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1. Discuss the conflict experienced between Shylock and Antonio. How did this conflict impact the text?

User SoTm
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Answer and Explanation:

The conflict between Shylock and Antonio in the Merchant of the Venice(by William Shakespeare) emanates from Antonio's anti-semitic disposition towards Shylock and Shylock's equal hatred for Christians. Shylock is a Jewish money lender(usances as it is called in the text) while Antonio is a Christian. Antonio curses Shylock for being an unbeliever and also a money lender while he also needs to borrow money from him. Shylock, amid a conflict and in his hatred for Antonio's belief, grants Antonio the loan on the condition that a failure to repay would be paid with Antonio's pound of flesh. Shylock berates him for anti-Semitism where he says:

"Signior Antonio, many a time and oft

In the Rialto you have rated me About my moneys and my usances

Still have I borne it with a patient shrug, For sufferance is the badge of all our tribe.

You call me misbeliever, cut-throat dog,

And spit upon my Jewish gaberdine, And all for use of that which is mine own."

The resultant effect of Antonio and Shylock's conflict is a much larger conflict between the Jews and Christians

User Thomas Braun
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