The merchant of Venice is no doubt a play about property, with property being defined by anything you can lose. This came to be an important theme, property and the consequences of greed. Shylock's greed bought about the loss of the two things he believes in. His daughter and his religion were the most important parts of his life and he let less important property get in the way of his cherished assets. Portia was the smartest character in the play and knew of the greed running through the veins of all the other characters and to make her love, Bassanio prove himself worthy of her she gave him a ring and said that if he ever gives it away, he would ruin their love. Portia's father also tested the characters greed by holding a contest for her hand in marriage. The suitors had to choose between gold...