The Merchant of Venice

Nowadays everyone is more on the pursuit of money rather than the pursuit of happiness. Most people think that money can solve all life's problems and make a person happier, but most find that the pursuit of money can lead to a bad pathway. In the Merchant of Venice by William Shakespeare it is mainly about two merchants that don’t get along, but both are on the pursuit of money. One of the main merchants, Shylock, is most affected by this lesson and throughout the book we find out how his pursuit of money goes and how it affects him in the end. The Merchant of Venice by William Shakespeare shows that it is vital to have more than money to be happy because the pursuit of money doesn’t always lead up to what one wanted in the first place.

Towards the beginning of the book, Shylock and Antonio, make an agreement. Shylock with lend Antonio money and if he doesn’t pay it back then he can cut a pound of his flesh out. “Let the forfeit be agreed for a full pound of your fair flesh” (1.3.142-143). Shylock goes as far as cutting someone else because of money. This is when we start to figure out Shylock's motives and the way he negotiates. He tries to get as much money as possible. with every deal. And then we find out that Antonio’s ships sank, with all his money on it. This is when Shylock's pursuit of money goes down hill. All this time he relied everything on his money and earnings but in the end it failed him and he was left with nothing. Same goes for everyone else. Sooner or later money will give out and we will be left with nothing. Not only does he lose money but he also later on loses his daughter, due to his dirty actions for money she decides to run away. The pursuit of money can not only dig a financial ditch for you but also push away loved ones.

As the story progresses we find Shylock in a court against Antonio. Shylock demands money or a pound of flesh, but in the end, tables turn. When the court grants Shylock to cut a pound of flesh they say that he may only cut flesh and if a drop of blood spills then he could be faced with charges himself. “Therefore, prepare to cut off the flesh. Shed no blood.” (4.1.320).  His pursuit of money led him so far to cut a man's body open. In the beginning he makes a harsh deal to ensure he gets money, but because he pursuited money, he lost in the end. They also said if he forfeits the deal then he will have to change his religion and give half his money to Antonio, the guy Shylock originally wanted to take all his money from now has half of it.

Every pursuit of money Shylock had, has gone in the opposite direction he wanted. In the end he ends up with nothing. I think this is a lesson everyone can learn from because no matter how much times you pursuit money you will end up unsatisfied. Even if you do end up with the money in the end, the amount of sacrifice and hardship will not always make up for it. With all this evidence it shows that you need more than money in life, maybe a stronger connection with family, like Shylock, or pursuit something else. The pursuit of something else other than money is vital to live a happy life. But what does one have to pursuit to be happy? Is is family, work, success? Human being may never know, but in the end we are all on the pursuit to live a happy, satisfying life.