Indirectly, one could argue that a man vs. nature conflict exists in the sense that Antonio is in conflict with his own humannature.
Third, Bassanio’s conflict to woo and marry Portia forms the main subplot of the play. This tales involves aBassanio vs. Fate. Yet even this subplot is not so simple to express. Portia is just as much a protagonist of this subplot. She too is involved in a conflict with destiny:Portia vs. Fate. Shakespeare makes both of these characters central figures of the subplot, yet each is in conflict with fate in differentways.
Fourth, the lover’s tale is usually central to a comedy during the Renaissance, but in this play the problems of the young lovers takes a secondary position to the larger subplot of Bassanio and Portia. Lorenzo’s struggle to win Jessica, Shylock’s daughter, involves two types of conflicts:Lorenzo vs. Shylock(man vs. man) andLorenzo vs. Fate. The reader may also viewJessicaas a protagonist in this subplot. Lorenzo and Jessica are star-crossed lovers: they are from different religions and different nationalities, and a parent opposes the marriage.