Shakespeare's use of Dog imagery in Shylock's monolouge

Shakespeare has Shylock demonstrate how Christians equate Jews with dogs to show that Jews were successful and needed members of society despite the fact that they were taken advantage of and treated as less than human. Shylock stresses how Antonio has come to him for a favor even though he “foot[s] Shylock as [he] spurn[s] a stranger cur.”(124). Here, Shakespeare shows how Antonio treats Shylock as a “cur” to convey that Jews were treated as sub-human; In Christian eyes they were less than beggars, they were the dog equivalent to baggers. Also, how Antonio dehumanizes Shylock and then asks for money shows that Antonio expects Shylock to be like a dog in that he would be ready to do anything to please someone who is “dominate,” that Jews should be at the beck and call of Christians. Shylock then emphasizes the problem of the Christian’s dehumanization of and then reliance on the Jews: you cannot ask a “dog” for a human favor, like money, and expect them to pay up and to even have the money n the first place. Shylock says, “What should I say to you? Should I not say/Hath a dog money? Is it possible/A cur can lend three thousand ducats?”(124). When Shylock highlights that dogs cannot lend money but he can, Shakespeare demonstrates that Jews were better than dogs, than how Christians saw them. Jews, even though they were dehumanized, rose above society’s views and restrictions on their community and became successful businessmen. At the end of his speech about Antonio’s mistreatment of him, Shylock gives a sarcastic reply to Antonio’s request for a favor to illustrate how Antonio is undeserving of any favor from him. “You spurned me such a day; another time/You called me dog; and for these courtesies/I’ll lend you thus much money?”(124). Antonio treats Shylock like a dog, worthless and insufficient, and then Shylock is just supposed to fork over the money. This highlights the bigotry that the Jews suffered, how they were taken advantage of and viewed as lesser and thus could be pushed around without penalty. In addition, in this passage, Shylock stands up for himself by pointing out the absurdity of Antonio’s request for a favor, illustrating that he is not like a dog at all; when a dog is kicked it shies away, Shylock, on the other hand, stands up for himself. Through using the imagery of the dog and its incongruity to Jews, Shakespeare conveys how Jews were clever and prosperous in the face of adversity.