Louise McCue

Jessica.

Whether or not you will take note of what I say I do not know, Your recent actions having led me to believe you no longer care for my communications; however I am writing this letter in the dearest hope that you will acknowledge my words in the vain wish that perhaps you will feel some emotion or regret for your old and forlorn father.

Your sudden and unexpected departure has forced me to conceive that I may not have been an ideal father to you, no matter how hard I find it to recognise said fault, for it must be there to cause you to leave me. What, might I ask, could tempt you to make such an erratic decision? According to rumour, your influence was that of a young Christian male- worse! A friend of the hated Antonio!

I can not lie and say these actions please me – Antonio is looked up to by his friends, looked up to by the man I believe to be your husband. To think of it! To look up to a man who spits on the father of his beloved! How I pray he breaks his bond, how I long to cut from him the pound of flesh which will ensure my revenge! And he- Lorenzo I have heard him named- he will suffer too, from grief of the loss of his friend, and I will have revenge also, for stealing you away from me and coaxing you into renouncing your faith!

When I first learnt of your flight, I did at once seek the Duke- the Duke no less! Surely this can prove how much I cherish and dote upon you. From the Duke, I soon learnt that your leaving was in fact intentional- that you had chosen to run away- and in all appearances were enjoying your new found 'freedom', being sighted by the Dukes men themselves in a gondola with your recent husband. I will not deny that this news caused me great distress- my own daughter, with a Christian! However, I soon came to accept the fact that I must hold some responsibility or motive for your departure. Even now, as I am writing this, I am scouring my brain to discover what my part in this was.

These sudden and unwanted changes in both mine and your circumstance exposed my brain to fazy conciousness – awake, but aware of nothing but my loss, however once I had calmed down, I began to notice things I hadn't in my grief. The first of these was the large amount of Ducats I found were no longer in my possession. The shock came upon me stronger than the one that haunted your disappearance; could it be? My own sweet Jessica, to steal from her own father! Why, it is unheard of! And two bags! What a loss! A whole two sacks taken from me! And jewels! Jewels as well! You can not deny you have done wrong also, Breaking your fathers heart by running away, and how do you comfort it? By taking from him more!

In consequence, I have a new found desperation to see Antonio's bond broken. Lorenzo will suffer greatly and, in turn, so will you! Then you will see, you were always better off with me, realize that the smooth talked words of an enemy to your religion fooled your heart into thinking it was in love, and you will return to me- as is right. And I? I will punish you of course, but will accept you back into my home and come to forgive you for my heart is biased in your favour and to prove to you I am able to show mercy- for you.

I know not if you have read this far, nor whether you will write back but I have come to the conclusion of this letter and so must depart.

Your father, Shylock.