TMOV Ending

I did not particularly enjoy the ending of TMOV. I enjoyed the book, however I thought the ending was full of conflicting ideas. In Act IV, Scene 1, the Duke states that everyone expects a "gentle" answer, meaning that people expect Shylock to act like a Christian, who would give mercy to Antonio. As the trial continues, none of the Christians are willing to be merciful to Shylock. They call him out on his beliefs and use his words against him. Although they treat him to an alternate penalty, that is what they consider just and right. Mercy would be to let him take the money and leave. I think the ending is either to show hypocrisy, or just plain contradiction.

I also did not enjoy Act V. Though the two wives show mercy, they have just proven that their husbands would give away the symbol of their love, a part of the bond. Although both women are the ones that they give the rings to, I still think it is strange. If the women were serious about their binding through the ring, they should have kept to it. Both the husbands and the wives show little respect to what was supposed to be an "all powerful" love contract.