- The Duke's "inhuman wretch" remark is the first of many
instances in this court scene in which Shylock will be described
as a non-human. Antonio's gentleness is contrasted with
Shylock's refusal to be swayed from enacting his revenge.
- Shylock is yet again compared to an animal.
- Antonio is accepting of his predicament, he has come to
peacefully suffer the “tyranny and rage” of Shylock.
- The Duke tells Shylock that everyone thinks that his cruelty is
just a facade, and in reality he is not going to collect the penalty
(the pound of flesh), rather he will forgive the penalty and some
of the portion of the sum Antonio owed him, considering the
predicament that has recently fallen upon the merchant (his
ships drowning).
- Even as he is asking Shylock to show mercy, he calls him a
“Jew”. Shylock doesn’t have his individual identity, he is
stereotyped in lieu of religion, or insulted by being called an
animal.
- Shylock refuses to show mercy, by saying the law is on his side.
He says he is not obliged to answer why he is choosing to exact
the penalty rather than take the three thousand ducats. He says
some men don’t like roast pig, others go mad when they see a
cat, and some can’t help urinating if they hear bagpipes - there is
no sense in explaining people’s likes and dislikes. He says he
doesn’t need to and he won’t give a reason for why he doesn’t
, want the three thousand ducats instead. (Other than his hatred
towards Ant.)
- Bassanio attempts to argue with him, but Antonio interrupts them
and says it is futile to argue with someone of Shylock’s stature,
one might as well ask a wolf why he killed the lamb and made its
mother cry.
- Antonio wishes to get his punishment over with.
- The Duke asks Shylock how he can expect mercy after showing
none himself.
- Shylock says he is not doing any wrong, he is simply taking what
is lawfully his right. He also uses an aspect of the VC’s customs
against them. Many of them own slaves, and if one were to say
to set them free, then they would reply “the slaves are ours”.
- If the Duke refuses him then he is going against the laws of
Venice and those of his own court.
- Antonio is rather prone to self-pity and self-loathing when he
says that he is the weakest fruit which drops to the ground first,
and the sick sheep among the flock.
- GRATIANO again displays his vulgarity when he says that no
prayers can reach Shylock’s heart. As Shylock sharpens his
knife on the sole of his shoe; Grat says that he is sharpening it
not on his sole, rather his soul.
- He says Shylock makes him forget he is Christian and makes
him want to agree with the philosopher Pythagoras that animal
souls are reincarnated in human bodies. He says that Shylock’s
instances in this court scene in which Shylock will be described
as a non-human. Antonio's gentleness is contrasted with
Shylock's refusal to be swayed from enacting his revenge.
- Shylock is yet again compared to an animal.
- Antonio is accepting of his predicament, he has come to
peacefully suffer the “tyranny and rage” of Shylock.
- The Duke tells Shylock that everyone thinks that his cruelty is
just a facade, and in reality he is not going to collect the penalty
(the pound of flesh), rather he will forgive the penalty and some
of the portion of the sum Antonio owed him, considering the
predicament that has recently fallen upon the merchant (his
ships drowning).
- Even as he is asking Shylock to show mercy, he calls him a
“Jew”. Shylock doesn’t have his individual identity, he is
stereotyped in lieu of religion, or insulted by being called an
animal.
- Shylock refuses to show mercy, by saying the law is on his side.
He says he is not obliged to answer why he is choosing to exact
the penalty rather than take the three thousand ducats. He says
some men don’t like roast pig, others go mad when they see a
cat, and some can’t help urinating if they hear bagpipes - there is
no sense in explaining people’s likes and dislikes. He says he
doesn’t need to and he won’t give a reason for why he doesn’t
, want the three thousand ducats instead. (Other than his hatred
towards Ant.)
- Bassanio attempts to argue with him, but Antonio interrupts them
and says it is futile to argue with someone of Shylock’s stature,
one might as well ask a wolf why he killed the lamb and made its
mother cry.
- Antonio wishes to get his punishment over with.
- The Duke asks Shylock how he can expect mercy after showing
none himself.
- Shylock says he is not doing any wrong, he is simply taking what
is lawfully his right. He also uses an aspect of the VC’s customs
against them. Many of them own slaves, and if one were to say
to set them free, then they would reply “the slaves are ours”.
- If the Duke refuses him then he is going against the laws of
Venice and those of his own court.
- Antonio is rather prone to self-pity and self-loathing when he
says that he is the weakest fruit which drops to the ground first,
and the sick sheep among the flock.
- GRATIANO again displays his vulgarity when he says that no
prayers can reach Shylock’s heart. As Shylock sharpens his
knife on the sole of his shoe; Grat says that he is sharpening it
not on his sole, rather his soul.
- He says Shylock makes him forget he is Christian and makes
him want to agree with the philosopher Pythagoras that animal
souls are reincarnated in human bodies. He says that Shylock’s
