Question
Here is the question : WHAT DOES SHYLOCK DEMAND OF ANTONIO IN “THE MERCHANT OF VENICE”?
Option
Here is the option for the question :
- A pound of lead
- A pound of gold
- A pound of flesh
- A pound of marble
The Answer:
And, the answer for the the question is :
Explanation:
In order to assist his friend in courting a woman named Portia, Antonio takes out a loan from Shylock; however, when Antonio is unable to return the amount, Shylock demands one pound of Antonio’s flesh as collateral for the loan. Antonio sues Shylock over this matter, but Portia discovers a flaw in Shylock’s contract that rights him only to flesh and not blood, rendering the demand impossible and allowing Antonio to prevail in court.
In William Shakespeare’s play “The Merchant of Venice,” the character Shylock, a Jewish moneylender, demands a pound of flesh from Antonio, a Christian merchant. This demand is central to the plot of the play and serves as a powerful symbol of the conflict between the two characters and their respective cultures.
Shylock’s demand for a pound of flesh is rooted in his anger and frustration at the treatment he has received from Antonio and other Christians in Venice. Shylock has been subjected to discrimination and mistreatment because of his religion, and he sees Antonio as the embodiment of this prejudice.
When Antonio comes to Shylock for a loan, Shylock sees an opportunity to exact revenge for the mistreatment he has suffered. He agrees to lend Antonio the money, but only on the condition that if the loan is not repaid on time, he will be entitled to a pound of Antonio’s flesh.
Antonio, confident in his ability to repay the loan, agrees to the condition, and the deal is sealed. However, when Antonio’s ships are lost at sea, he is unable to repay the loan on time, and Shylock demands his pound of flesh.
The demand for a pound of flesh becomes a powerful symbol of the conflict between Shylock and Antonio, as well as the larger cultural divide between Jews and Christians in Venice. It highlights the destructive power of prejudice and hatred, and the devastating consequences that can result when these forces are allowed to run unchecked.
Ultimately, the conflict between Shylock and Antonio is resolved through the intervention of Portia, a wealthy heiress who disguises herself as a lawyer and argues on Antonio’s behalf. Portia uses legal technicalities to argue that Shylock is not entitled to his pound of flesh, and instead, he is forced to convert to Christianity and give up his wealth.
The demand for a pound of flesh in “The Merchant of Venice” is a powerful symbol of the conflict between Jews and Christians in Renaissance Europe, as well as the destructive power of prejudice and hatred. It serves as a reminder of the importance of tolerance and understanding, and the dangers that can arise when we allow fear and hatred to rule our actions.