What are 3 different ways Shylock demonstrates revenge?

Revenge is a powerful motivator, and in The Merchant of Venice, revenge is interpreted differently by Shylock and Antonio. For Shylock, his insistence on his "pound of flesh" is a display of justice (although ultimately not within the definition of the law) because revenge is the natural payback for the wrongs committed by the Christians, particularly Antonio. Shylock makes himself understood and his intentions known when he points out that he has learned from Antonio's attempts to destroy his credibility. Antonio "mocked . . . and thwarted" Shylock mercilessly.

The villainy you teach me I will execute—and it shall go hard but I will better the instruction.

Revenge is made sweet for Shylock in the simple act of Bassanio even asking him for a loan. This in itself—"Three thousand ducats . . . I think I may take his bond"—places Shylock in an unexpected position of power against the very person who, for Shylock, is characteristic of the worst of Christians. He is able to gloat and to relish the thought of the potential to destroy Antonio by taking flesh from "what part of your body it pleases me."
Shylock further demonstrates his revenge when he cleverly manipulates Antonio into believing that he is lending money without interest. He is not taken seriously, although Bassanio is suspicious, and he even asks what profit there might be in "a pound of flesh." When Shylock later calls in his bond, he exacts his revenge, and for a short time, he is taken seriously when Antonio cannot repay the money.
The apparent resentment that Shylock feels drives his need for revenge. He admits that he has lost so much and blames the Christians for their representation of him as "the very evil incarnation." Shylock is able to express his hatred (and so his need for revenge) directly to Antonio, and he says, "since I am a dog, beware my fangs"—yet another example of the expression of his revenge. Antonio begins to question whether it was such a good idea to trust Shylock's intentions. Antonio's arrogance becomes evident, and Shylock's revenge, even though it was short-lived, is complete.


Shylock, one of the characters in Shakespeare's play The Merchant of Venice, is vengeful almost by definition. He is a moneylender, so he has complex and sometimes tense relationships with the people who borrow from him. Moreover, he is Jewish, and thus he often feels slighted by certain Christians he comes into contact with. Let's go over three different ways that Shylock demonstrates revenge in the course of the play.
1. This is a big one: he demands a pound of Antonio's flesh as payment for a debt.
Antonio, one of the most important merchants in Venice, is one of the Christians with whom Shylock has conflict. The moneylender feels he is treated poorly by Antonio, and he seeks revenge on him. Here, Salarino asks Shylock why he would want a pound of flesh (instead of money):

SALARINO
Why, I am sure, if he forfeit, thou wilt not takehis flesh: what's that good for?
SHYLOCK
To bait fish withal: if it will feed nothing else,it will feed my revenge. He hath disgraced me, andhindered me half a million; laughed at my losses,mocked at my gains, scorned my nation, thwarted mybargains, cooled my friends, heated mineenemies; and what's his reason?

This is an excerpt from a longer speech that Shylock makes about the nature of revenge:

If a Jew wrong a Christian, what is his humility? Revenge. If a Christian wrong a Jew, what should his sufferance be by Christian example? Why, revenge. The villainy you teach me I will execute—and it shall go hard but I will better the instruction.

2. Shylock refuses Bassanio's attempt to pay off Antonio's debt, even though Bassanio offers Shylock much more than the amount of the original loan. (What would Shylock actually do with a pound of anyone's flesh? He is acting out of hatred, not logic. He could just take the generous offer of money, but he will not.)
3. Shylock shows no mercy to Antonio, even when Antonio begs for it, and even when Portia (disguised as a legal expert) pleads with him to spare Antonio's life. Portia asks him to show mercy, but Shylock stands his ground, stating in a court trial that he demands a pound of flesh and will not accept another form of payment. 

ANTONIOI pray thee, hear me speak.SHYLOCKI’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 foolTo shake the head, relent and sigh, and yieldTo Christian intercessors. Follow not.I’ll have no speaking. I will have my bond.

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