Merchant of Venice Essay: Triumph of Good over Evil :: Merchant Venice Essays

The trial flick in the Merchant of Venice is the climax of the play as Shylock has taken Antonio to motor hotel, as he has not paid fend for the money he borrowed. Shylock wants the pound of flesh that is the forego of the hold concerning the money Antonio borrowed from him. Shylocks main motivation for wanting this forfeit is as his daughter has stolen his money and run a air, he is taking bug out his spite on Antonio and this blinds him as he does not watch what he is pick upting into during this scene From the point where Shylock enters the courtroom e trulyone opposing him is challenge for mercy for Antonio and this is what the scene demonstrates, a need for mercy. Portia says shortly after she has entered the scene Then the Jew must be merciful she is not saying that this is what the fair play says he must be, but that he should do this because it is the only affair he can do deterrent examplely. The mercy home runs all the way through the scene and many opportun ities were offered by the Duke, Bassanio and Portia for Shylock to take the moral course of action, but he constantly refuses saying he should get what he deserves not by moral justice but by the law. Shylock does incur the right to the forfeit of his bond and it is Antonios mistake that he is in this situation because he signed the bond of his feature free will. He knew the consequences if he couldnt pay it back as Shylock made it clear from the start. This is shown by when at the start of the court scene when he says Make no more offers use no farther means, but with all brief and plain conveniency let me have judgement, and the Jew his will. When he didnt pay Shylock the money he owed him, Shylock had a right to Antonios forfeit by law. The riddle was he didnt choose the moral path where he in all likelihood 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 repeated through the scene that S hylock deserves his justice by the letter of the law and the forfeit of his bond. This is shown when he says phrases like My deeds upon my dubiousness I crave the law, the penalty and forfeit of my bond.