What memory of Leah does Shylock cherish?

Shylock still has many wonderful memories of his late wife Leah. And what stirs those memories more than anything else is his most treasured possession: a turquoise ring that she gave to him before they were married. The ring is not worth much; its sentimental value, on the other hand, is incalculable. We can well imagine just how devastated Shylock is when his daughter Jessica makes off with this most precious keepsake along with several sacks of her father's gold before eloping with Lorenzo.
This deeply unpleasant episode shows us a completely different side to Shylock. For all the abuse hurled at him for being greedy and grasping, his cherishing of the turquoise ring, and all those special memories it evokes, shows us that there's more to life for Shylock than riches. But the people of Venice are so mired in anti-Semitic prejudice that they will never see this and will therefore remain forever blind to the hidden depths of this surprisingly complex character.

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