Shylock despises Antonio with a passion. He says as much throughout the play. When he observes him at the beginning, he says the following in an aside:
How like a fawning publican he looks!
I hate him 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!
In this extract, his loathing is pertinent. He hates Antonio because he is a Christian. He also hates him since he lends out money without charging interest, compromising Shylock's own money-lending practice, for he charges interest. By lending without interest, Antonio brings down the interest rate which Shylock charges for loans, thus affecting his income. Shylock swears that if he should get Antonio at a disadvantage, he will use it to carry through an age old grudge that he holds against him. Shylock is resentful of the fact that Antonio hates Jews and that he consistently criticizes his money-lending practice. He feels that his people would be cursed if he should ever forgive Antonio for his persistent censure.
It is clear later that Shylock wants to use sly means to draw Antonio into a compromising situation. In a prayer, uttered in the presence of Antonio and Bassanio, he asks what advantage he would gain from the forfeit of a pound of Antonio's flesh if he should not meet the terms of a loan he was going to extend. A pound of flesh is useless to him. He, however, wants to gain Antonio's favor and therefore extends him a kindness in the form of the loan he requests. It is Antonio's choice to accept or reject the bond.
Later in the play, after Antonio is arrested and imprisoned for failing to repay the loan on the agreed date. Antonio wishes to consult with him, But Shylock is not prepared to reason, and instructs Antonio's jailer:
Gaoler, look to him: tell not me of mercy;
This is the fool that lent out money gratis:
Gaoler, look to him.
Shylock is adamant on punishing Antonio and refuses to negotiate. He has now gained an advantage and wishes to hurt Antonio. He tells the desperate merchant:
I'll have my bond; I will not hear thee speak:
I'll have my bond; and therefore speak no more.
I'll not be made a soft and dull-eyed fool,
To shake the head, relent, and sigh, and yield
To Christian intercessors. Follow not;
I'll have no speaking: I will have my bond.
During the trial later, Shylock addresses the court and, on a question by the duke as to why he wishes to continue with his action against Antonio even though an offer has been made to repay the bond at thrice its value, Shylock responds:
As to offend, himself being offended;
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.
Shylock's unrelenting attitude, bred from his deep contempt for Antonio, is what eventually ensnares him. He becomes a victim of his own malice and almost loses his life. In the end he has to relinquish his religion and become a Christian. He has to give up half of his estate and will the remainder to his Christian son-in-law upon his death.
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