Act III Scene III

Salient points

Antonio begs Shylock to consider his plea. Shylock conveys that he is steadfast and that
come what may he will extract the penalty.

The position of law and its influence on Venetian citizens becomes clear. Antonio
wishes for Bassanio’s return.

Shylock asks the jailer not to let Antonio importune him.

• He expresses his hatred for Antonio’s charitable attitude and blames his interest-free
loans for his losses. Antonio asks Shylock not to pursue his bond.

• Shylock dashes Antonio’s hopes of finding him merciful. He says that he has sworn to
his God that he will pursue the bond.

• Antonio had called him a dog. Now Antonio should brace for Shylock’s fangs.

• The Duke will have to do justice to Shylock’s request

• Shylock criticizes the jailer for taking Antonio to plead with him and others. He asks
the jailer to treat him more strictly.

• Shylock, Antonio, Salarino and a Gaoler enter

• Shylock calls Antonio a fool that lent out money gratis

• He does not want Antonio to talk to him of mercy

• Antonio pleads with Shylock to hear him out

SHYLOCK:

I’ll have (pursue) my bond; speak not (argue not) against my bond: (these two
lines indicate that Shylock is desperate to pursue his line of

revenge) I have sworn an oath that I will have my bond. (Shylock conveys his religious
intensity; for him the bond is larger than life

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now. He will pursue it.) Thou call’dst me dog before thou hadst a cause; But, since I am
a dog, beware my fangs: (Shylock’s argument

is deductive. Since Antonio called him a dog, he (Antonio) must not expect anything
but a dog-like behaviour from Shylock. Shylock roots and grounds his hatred for
Antonio in this speech)

The duke shall grant me (deliver) justice. I do wonder, Thou naughty (indisciplined;
partial, as he has favoured Antonio) gaoler, that thou art so fondto come abroad with
him at his request (since the jailor has favoured Antonio and helped him speak to
Shylock)

• Antonio again begs Shylock to hear him out

• Shylock very clearly conveys that the time to talk is long gone and that the bond will
be pursued

• He declares he will be cruel and not be foolishly merciful to

Christians who have harbored the traditional hatred against him and his race.

• Salarino calls Shylock ‘an impenetrable cur’ (a hard-hearted dog) who lived with men

• Antonio defeatedly confesses that he will not follow Shylock with useless requests

• He knows why Shylock is after him and wants his life

• He thinks that Shylock’s determination to kill him has to do with Shylock’s business
interests. If Shylock manages to remove Antonio from the Venetian market, he will be
able to charge interest at will.

• Salarino expresses the hope that the Duke will not grant Shylock his suit

ANTONIO:

The duke cannot deny the course of law: (Antonio says that it is beyond the Duke to
refuse commoners justice or alter the very course of law for him)

For the commodity (rights/agreement) that strangers (foreigners) have with us in

Venice, if it be denied (refused),

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Will much impeach the justice of his state (raise doubts on the rule of law in the state of
Venice);

Note: Antonio is aware of the Venetian legal system and, on that basis, states that the
Duke had no power to alter the course of Justice. Venice was a bustling city and a major
centre for trade in Europe and people from all nationalities and religions were entitled
to equal legal rights. Shylock will be treated fairly by the Duke.)

Since that the trade and profit of the city consisteth of all nations (Venetian economy was
very inclusive and the city’s prosperity was due to its lack of bias against foreigners.)

Therefore, go:

These griefs and losses (troubles; he has lost his ships and now has to face the penalty)
have so bated me (weakened him), That I shall hardly spare a pound of flesh

To-morrow to my bloody creditor (That by the time Shylock looks to take a pound of
flesh from Antonio, he will have no flesh on him).

Well, gaoler, on. Pray God, Bassanio come

To see me pay his debt, and then I care not!

(All that Antonio wants is that Bassanio should be present at the time his debt is paid in
the form of a pound of Antonio’s flesh.)

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