The Merchant of Venice

When Antonia fails to repay Shylock the three thousand ducats with in the three months Shylock sees his chance and has his eyes set on his bond, he will take nothing less then one pound of Antonio's flesh:.
             "I have possessed your grace of what I purpose,.
             And by our holy sabeth I have sworn.
             To have the due and forfeit of my bond." (IV, 1, 35-37).
             When the bond comes before the duke things go terribly wrong for Shylock. Although Antonio's lawyers offer him more money than initially lent, Shylock will not take the offer. .
             "If every ducat in six thousand ducats.
             Were in six parts, and every part of a ducats,.
             I would not draw them. I would have my bond." (IV, 1,86-89).
             When Antonio's lawyers find that the bond does not state that one drop of blood is to touch the ground nor that the flesh maybe any more or any less than one exact pound, Shylock has no more defense, he knows that they have won, now it his turn to pat the consequences. The Duke and Antonio's lawyers come to a decision, Shylock must forfeit half his wealth to Antonio and the general state, and he must also leave the other half of his wealth, property and possessions to his son Lorenzo and his daughter Jessica. But possibly the hardest and most humiliating action taken was that Shylock was forced to become a Christian. Throughout the play, the relationship between Shylock and Antonio changed a number of times. In the beginning, although they disliked each other their relationship was mainly professional. When Shylocks enters into a contact with Antonio this brings to the forefront conflict between the two characters and this conflict increases to hate as the characters become more involved in each other's lives. .
             When Portia's, the Lady of Belmont, father dies she is left to fulfill her fathers last wishes. In his will he states that Portia must marry, but only on certain conditions. Portia's father devised a plan so Portia can only marry the most deserving of men.