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Play
Name: Merchant of Venice, The
Period: Classical
Rating: Suitable for all ages
Copyright Status: Public domain
Men: 16
Women: 3
I have possess'd your grace of what I purpose; And by our holy Sabbath have...
View Full Monologue TextI have possess'd your grace of what I purpose;
And by our holy Sabbath have I sworn
To have the due and forfeit of my bond:
If you deny it, let the danger light
Upon your charter and your city's freedom.
You'll ask me, why I rather choose to have
A weight of carrion flesh than to receive
Three thousand ducats: I'll not answer that:
But, say, it is my humour: is it answer'd?
What if my house be troubled with a rat
And I be pleased to give ten thousand ducats
To have it baned? What, are you answer'd yet?
Some men there are love not a gaping pig;
Some, that are mad if they behold a cat;
And others, when the bagpipe sings i' the nose,
Cannot contain their urine: for affection,
Mistress of passion, sways it to the mood
Of what it likes or loathes. Now, for your answer:
As there is no firm reason to be render'd,
Why he cannot abide a gaping pig;
Why he, a harmless necessary cat;
Why he, a woollen bagpipe; but of force
Must yield to such inevitable shame
As to offend, himself being offended;
So can I give no reason, nor I will not,
More than a lodged hate and a certain loathing
I bear Antonio, that I follow thus
A losing suit against him. Are you answer'd?
I am not bound to please thee with my answers.
Summary
The deal Shylock and Antonio made has fallen through, so Shylock has come to court to claim the pound of flesh that is owed to him by Antonio. The citizens rail against Shylock to stop his cruelty, but he persists in wanting the law and justice to prevail.
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Character
Name: Shylock
Gender: Male
Age Range: 40s - Late, 50s, 60s, 70+
Dialects: Standard American, Standard English
Ethnicities: Caucasian, Middle Eastern