(i) Tubal is a Jew and a friend of Shylock. When Tubal enters, Salanio says that mother Jew is coming. He says that a third person cannot be found who can match with Shylock and Tubal in wickedness unless devil himself becomes a Jew.
(ii) When Tubal appears in the scene, Shylock asks him what news he has brought from Genoa and if he has found his daughter. At this, Tubal replies him that he frequently went to the places where he learnt she was present, but he could not succeed in finding her. On hearing this, Shylock laments that she has eloped with his hand earned wealth. He is so angry that he wishes that her daughter to be lying dead at his foot with jewels she has taken with her in her ears and the ducats in her coffin.
(iii) Tubal tells Shylock that he (Tubal) heard in Genoa that Antonio’s ship which was coming from Tripolis, sank. To hear this Shylock, at first, thanks God for the loss of Antonio and then thanks Tubal for bringing such a good news. Then he tells Tubal that now he will exploit the situation and cause him great discomfort.
(iv) After knowing about the misfortune of Antonio, he feels unbounded joy and thinks the way of torturing Antonio. Then, he instructs Tubal to go and engage a lawyer for him and pay him (lawyer) in fedvance. He asks him again to engage the lawyer a fortnight before the date on which the bond expires. He tells him that if Antonio fails to repay the debt on the appointed day, he will cut this chest out of his body. He adds that if Antonio is not in Venice he will make profit of his choice. He then asks Tubal to go and meet him at their synagogue.
(v) Throughout the play, it is found that Shylock shows no love for her, which is surprising, since Jews , have the highest regard for the sanctity of the family. Later he wants her daughter dead at his feet, the jewels in her ear and the ducats she robbed from him, in her coffin. Whether his curses toward her daughter and his restraint in love for her are justified on not, depends on one’s own sense of values.
