equal pound of your fair flesh, to be cut off..."(144-145). The audience now feels no sympathy for a man who jokes or makes demands in such severe terms. 

The audience will continue to feel no compassion towards Shylock as he does not endear himself to anyone. Launcelot, Shylock's servant, will leave Shylock's house and Jessica, Shylock's daughter intends to run away with Lorenzo. However, there are brief moments when the audience realizes that he is a victim of circumstance and is perhaps hardened because of ill-treatment. As he says in Act III, scene i, " The villainy you teach me I will execute," (61) in which he means that he learns from Christians and puts that into practice. However, once again, it does not take Shylock long to reveal his worst side as he seems more concerned about his missing belongings than his daughter and rejoices in the apparent sinking of Antonio's ships. A brief show of regret is evident when Shylock learns that a ring that he received from his beloved Leah has been pawned. It's value to him is immeasurable and gives the audience a momentary insight into a Shylock who has long since disappeared.  

After Portia's speech on "the quality of mercy" (Iv.i.179), the audience feels no sympathy for Shylock who relishes Antonio's certain fate. When Portia outwits him, still the audience is not compelled to feel sorry for him, especially when he tries to agree to the payment of the bond having just refused it in favor of Antonio's "pound of flesh" (302). However, when Antonio stands to profit from Shylock's unexpected misfortune, the audience is inclined to feel sorry for Shylock who always loses to Antonio and, this time, in a most merciless manner as he must renounce his religion in favor of Christianity. It seems that while Shylock learns a valuable lesson, Antonio will learn nothing. 

In The Merchant of Venice, does Shakespeare show sympathy for Shylock?

This is a very difficult question to answer, because let us remember that the true nature of Shakespeare's work is not how it appears on the page, but how it is produced on the stage. There have been a variety of productions that have variously created a Shylock that is to be pitied or to be reviled, depending on the director and the choices that he makes. However, if we have a look at the text itself, I think it is possible to find evidence to support the view that Shakespeare sympathised with Shylock and his position, and not only his position alone, but the position of Jews throughout time. The best place to look for this would be the incredibly famous and memorable speech that Shakespeare gives Shylock in Act III scene 1, where Shylock argues for a common humanity between Jews and those who oppress them:

He hath disgraced me, and hindered me half a million, laughed at my losses, mocked at my gains, scorned my nation, thwarted my bargains, cooled my friends, heated mine enemies; and what's his reason? I am a Jew. Hath not a Jew eyes? Hath not a Jew hands, organs, dimensions, senses, affections, passions? Fed with the same food, hurt with the same weapons, subject to the same diseases, healed by the same means, warmed and cooled by the same winter and summer, as a Christian is? If you prick us, do we not bleed?

And so the speech continues. Shylock thus famously appeals to a common base of humanity which reveals that Jews and Christians are not that different after all. Clearly, this would be a good place to start if you wish to argue that Shakespeare sympathises with the position of Shylock and all Jews.