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Shylock did not charge interest on the loan. This was contrary to his usual practice, but he had an ulterior motive. Instead of an interest clause, he inserted a penalty clause which said that if Antonio defaulted on the loan, Shylock could take a pound of flesh from any part of his body he chose. Since default seemed unlikely, Antonio went along with this. (Shylock was up front about it; he didn't hide it in the small print) Shylock's hope was that Antonio would default and then Shylock would have a legal right to kill him.

Interest is payable in any event--when you repay, you repay the principal plus more. A penalty clause only comes into effect if you default.

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Q: What was the interest that shylock exacted for the loan?
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What is the name of money lender in the merchant of Venice?

Shylock.


What reason does Shylock give out loud for his hatred of Antonio?

Antonio was Christian and helped people with money without charging interest and deprived Shylock of his income as Shylock was shrew money lender.


What was the trial all about in merchant of Venice?

Antonio had not paid back the loan to Shylock on time, so Shylock was applying to the court for an order saying that Shylock was legally entitled to take a pound of Antonio's flesh as their agreement stated.


What was the character of Shylock in Act2 scene 3?

Shylock is a Jewish banker in "The Merchant of Venice." The character is often cited as an example of an anti-Semitic stereotype, and the nickname "Shylock" is often applied to loan sharks. During Shakespeare's time, Christians were barred from charging interest on loans, and Jews were barred from owning land, so Christian merchants often relied on Jews for a ready supply of cash for borrowing.


Why does shylock hate antonio?

They were business rivals. However, Antonio's main business is that of a merchant, buying and selling goods and shipping them to other ports, whereas Shylock is a money-lender who makes money by charging interest on loans. This is not Shylock's job by choice--there were a limited number of jobs which Jews were allowed to do, and this was one of them. However, Antonio has been lending money to people without interest, which cuts into Shylock's business. It's rather like having a business competitor move in and start giving away the goods you are trying to sell. He's going to put you out of business. Antonio has other resources which enable him to lend money gratis, Shylock has not. On top of that, Antonio is rude and condecending to Shylock just because he is Jewish. He may not be the most rude and condecending person in Venice toward Jews, but the fact that he is lumps him in with the worst offenders in Shylock's mind

Related questions

Why does antonio need a loan from shylock?

the reason why antonio need a loan from shylock was that he wanted to help his friend bassanio geting this girl name porsita


What is the name of money lender in the merchant of Venice?

Shylock.


What reason does Shylock give out loud for his hatred of Antonio?

Antonio was Christian and helped people with money without charging interest and deprived Shylock of his income as Shylock was shrew money lender.


What was the trial all about in merchant of Venice?

Antonio had not paid back the loan to Shylock on time, so Shylock was applying to the court for an order saying that Shylock was legally entitled to take a pound of Antonio's flesh as their agreement stated.


What is low interest loan?

The loan whose interest rate is low is called low interest loan. If you got a unsecured loan @ low interest rate then it would be low interest loan for you.


What was Shylock's occupation?

Shylock was a money-lender; in modern terms, the equivalent of a banker that gave loans.


What was the character of Shylock in Act2 scene 3?

Shylock is a Jewish banker in "The Merchant of Venice." The character is often cited as an example of an anti-Semitic stereotype, and the nickname "Shylock" is often applied to loan sharks. During Shakespeare's time, Christians were barred from charging interest on loans, and Jews were barred from owning land, so Christian merchants often relied on Jews for a ready supply of cash for borrowing.


How can you reduce interest on high interest loan?

Repay the loan with the funds raised from a lower interest loan.


Why does antonio hate shylock in merchant of Venice?

Shylock is a Jew and as such has always been forced to live on the fringes of society. In effect he has an understandable chip on his shoulder. He is not looking for revenge he is just trying to outsmart him.


Why does shylock hate antonio?

They were business rivals. However, Antonio's main business is that of a merchant, buying and selling goods and shipping them to other ports, whereas Shylock is a money-lender who makes money by charging interest on loans. This is not Shylock's job by choice--there were a limited number of jobs which Jews were allowed to do, and this was one of them. However, Antonio has been lending money to people without interest, which cuts into Shylock's business. It's rather like having a business competitor move in and start giving away the goods you are trying to sell. He's going to put you out of business. Antonio has other resources which enable him to lend money gratis, Shylock has not. On top of that, Antonio is rude and condecending to Shylock just because he is Jewish. He may not be the most rude and condecending person in Venice toward Jews, but the fact that he is lumps him in with the worst offenders in Shylock's mind


How could Shylock or Antonio possibly think the pound of flesh contract was enforceable?

At an earlier time, and even now in many Muslim communities, it was thought to be wrong to ask for interest on a loan. Interest is, however, one of the incentives to pay loans back on time. Without it, other incentives had to be found. In Shakespeare's time, and up into the nineteenth century, failure to repay a loan would likely result in the borrower going to jail. Interest-free loans demanded higher penalties. Shylock, although he normally lent money on interest, in this case took a different approach: "I would . . . supply your present wants, and take no doit of usance for my moneys." This is an interest-free loan and so a stiffer penalty clause is within reason. (Of course Shylock is giving up his interest on the off-chance that he might be able to legally kill Antonio, who is very nasty to him)Even so, a penalty of death for default on a loan was so extreme there is no record of such a contract being enforced in court. Such contracts are made, of course, as someone who borrows money from a mobster and can't pay it back must know. But they would not bother to go to a court--they are their own court.The key point is that if Shylock thought the clause was unenforceable he would not have entered into the contract, and the famous courtroom scene would have gone something like this:Shylock: I demand my loan and the interest on it, or throw this man in jail.Antonio: I haven't got the money.Bassanio: I have. Here, Shylock.Shylock: Thanks.Duke: Ah, young Balthazar. We won't be needing your services after all.It's much less dramatic, I think you'll agree.


Why did Shylock want Antonio's flesh?

Because the process of getting it will have the effect of killing Antonio, which Shylock wants to gain revenge for the mistreatment he has suffered from Antonio and all the other anti-Semitic Venetians. The flesh itself is of no use to Shylock--when he is asked what good it would be, Shylock replies tersely "To bait fish withal."