For much of the play, The Merchant of Venice appears to be a vintage Shakespearean farce. A group of jesters compete to marry the beautiful and wealthy Portia; women disguise themselves as men and cheat on their fiancées; servants are willing accomplices in playful deception. Where Merchant of Venice deviates from the template of a typical Shakespearean farce is with the appearance of Shylock, the Jew. Shylock transforms this play from a simple comedy into a work of enormous complexity. In The Merchant of Venice, the contrast between Shylock's tragedy and the comedy of the other characters raises many questions that remain unanswered for the thoughtful reader. At the beginning of the action, Antonio, a wealthy merchant who deals in foreign trade, sits on a bench to preen himself. Antonio's character is clearly written as full of affection and devotion towards Bassanio. Bassanio wishes to borrow money to woo Portia, a beautiful and wealthy woman who is forced by her deceased father's demand to marry the man who solves the riddle and chooses the correct metal coffin. Antonio has a cash flow problem, with his many ships at sea and not yet returned, so he suggests borrowing the necessary funds from the Jew Shylock. He agrees to post the required bail. Enter Shylock, a comical but likeable man, who makes clever jokes at the expense of Christians in his presence, while expressing the pain and rage he feels as a victim of a society hostile. Quickly, the reader learns that he is lending money because there are laws that prohibit him from pursuing another career. He does not appreciate that Antonio lends to his front...... middle of paper ......ntent, shaking the sensitivity of anyone concerned about the ills of society. It seems too easy to turn away from the pain of others and toward the comfort of our own lives. No thought or mention is given to Shylock and his ending. Only Antonio seems discouraged, and apparently only because he has lost Bassanio's affections to Portia. Shylock is the driving force that catapults The Merchant of Venice from a simple comedy to a work of enormous complexity. The contrast between Shylock's tragedy and the comedy of the other characters is difficult to ignore. Many questions are raised and issues remain unresolved for the attentive reader. Shylock's presence makes the play unsettling, once again raising the topics of discrimination, revenge, mercy and the very essence of human weakness..