Despite the lack of a strong father figure in Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice, two separate father-daughter relationships play a vital role in the play's central plot. The strained relationship between the Venetian loan shark Shylock and his daughter Jessica, as well as the non-existent association between Portia and her late father, lead the two young women to act as they do, in turn influencing the entire cast of characters. As a common theme in William Shakespeare's works, suffering in the name of love also applies to the two heroines of The Merchant of Venice. The delicate topic of love is further complicated by the demanding and unwavering standards set by Jessica and Portia's respective fathers. It is these strict rules, decreed by the two powerful patriarchs, that unite Jessica and Portia as likable characters in the reader's eyes; two women deeply in love, unable to consummate their feelings with the men they care for due to the iron rule of their fathers. However, as the show progresses, it becomes apparent that the two women are very different. As love consumes Jessica, clouding her judgment and ultimately harming Shylock, Portia chooses to respect her father's dying wish, letting the situation play out properly. It is these choices, along with others, that play an important role in the conclusion of the work. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay Throughout the show, Shylock is portrayed as a selfish man, interested only in monetary gain, often at the sacrifice of others. The loan shark takes his love of money to such an extreme level that it permeates his daily life, as well as that of his family. When Jessica successfully escapes with her Christian lover Lorenzo, stealing her father's gold and jewels as she escapes, Shylock is just as distraught over the loss of his daughter as he is over the loss of his money. Solanio witnesses Shylock's outburst in the streets of Venice after the robbery, quoting the enraged Jew who said, "My daughter!" Oh my ducats! Oh my daughter! Eloped with a Christian! O my Christian duchies! Justice! The law! My ducats and my daughter²(II.8.15-18)! The reader has no way of knowing what Shylock is most angry about: is he angry that his daughter has escaped his rule, to marry a Christian? Or is he more troubled by the loss of a portion of his great fortune, the one thing he loves more than life itself? Shakespeare never really answers this question, leaving the reader to decide for themselves. However, in the end, it seems that Shylock's luck surpasses everything, including family and love. In addition to this apparent apathy towards his daughter, Shylock views Jessica, his only female descendant, as a commodity, vital to carrying on the family name. It becomes just like the jewels and gold he owns, another asset he can keep hidden. In fact, he does just that, exiling her to the home, assuring her that she will not be defiled by Christian suitors. However, Jessica will not be imprisoned while her true love is waiting for her. She despises her father and feels sorry for him, saying, “I'm sorry that you leave my father like this; Our house is hell, and you, merry devil, have deprived it of a little boredom² (II.3.1-3). Because of his belief that his daughter is a possession, Shylock is doubly hurt by Jessica's marriage and subsequent conversion to Christianity. He lost gold, jewels, his daughter, and ultimately the ability to carry on the family name in the form of a granddaughter. As the couple prepares to flee Venice, Jessica says to her boyfriend: "O Lorenzo, if you keep thepromise, I will end this conflict, I will become a Christian and your loving wife" (II.3.19-21)! It is evident that Jessica's hatred for Shylock is so great that she is willing to do anything, including leaving her homeland and converting religions , in order to escape his maniacal control. We will see later in the play, this decision, perhaps inevitable, will have a great effect on Shylock and on the entire story, it seems that Jessica and Portia find themselves in similar situations, two women in love, whose desires are held back because of their fathers' demands. However, upon closer examination, there are clear differences both between the situations and between the two characters themselves. Portia is a wealthy heiress, left in charge of Belmont by her late father, the former king. Before his death, Portia's father added a condition to his will, stating that his daughter could only be married to the suitor who chose one of the three caskets. The caskets, bearing three separate inscriptions, are intended to separate the gold-seekers from the true claimants, a last-ditch measure taken by the king to ensure that neither his daughter nor his fortune are exploited. Naturally, Portia fails to understand the precaution, instead longing for freedom from her late father. She wants total autonomy in choosing a husband, complaining to Nerissa: "I can neither choose whom I would like nor reject whom I do not like, so the will of a living daughter is restrained by the will of a dead father² (I.2.22-24). While Portia's father is obviously looking out for his daughter's best interest when he writes the addendum to her will, the same cannot necessarily be said for Shylock's maniacal behavior. Shylock sees Jessica more as a valuable possession, a collector's item who will one day produce a grandson, thus carrying on the family name. Portia's father, on the other hand, has been living with unscrupulous people for years, eager to get a share of his fortune. He realizes that his daughter may encounter problems in separating well-meaning suitors from greedy swindlers, she devises a test, a way in which Portia will be sure that the man she marries is noble and well-intentioned. silver and one lead, is placed before every potential suitor. The potential husband and future king of Belmont must choose one of three chests. If the correct one is chosen, the man will receive everything that accompanies the title of king. However, a wrong choice means that the man will have to spend the rest of his days unmarried, a punishment for making the wrong decision. The Prince of Morocco and the Prince of Argon go first, selecting the gold and silver chests respectively. The Prince of Morocco sees the skull of Death in the golden casket, while the Prince of Argon, an old and decrepit man, sees the image of a fool in the silver casket. When Bassanio, the true love of Portia's life, appears, she begs him to take his time to ensure she will make the right decision. However, Bassanio, always a gambler, insists on choosing immediately. He chooses the opaque lead casket, a decision that wins him Portia's hand. It is at this point that Portia realizes that her father's intentions are pure, as she is destined to be with the person she has always wanted. Please note: this is just an example. Get a custom paper from our expert writers now. Personalize EssayWhen the play concludes, the reader begins to see how Jessica and Portia are inherently different. In turn, this also makes the tyranny of the two fathers different. Shylock holds Jessica hostage, a mere asset to count among the rest of his fortune. On the other hand, the deceased..