Merchant of Venice Character Diary - Shylock
Uploaded by TY_REEF on Dec 01, 1999
Today Bassanio came up to me asking for my moneys. Later on I told him that I would lend him the moneys without any interest. I was very cautious in the repeating of his demands. Antonio is naive risking his life hoping the ships will return. I am clever because I am using this opportunity to get revenge. I made Bassanio nervous when I called Antonio a good man and they both probably knew the meaning. I'll show Antonio when his ships fail to return. Lancelot is getting on my nerves again. He is snail-slow in profit and he sleeps by day. My daughter seems to want to get out of the house and might be getting annoyed with me. I am sure that it is just a phase.
Because it meant that Bassanio would lose even more of the money he borrowed I decided to attend the feast with all those creepy masks. I took no pleasure in it but I intend to ruin Bassanio. Bassanio will have all the ducats spent in no time.
I forgot about my anger over my daughter's flight when I heard about Bassanio's ship wrecked in the English Channel. I then quickly remembered my daughters leaving when Tubal came to me with information on Jessica's reckless spending of my moneys. My heart was broken when I heard about I exchange for a monkey, she traded the ring that was a gift from my wife to me. I should have seen this coming.
My hate turned into a disaster in only a short time today. First, Bassanio offered me double the money that was borrowed, but I was too stubborn to accept and reminded the court that the flesh was mine by law. I looked into Antonio's eyes and he seemed to have felt that he deserved what should have come. As I was sharpening my knife, Gratiano started abusing me. I guess I deserved what was happening but what happened next I'm not sure of. A lawyer came in and seemed to be on my side until she mentioned that I could only take Antonio's flesh, no blood. I was shocked to hear this but I then tried to accept the double amount but knew it was too late because that wasn't written on the bond. If that was...