if you look at the trial and shylock's plea you will understand shakespeare again outdoes expectations

>>7612383
That doesn't answer why he makes Shylock convert to Christianity, basically going against everything he did in the play.

>>7612391
Shylock was being a Jew, trying to swindle people and damage them irreversibly over a few thousand shekels. He was unjust and Portia made him piss poor and forced him to convert as the ultimate punishment.

Shylock wanted a pound of flesh and he'd get that with enough Eucharist. Slick Willie was being cheeky

>>7612391
forced conversion had to do with the punishment of the characters (christians) saw as just/merciful

and shylock did see through the hypocrisy then disappears for the rest of the play

as a playwright i think that's as far as he could have stretched it

>>7612429
harold bloom would like to have a word with you