Shylock has made Antonio sign a contract which states that if he cannot repay the loan he will instead repay Shylock with a pound of his own flesh. Shylock starts the speech by saying “To bait fish withal”, referring to what he will do with Antonio’s pound of flesh: he will use it as bait to catch fish.
What does Shylock’s speech mean?
Shylock’s following speech denotes his lack of sympathy towards Antonio’s current situation and how he now has to provide a pound of flesh to Shylock. Along with this, the speech provides a further understanding to the deep rooted history of Shylocks mistreatment by Antonio and other Christians.
Who has just finished speaking what will Shylock use to bait fish How would it serve to feed his revenge?
Shylock’s hatred for Antonio is obvious when he his questioned as to what he would do with Antonio’s flesh if he had the opportunity. This is where the quote is used. First Shylock says he would use Antonio’s flesh for baiting fish, showing his complete disdain for the corpse of his enemy.
What is Shylock’s speech called?
“The quality of mercy” is a speech given by Portia in William Shakespeare’s The Merchant of Venice (Act 4, Scene 1). In the speech, Portia, disguised as a lawyer, begs Shylock to show mercy to Antonio. The speech extols the power of mercy, “an attribute to God Himself.”
What is Shylock’s religion?
Venetian Jewish
Shylock is a fictional character in William Shakespeare’s play The Merchant of Venice (c. 1600). A Venetian Jewish moneylender, Shylock is the play’s principal antagonist. His defeat and conversion to Christianity form the climax of the story.
Will feed nothing else it will feed my revenge?
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 meant by devil incarnation in Merchant of Venice?
The Jew is called a devils incarnation because of his behaviour, being selfish, greedy and miser.
Was shylocks end justified?
He’s revenge is justified for many reasons, these reasons include him being abused for being a Jew and a moneylender at the same time.Shylock was a victim of an unjust trial which leaves Shylock’s will to live demolished as he is bloodthirsty for revenge.
Why was Antonio hostile towards Shylock?
He has a bias against Antonio as a Christian and hates him even more for Antonio’s practice of lending money without interest, undermining Shylock’s usury business. 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.
What is the meaning of bait fish?
Definition of baitfish
: a small fish (such as a golden shiner or menhaden) that attracts and is a food source for a larger game fish also : a fish used for bait.
Is Shylock a villain or a victim?
He is a victim of his religion, and a victim of his greed and overwhelming need for revenge. Shylock is definitely the most villainous character in the play, and only a few elements can show him as a victim overall, even then, his victimisation only seems to be a consequence of his own actions.
Who is responsible for harming Shylock *?
As Villian: Nobody, but shylock himself was responsible. As Victim: Shylock was harmed by his daughter and Antonio.
What does Beshrew your eyes mean?
Answer: Portia means to tell Bassanio that he has bewitched her by looking at her and she no longer acts like herself because by looking at her he has divided her in half.
How is mercy above the Sceptred sway?
It means that mercy is greater than the king’s sword. Portia says that mercy creates love for one while the king’s sword only creates fear and that love is greater than fear so mercy is greater than the king’s sword.
Why is the quality of mercy not strained?
Mercy is something that has to be freely given; no one can force someone else to be merciful. (“Strained” is an old form of “constrained,” meaning “forced.”) From The Merchant of Venice by William Shakespeare.
Is Shylock a villain or a hero?
Without that, the court case would not of happened and Portia, Bassanio, Antonio and all the others would not have been united as friends after the court scene. So Shylock is the hero and villain in the story and he is probably most described character as the whole story basically revolves around him.
What was the cost of the diamond that Jessica had stolen?
One of the stolen diamonds cost me two thousand ducats in Frankfurt! I never felt the curse of the Jews until now. I never felt it until now—two thousand ducats in that diamond, and other precious, precious jewels!
What did Jessica do with her mother’s ring?
But even here he rouses our sympathy, because we hear that Jessica stole a ring given to him by his late wife and traded it for a monkey. “It was my turquoise,” Shylock says.
How like a fawning publican he looks Meaning?
(iii) “Like a fawning publican.” Explain. Answer: Shylock feels that Antonio looks like a cringing publican (tax collector). He uses this expression in hatred of the man who is coming to seek monetary help.
What is referred to as a dumb show why is the baron said to be a dumb show?
why is the baron said to be a dumb show? The word dumb-show refers to a play in which all characters act without speaking , that is by gestures. A pantomime is a dumb show. Here it means that the Englishman is unable to speak foreign languages and had to converse by means of signs as in a dumb show.
How much does Portia tells Bassanio to pay so that a friend like Antonio is not harmed at all?
What, that’s all? Pay him six thousand and cancel the debt. I’d pay twelve thousand before I’d let a friend like that suffer in the slightest because of you.
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