The Cop Out Ending:

I can not explain how angry this ending makes me. The law only seems to take in true affect when it is in the benefit of the Christians. For example, when Gratiano says "Therefore thou must be hanged at the state's charge" 4.1.381. So before when the situation was playing into the hands of Shylock the law is unjust and corrupted, but when it plays to the hand of the Christians and Antonio it becomes noble and righteous again. Shakespeare portrays Antonio in a situation that is basically him against the world so of course one hopes for the underdog, or the character harboring our sympathy to win, but it gets to a point where his only choice is the cop out. Shylock puts himself on the line for what he thinks is right, and is by the stating of the covenant, but is ripped apart by the masses. The play gets to a point where Shylock is not even fighting for the covenant or the money, but for himself and his own pride not only as a Jewish person, but a person just as the mass of Christians. He is holding on because in a his time of disparity when everything has been taken from him, but his pride he fights to have a morsel of control and pride in his life. It is highlighted that the mob hath no empathy, yet is trying to force it upon others in an uppity manor. When Portia then makes Shylock beg for forgiveness when she turns the tables on him, stripping him of the dignity he still possesed. The cop out ending heightened the idea of if you can only save anything save yourself. It is this makes a statement about how if minorities can come together and fight as one they fight alone at risk to the persecution of the majority. In a way saying you can not send one man up against an army, so Shylock could be symbolizing a movement for equality and unity.

But overall loved the book! :)