The definition of loyalty is a strong feeling of support or faithfulness. In William Shakespeare's Merchant of Venice, reliability, integrity, honesty, and faithfulness are key character traits that show the true meaning of loyalty. Each of these traits demonstrates how a character should be loyal to another person, group, or company. Each of the characters who display these characteristics shows how to be loyal to another individual. Loyalty also means having your loved ones close to your heart and always protecting them. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay Trustworthiness is demonstrated by honoring commitments they have promised or helping a friend with something important to them. Antonio and Bassanio rely on each other and know that they will always be there for each other. Antonio helps Bassanio by asking Shylock for a loan for Bassanio. "If you want to lend this money, do not lend it as to your friends, for when has friendship ever taken a race for its friend's sterile metal?". Bassanio in return helps Antonio by asking his wife Portia to help Antonio get out of his relationship with Shylock. “The quality of mercy is not forced. It falls like a gentle rain from the sky onto the place below. He is twice blessed: he blesses the one who gives and the one who takes." Another reliable character in The Merchant of Venice is Portia. He shows how trustworthy he is by using all his fortunes on Antonio to break the bond with Shylock because this is what Bassanio wants. “Portia tries to dissuade Shylock from his relationship with Antonio. He explains to Shylock that if Antonio bleeds, the court may confiscate his property. Each character in each of the novels or plays indicates how each of them depends on each other. Integrity is the act of someone doing what they promised to do. Mrs. Maudie from To Kill A Mockingbird defends Atticus after the trial whom she describes as a man "born to do our jobs unpleasant to us." Shylock from The Merchant of Venice has integrity because he honors the deal he made with Antonio. After being offered double or triple the amount, Shylock will substitute nothing for that pound of flesh. He wants meat because it will fuel his revenge. “The pound of flesh I ask for comes at a high price. It's mine and I'll have it." Honesty is telling the truth or explaining the facts of a situation. One character who should definitely know what honesty is is Pinocchio. He has to prove himself to be brave and honest to become a boy in real life. "Prove yourself courageous, sincere and selfless and one day you will be a real boy." Pinocchio demonstrates his courage, sincerity and selflessness by trying to help save Geppetto from the sea. «"Aren't you afraid of death?" I'm not the least bit afraid!... I would rather die than drink that bitter medicine." Another character in a Shakespeare play understands the meaning of honesty and that is Desdemona. Othello refers to his wife as "honest" because she is loyal to him within their marriage. “I don't think Desdemona is honest.” Othello even threatens his friend Iago because he is sure that Desdemona is telling the truth. Fidelity is the act of remaining loyal and honest to a person who is close to your well-being. Nerissa and Portia are faithful to each other by being honest about what is going on in their lives. “Nerissa and Portia have a special bond with each other because they discuss their husbands' flaws.” “This made the two women very close friends.” Another character from The Merchant of Venice who has remained loyal is Shylock. Shylock has remained true to his religion and who he is as a Jewish person. Even though Shylock gets bullied and mistreated by people.