Antonio,” he said at the meeting, “in the past you have treated me badly. But I would like to be friends with you. I will lend the money andask for no interest. But the agreement must say clearly what will happen if youdo not pay me back on time. Just for fun, let it say that if this happens I shall have the right to a pound of your flesh. Also, that I may cut it from whatever part of your body I choose.”

1)  Antonia has treated Shylock badly in the past, and its human tendency to bear a grudge against or take revenge towards the hatred. This is why, Shylock had made such a gruesome agreement, hoping that, Antonio’s ships would fail.Also, Shylock's business was falling apart because of Antonio's 'over-generous' business where more customers were attracted, which was unfair to Shylock and other money lending businessmen.

2)

Shylocks agreement was more than fair. Shylock clearly stated the consequences, there was sufficient time provided to pay back the money, there was no interest

3)

Shylock was just being a smart business man, by holding Antonio responsible for anything that happens to the money that was was loaned to Bassanio, since Shylock for looking for the opportunity to scrutinize Antonio.

4)

All vigilant citizens, are aware of their laws. So obviously, Antonio being an experienced business merchant, must have known about the law that blood was not allowed to spill of Venetian grounds, so shrewdly agreed to give flesh. Whereas Shylock, if he knew the law, wouldn't

have asked for such a consequence, knowing that his life was at risk if Antonio's blood fell. The fact that Shylock was not aware of the laws was used against him , so it is unfair to Shylock.

2) The law (there should be no loss of blood)was one of the latest laws of the city. Shylock had not come to know of it yet . It is the city's fault as they did not announce it out to the country yet.

3) Antonio was always rude to Shylock, yet Shylock never said anything, Shylock even went ahead and gave Antonio his money even though he knew that he might not get his money back and instead get a pound of flesh which would be useless. He could've easily said no as Antonio was never good to him and Antonio might find a loophole in the agreement and not to return the money .

I say Shylock got shafted. He was a businessman. Antonio was too but he was rash and not at all prudent in his investments. He borrowed money and could not pay it back. While the pound of flesh seems rather extreme he did agree to it and it was bassanio's sneaky wife, Portia's ability to trick the court and twist the sentence around that saved the day for antonio.

Finally, all the stuff that happens to Shylock is excessive.  Does he deserve to have his daughter run off (having first stolen valuables from him)?  That seems harsh.  Does he deserve to have half his wealth taken away?  Does he, above all, deserve to be forced to abandon his faith? The loss of the money seems appropriate, but the others do not at all.

Shylock is greedy and he hates Antonio, but those are not such terrible things -- not terrible enough to warrant the loss of his daughter and being forced to abandon his faith.

In the story, the turquoise ring Jessica discarded is important to Shylock because it was a gift from his dead wife, not because it's worth a lot of money. So here, we can see that Shylock isn't exactly the money-grubbing villain he's been made out to be.

Shylock does not deserve to die as he has not done anything wrong. Antonio did the wrong thing by signing the agreement. 

After learning that the law intends to strip him of all his wealth, Shylock remarks that they might as well just kill him now. If he can't support himself, his life is worthless. 

Antonio may have known about the law while Shylock had not been aware of it.

Antonio since he was a generous and wealthy business man he would have had contacts who would have informed about the law which was unknown to Shylock. 

To add to that , It was foolish for Antonio to sign the pact , because although Antonio had the money , It was still a very foolish idea to sign the pact . He could have tried to bargain with Shylock , maybe brought the deal to money deal , but he did not and thus proves that Shylock deserves his reward .

2) Second, no one forced Antonio to make the deal for the pound of flesh.  It was pretty foolish of him, if you think about it.  Shylock shouldn't have proposed it, but Antonio shouldn't have taken the risk too, Just for the sake of his safety.

3) Shylock is greedy and he hates Antonio, but those are not such terrible things -- not terrible enough to warrant the loss of his daughter and being forced to abandon his faith.

4) "When money is lent on a contract to receive not only the principal sum again, but also an increase by way of compensation for the use, the increase is called interest by those who think it lawful, and usury by those who do not." says the law of Venice.

AND FINAL - Shylock struck a deal, and he deserves what he wanted from Antonio, No matter what!

that if he signed the papers the

agreement would be official.. antonio

carelessly signed the agreement.

even though antonio ships had sunk shylock had given him a time limit

and in that time antonio had the time to try and gain the money

he lost back. he had atleast had half a month to give the money back 

since he had stated that his ships would be back in one months time

shylock hadnt really cheated but had only taken extra intrest.the people

had a choice to go and hold a case against him butt yet they didnt.