ICSE Class 9 Answered

Shylock agrees to lend money to Bassanio in a ‘kind’ way, that is, he says he will give them money on zero percent financing. However, immediately after this, he urges Bassanio and Antonio to come to the notary with him so that he can add a little clause to their deal just for a joke. Shylock tells Bassanio that if he is unable to repay him on the day and place they agree on, the penalty will be a pound of his pretty flesh, to be cut off and taken out of whatever part of your body Shylock likes. Antonio agrees to the deal as he desperately wants to help Bassanio. 

Shylock insists on a pound of Antonio’s flesh as he hates Antonio. Shylock is a Jew and Antonio, a Christian. Time and again, in public places, Antonio has made fun of Shylock, called him names because he is Jewish, laughed at his losses and commented on his way of business. As a Jew, Shylock takes the offense very personally and feels that Antonio must be punished for having treated him inappropriately. This shows Shylock's cunning, cruel and merciless character.