Shylock "the rich Jew, and Father to Jessica" Shylock's malevolence toward the merchant Antonio is so great that he determines to collect "a pound of flesh" in forfeit for his bond. Shylock's daughter Jessica elopes, taking some of his money with her; he is as alarmed at the theft of his ducats as with her disappearance. Henry Goodman won the Olivier Award for his performance as Shylock. He shares director Trevor Nunn's non-judgmental vision: "Many people think this play shouldn't be done. They say that as a Jewish actor, it is appalling that I allow myself to perpetuate this cliché. There is certainly a danger of carrying on the demonology, but I say to those people 'come and see our production.' We try to inhabit the play in a way that is fresh and true. We've found a better balance in it. "We try to show why Shylock is pushed to the limit by the racism of society. Where are the trigger points when anger turns him? The play is full of greys rather than blacks and whites. It is not a picture of pure goodies and baddies. The Christians mock Shylock, but they also realise when they've gone too far. The play is about a clash of beliefs, as opposed to a clash of good and evil. Shylock is a religious man, and the morality he believes in isn't necessarily better than anything else. Yet he has to believe that it is in order to maintain his faith. That's both his doing and his undoing."