Despite the absence of a strong father figure in Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice, two distinct father-daughter relationships play a vital role in the central plot of the room. The strained relationship between the Venetian moneylender Shylock and his daughter Jessica, as well as the non-existent association between Portia and her deceased father, lead the two young women to act as they do, in turn affecting all of the characters. A common theme in the work of William Shakespeare, suffering in the name of love also applies to the two heroines of The Merchant of Venice. The delicate subject 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, which bring Jessica and Portia together as sympathetic characters in the eyes of the reader; two women deeply in love, unable to consummate their feelings with the men they care for because of their fathers' iron rule. However, as the play 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 final wish, letting the situation play out properly. It is these choices, among others, that play an important role in the conclusion of the play. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get the original essay Throughout the play, Shylock is portrayed as a selfish man, concerned only with monetary gain, often at the sacrifice of others. The pawnbroker pushes his love of money to such an extent that it permeates his daily life, as well as that of his family. When Jessica successfully elopes with her Christian lover Lorenzo, stealing her father's gold and jewels on the way, Shylock is just as distraught by the loss of his daughter as he is by the loss of his money. Solanio witnesses Shylock explode in the streets of Venice after the robbery, quoting the furious Jew as saying, “My daughter! O my ducats! O my daughter! I ran away with a Christian! O my Christian ducats! Justice! The law! My ducats and my daughter²(II.8.15-18)! The reader has no way of knowing why Shylock is most upset: is he upset because his daughter escaped his rule, to marry a Christian? Or is he more disturbed by the loss of part 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 fortune trumps everything, including family and love. In addition to this apparent apathy toward his daughter, Shylock views Jessica, his only female offspring, as a commodity essential to the continued existence of the family name. It becomes like the jewels and gold he owns, another asset he can keep under lock and key. In fact, that's exactly what he does, exiling her inside the house, assuring her that she won't be defiled by Christian suitors. However, Jessica will not be imprisoned while her true love awaits. She both despises her father and feels sorrow for him, saying, “I am sorry that you are leaving my father like this; Our house is hell, and you, happy devil, have stolen from it a certain taste of boredom²(II.3.1-3). Because he believes his daughter to be a possession, Shylock is doubly hurt by Jessica's marriage and her conversion to Christianity. He lost gold, jewelry, his daughter and, finally, the ability to carry on the family name in the form of a grandchild. As the couple prepares to flee Venice, Jessicasaid to her fiancé “O Lorenzo, if you keep my promise, I will put an end to this conflict, I will become a Christian and your beloved wife” (II.3.19-21)! It is obvious that Jessica's hatred for Shylock is so great that she is willing to do anything, including leaving her homeland and converting religions, just to escape his maniacal control. As we will see later in the play, this decision, perhaps inevitable, will have a great impact on Shylock and on the whole story. At first glance, it appears that Jessica and Portia are in similar situations, two women in love, their desires being held back because of the demands of their fathers. However, upon closer examination, glaring differences emerge between the situations and the two characters themselves. Portia is a wealthy heiress, left to rule Belmont by her deceased father, the former king. Before his death, Portia's father added a condition to his will, stipulating that his daughter could only be married to the suitor who chose one of the three coffins. The coffins, bearing three distinct inscriptions, are intended to separate gold prospectors from genuine suitors, a useful last step taken by the king to ensure that neither his daughter nor her fortune is exploited. Of course, Portia cannot understand the precaution, instead wanting freedom from her deceased father. She wants complete autonomy in choosing a groom, complaining to Nerissa: "I can neither choose who I would like nor refuse who I do not like, just as the will of a living girl is curbed by the will of a deceased father” (I.2.22-24). While Portia's father is clearly looking out for his daughter's best interests when he writes the addendum to his will, the same cannot necessarily be said of Shylock's manic behavior. Shylock views Jessica more as a valuable property, a collectible that will one day give birth to a grandchild, thus perpetuating the family name. Portia's father, on the other hand, has experienced years of unscrupulous people wanting to get a piece of his fortune. He realizes that his daughter might have trouble separating well-meaning suitors from greedy crooks. Therefore, he designs a test, a means by which Portia will be sure that the man she marries is noble and well-meaning. A set of three coffins, one of gold, one of silver and one of lead, are placed in front of any potential suitor. The future husband and future king of Belmont must choose one of three coffins. If the right choice is chosen, the man will receive everything that comes with the title of king. However, an incorrect choice means the man must remain celibate for the rest of his life, a punishment for making the wrong decision. The Prince of Morocco and the Prince of Argon begin by selecting the gold and silver coffins respectively. The prince of Morocco sees the skull of death in the golden casket, while the prince of Argon, a decrepit old 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 he makes the right decision. However, Bassanio, ever the player, insisted on selecting immediately. He chooses the dull lead coffin, a decision that earns 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 one she has always wanted. Keep in mind: this is just a sample. Get a personalized paper now from our expert writers. Get a Custom Essay Paper By the end of the play, 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,.