The bond between Antonio and Shylock is a very vital and famous factor in 'The Merchant Of Venice' because it is the basis for the plot and the different story lines in the play. The bond was a contract that Antonio and Shylock had created so that Antonio could borrow money for three months to help Bassanio. After three months Antonio had to pay back the money or Shylock could take "an equal pound of ...[his] fair flesh" closest to the heart from Antonio. Antonio instantly agrees since his ships were supposed to come back with great fortunes a month before the the bond ends. However, there was news going around claiming that the ships had been miscarried. Due to the news Antonio had no choice but to accept the consequences. Up until this moment Shylock and Antonio didn't have any interaction with each other but when it came to the day of the trial there were sides of both characters that made their innocence and their guilt questionable. When considering the bond Shylock is perceived as a merciless monster. He wouldn't take mercy on Antonio no matter how much the court begged and often used the law as an excuse for his own hatred on Antonio. The scene seems to put Shylock in a villain position while making Antonio the victim however, that is no necessarily true. Although it can't be denied that Shylock is quite merciless from how insistent he was to carry out the penalty, it should be considered that he hasn't necessarily done anything wrong. He does not need be merciful, therefore although what he is doing is not morally right, lawfully he is innocent. Antonio on the other hand has a complicated involvement in the bond. The whole reason Antonio even signed the bond was to help Bassanio so it is hard to picture him in a position where he is doing wrong, however, during the trial, Antonio had no right to beg for mercy. He is the one who went to Shylock and asked for the bond and he is the one who convinced Shylock to agree to the bond with the words "But lend it rather to thine enemy, who if he breaks, though mayst with better face exact the penalty" which means that Antonio actually told Shylock to carry out the penalty if the bond requirements are not met. Therefore he has no right, to be begging for mercy or to let the blame fall onto Shylock.