Points Against And In Favour F :: essays research papers

The trial picture show in the Merchant of Venice is the climax of the play as shylock has taken Antonio to court, as he has non paid back the money he borrowed. Shylock wants the pound of flesh that is the forfeit of the bond concerning the money Antonio borrowed from him. Shylock&8217s main motivation for wanting this forfeit is as his young lady has stolen his money and run away, he is taking out his spite on Antonio and this blinds him as he does not watch what he is getting into during this pelletFrom the point where Shylock enters the courtroom everyone opposing him is appealing for mercy for Antonio and this is what the facet demonstrates, a need for mercy. Portia says shortly after she has entered the scope &8216Then the Jew must(prenominal)iness be merciful&8217 she is not saying that this is what the law of nature says he must be, only if that he should do this because it is the only thing he tooshie do morally. The mercy theme runs all the way through the scen e and many opportunities were offered by the Duke, Bassanio and Portia for Shylock to take the moral course of action, scarce he constantly refuses saying he should get what he deserves not by moral justice solely by the law.Shylock does choose the right to the forfeit of his bond and it is Antonio&8217s fault that he is in this situation because he signed the bond of his own free will. He knew the consequences if he couldn&8217t pay it back as Shylock do it clear from the start. This is shown by when at the start of the court scene when he says &8216Make no more offers use no farther means, but with all brief and plain conveniency let me have judgement, and the Jew his will&8217. When he didn&8217t pay Shylock the money he owed him, Shylock had a right to Antonio&8217s forfeit by law. The problem was he didn&8217t choose the moral path where he probably could have gotten a lot of money and become a very rich man, but chose the forfeit out of spite over his daughter.This theme is also restate through the scene that Shylock deserves his justice by the letter of the law and the forfeit of his bond. This is shown when he says phrases like &8216My deeds upon my head I require the law, the penalty and forfeit of my bond&8217.