Shylock’s Monologue

Themes
Reality And Idealism
 Thisplay contains both realistic and Idealistic
approach about the society. Venice
represents reality as it is the city of
merchants, usurers etc. Contrary, Belmount
is the city where fairy tales come true and
romance exists.
Themes

 Prejudice
 Prejudice is a force that creates barriers and divisions between the people of Venice
 When he first appears in the play, Shylock describes his feelings about Antonio, saying, “ I
hate him for he is a Christian ,But more for that in low simplicity, He lends out money
gratis and brings down, The rate of usance here with us in Venice’’.
 Shylock continuously refers to his animosity toward Christians. Shylock’s strong prejudice
against Christians is one reason Jessica runs away to be with Lorenzo, which permanently
destroys the relationship between father and daughter. For his part, Shylock sees his
daughter’s choice to marry a Christian as the ultimate betrayal.
 You call me misbeliever, cutthroat dog,
And spet upon my Jewish gaberdine,
And all for use of that which is mine own.
Themes

 The Christian characters show deep prejudice toward Shylock because

of his Jewish identity. Antonio makes it clear that borrowing money
from Shylock does not change his opinion of him, saying that “I am as
like to call thee dog again / To spit on thee again, to spurn thee too”
 I am a Jew. Hath not a Jew eyes? Hath not a Jew hands, organs,
dimensions, senses, affections, passions? Fed with the same food,
hurt with the same weapons, subject to the same diseases, healed by
the same means, warmed and cooled by the same winter and
summer, as a Christian is? (Shylock)
Themes

 Revenge
 Revenge is a powerful, corrupting, and destructive force in the play.
 Preceding Monologue of Shylock “If you prick us, do we not bleed? If you tickle us, do
we not laugh? If you poison us, do we not die? And if you wrong us, shall we not
revenge?”. The lines indicate that Shylock feels he has been wronged by Christians and
is entitled to seek revenge in response to their dehumanization.
 He views this revenge as a natural human response to mistreatment. Because of his
desire for revenge, Shylock will not consider altering the conditions of Antonio’s bond
in any way. Shylock’s desire for revenge makes him behave in an emotional rather
than a logical way, and he ends up losing everything as a result.
 To bait fish withal; if it will feed nothing else,
it will feed my revenge.(Shylock)
Themes

 Appearance VS Reality
 One of the key themes in the play
 Disguise of Portia as a man.
 Apparently Shylock gives money to Bassano but he seeks a hard revenge on Antonio and Christen community.
( I’ll have my bound. Speak not against my bond;
I have sworn an oath that I will have my bond.
 All that glisters is not gold—
Often have you heard that told.(Morocco)
 Antonio(aside to Bassanio)
Mark you this, Bassanio,
The devil can cite Scripture for his purpose!
An evil soul producing holy witness
Is like a villain with a smiling cheek, A goodly apple rotten at the heart.
Themes
 Friendship

 Contains a theme of strong bond of friendship

 Antonio towards Shylock
Shylock, albeit I neither lend nor borrow
By taking nor by giving of excess,
Yet, to supply the ripe wants of my friend,
I’ll break a custom.
 Bassanio
You shall not seal to such a bond for me!
I’ll rather dwell in my necessity.
 Antonio
Why, fear not, man, I will not forfeit it!
Within these two months—that’s a month before
This bond expires—I do expect return
Of thrice three times the value of this bond.
Continue…..

 The weakest kind of fruit

Drops earliest to the ground, and so let me.
You cannot better be employed, Bassanio,
Than to live still and write mine epitaph.
 In the Court:
Repent but you that you shall lose your friend
And he repents not that he pays your debt.
For if the Jew do cut but deep enough,
I’ll pay it instantly with all my heart. Antonio.

I thank you, madam. Give welcome to my friend.

This is the man, this is Antonio,
To whom I am so infinitely bound