Antonio at a disadvantage. If Antonio fails to repay the loan within the three months that they agree to, Shylock will then be able to take drastic and perhaps even violent legal action againsthim.
Shylock complains that his intense hatred for Antonio is justified because not only has Antonio often caused him to lose money, but also because Antonio has frequently criticized the Jews (“sacred nation”) in general and Shylock in particular. Moreover, Antonio often has criticized the practice of Shylock and others – money-lending at interest. To Shylock, such a practice is simply a matter of business contracts (“bargains”) and well- earned profits(“thrift”).
But Antonio’s view indicates aChristian outlookthat goes back to the Middle Ages. Early Christians believed that man lived on earth towork. Even Adam and Eve had to work in the Garden of Eden. Avoiding work was considered sinful. Such a belief lies behind the later common Christian phrase, “Idle hands are the devil’s workshop.” People who do not work have too much free time on their hands, and so they will use that time and their hands to commit sinful acts. To such Christians, the practice of lending money was not real work. Rather, it was awayto avoid real work. Lending out money at interest was thus sinful. Thus, Antonio’s criticism of Shylock and the other money-lenders is a result of his Christian perspective.