What kindness does Shylock show in Act 1 Scene 3? Why?
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Answer:
Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice Act 1, Scene 3 opens with Bassanio and Shylock.
Shylock confirms that Bassanio wants three thousand ducats for three months. Bassanio tells him that Antonio will guarantee this. Bassanio asks Shylock if he will give him the loan.Shylock asks if Antonio is an honest man. Bassanio takes umbrage at this and asks if he has heard otherwise. Shylock immediately says that he has not but understands that Antonio has a lot of his wealth and goods at sea and therefore he knows he has sufficient means but that they are vulnerable;
Yet his means are in supposition. He hath an argosy bound to Tripolis, another to the Indies. I understand moreover upon the Rialto he hath a third at Mexico, a forth for England, and other ventures he hath squandered abroad. But ships are but boards, sailors but men. There be land rats and water rats, water thieves and land thieves—I mean pirates—and then there is the peril of the waters, winds and rocks. The man is, notwithstanding, sufficient.
(Act 1 Scene 3)
Shylock resolves to take Antonio’s bond but wants to speak to him. Bassanio invites Shylock to dine with them. Shylock says that he will walk with them, talk with them do business with them but will not eat or pray with them.
Antonio enters and Bassanio introduces him to Shylock. In an aside, Shylock shows a great disdain for Antonio, especially for lending out his money for free: