How does Shylock defend himself in the extract?

In Shakespeare’s The Merchant of Venice, Shylock tries to defend the charging of interest by referring to a Biblical story in the Old Testament. The story he refers to is Jacob taking care of his uncle Laban’s sheep (in the book of Genesis).

How is Shylock revengeful?

Shylock wants revenge for years of Antonio’s mistreatment. Antonio hates people of the Jewish faith and always speaks badly about Shylock’s merchant deals. He explains that Shylock would rather take Antonio’s flesh than money to pay his debt because such an act would give him the revenge he has always wanted.

What is Shylock’s soliloquy?

To bait fish withal: if it will feed nothing else, it will feed my revenge. He hath disgraced me, and hindered me half a million; laughed at my losses, mocked at my gains, scorned my nation, thwarted my bargains, cooled my friends, heated mine enemies; and what’s his reason? I am a Jew.

What is the main point of Shylock’s speech?

In Act III, Scene I, Shylock’s speech provides an understanding to what fuels his revenge and why he is in his every right for revenge. Though, his revenge for Antonio can be considered Page 2 2 unmercifully and unsympathetic. Shylock is a character who has lost and suffered by the actions of others.

Why did Shylock hate Antonio answer?

Answer: Shylock specifically states that he hates Antonio, because Antonio is a Christian man. Antonio also lends out money at times, and he doesn’t charge any interest. Shylock hates Antonio because he is a business rival that is massively undercutting his business.

Why does Bassanio choose the lead casket?

Bassanio refuses gold because he knows that “all that glisters is not gold.” He also refuses silver, calling it “common drudge ‘tween man and man,” as coins are. He chooses lead because he knows that true worth lies inside, even if the outside doesn’t look like much.

Does Shylock really better the instruction?

Answer: Shylock certainly tries to better the instruction. He certainly tries to cause the death of Antonio who is a Christian, while the Christian Antonio had limited his cruelty towards the Jew only to the extent of disgracing him and ridiculing him, thwarting his bargains, and otherwise harassing him.

What scene does Jessica steal from Shylock?

After Jessica steals his jewels and elopes with Lorenzo, a Christian, Shylock famously wishes her death in Act III of The Merchant of Venice: “I would my daughter were dead at my foot, and the jewels in her ear! Would she were hears’d at my foot, and the ducats in her coffin!” (3.1. 87–90).

Why does Shylock call it loss upon loss?

Answer: Shylock says that he wants to take revenge against Antonio as Antonio disgraced him publicly. Antonio has scorned him calling him a usurer, caused losses equal to half a million ducats by interfering in his deals and above all insulted his race.