why did shylock go to feast with the christians?
Answers
Shylock is not on friendly terms with the Christians and does not like socialising with them because of how they mistreat him and hate him for his profession. However, he agrees to feast with them because since they are the ones in need, it allows Shylock to assume an air of superiority. His importance rises manifold and he can dictate terms to them. He is not going because of love, but because of spite. On a personal level, he goes to the feast to boost his self-confidence. Morally speaking, Shylock feels that he is doing no harm by feeding off the ‘Prodigal Son’, that is Bassanio, who lives flamboyantly. So, taking advantage of a morally weak person cannot be wrong. From the plot development point of view, it is necessary for Shylock to step out of the house for sometime, to give Jessica sufficient time to elope. These are the reasons that made Shakespeare send Shylock to the feast.
Shylock was a Jew. He reluctantly agreed to go to Bassanio's dinner party. He confesses that he accepted the invitation 'in hate, to feed upon / the prodigal Christian'. He says that he is disgusted with the idea of going there. He has a foreboding that something ill was brewing up.