You can decide your fate. This general idea is carried out through the story of WIlliam Shakespeare 's comedy playwright, The Merchant of Venice. Mainly by the character who could be considered unmerciful, Shylock, who is a jewish merchant. Even though Shylock was discriminated by the christians, Shylock’s fate could have been avoided if he had a more positive attitude towards Christians, if his relationship with his daughter was better, and if he was more thorough in his bond.
The negative attitude that Shylock gave towards everybody shaped his fate. Towards the beginning of the story, Shylock said to Bassanio: “You call me misbeliever, cutthroat dog. And spet [spat] upon my Jewish gaberdine. And all for use of that which is mine own. Well …show more content…
A proverb never stale in thrifty mind.(2.5.42-53)
Shylock is very disrespectful towards his own servant, Lancelot. He says this to Jessica and is a reason why she hates him because she replies “Farewell, and if my fortune be not crost,
I have a father, you a daughter, lost.”(2.5.53-54) This secures his fate of being converted because Jessica ends up leaving with Lorenzo, showing how much she doesn’t care about him. This doesn’t help in his favor because he looks bad in front of the Christians decreasing his chance of receiving mercy. Shylock also could have avoided his fate if he was more thorough in his bond. Shylock was never detailed with his bond that was made with Antonio, the original bond was made when Antonio was asking for the money, Shylock said to …show more content…
Portia says to him during the trial:
“Therefore prepare thee to cut off the flesh.
Shed thou no blood, nor cut thou less nor more
But just a pound of flesh. If thou takest more
Or less than a just pound, be it but so much
As makes it light or heavy in the substance
Or the division of the twentieth part
Of one poor scruple—nay, if the scale do turn
But in the estimation of a hair,
Thou diest and all thy goods are confiscate.”
The negative attitude that Shylock gave towards everybody shaped his fate. Towards the beginning of the story, Shylock said to Bassanio: “You call me misbeliever, cutthroat dog. And spet [spat] upon my Jewish gaberdine. And all for use of that which is mine own. Well …show more content…
A proverb never stale in thrifty mind.(2.5.42-53)
Shylock is very disrespectful towards his own servant, Lancelot. He says this to Jessica and is a reason why she hates him because she replies “Farewell, and if my fortune be not crost,
I have a father, you a daughter, lost.”(2.5.53-54) This secures his fate of being converted because Jessica ends up leaving with Lorenzo, showing how much she doesn’t care about him. This doesn’t help in his favor because he looks bad in front of the Christians decreasing his chance of receiving mercy. Shylock also could have avoided his fate if he was more thorough in his bond. Shylock was never detailed with his bond that was made with Antonio, the original bond was made when Antonio was asking for the money, Shylock said to …show more content…
Portia says to him during the trial:
“Therefore prepare thee to cut off the flesh.
Shed thou no blood, nor cut thou less nor more
But just a pound of flesh. If thou takest more
Or less than a just pound, be it but so much
As makes it light or heavy in the substance
Or the division of the twentieth part
Of one poor scruple—nay, if the scale do turn
But in the estimation of a hair,
Thou diest and all thy goods are confiscate.”