Shakespeare's "The Merchant of Venice" -- The ring, the caskets, and the pound of flesh, and how they are symbols of Shylock's often-overlooked humanity.

The Merchant of Venice is a play known for its characters, for the cunning and irascible Shylock, for the mischievous, youthful lovers, and for its surprising views on Jews and culture in the Elizabethan era. When read, however, one discovers that there is much more to the play than its marketable traits. There are three pivotal plots, which intertwine in the play: the ring, the caskets, and the pound of flesh. The ring is, perhaps, …

…intended - Shylock's character, perhaps more aptly now than ever. From a contemporary mindset, we can replace the ruthless authoritarian with something Doctorow-esque, perhaps, who has been wronged and demands only what he is owed. The ring provides sentiment, affection, and vulnerability to Shylock's character, and the lesson of the caskets is what reminds us to consider all these things, and realize that Shylock is not at all the character he first appears to be.