Solanio and Salarino be hating on my boy Shylock up in here.

Bryce Huerta
10/20/14

     Through the specific diction used by Salarino and Solanio during their joking banter, William Shakespeare conveys the anti-Semitic nature of these Christian men as they dehumanize Shylock.  Solanio begins the ridiculing of Shylock when he says, "So variable, / As the dog Jew did utter" (Act II, Scene 7, Lines 13-14).  Solanio's use of the words "dog Jew" suggests that the Jew is "less than human," right away identifying the bigotry that exists amongst these Christian friends of Antonio.  Solanio continues the mockery by quoting Shylock, stating, "'My daughter!  O my ducats!  O my daughter! / Fled with a Christian!  O my Christian ducats!'" (Act II, Scene 7, Lines 15-16).  The pairing of Shylock yelling about his daughter and his money at the same time suggests a level of greed that Christians think of as stereotypical of Jews in general, implying that Shylock cares as much for his money as his daughter.  Solanio's aping tone as he repeats what Shylock has been heard saying adds an even more malicious twist on this dialogue, as he makes fun of him for being a crazed old Jew.  Throughout lines 15-22, Solanio's repetition and alliteration of the words "ducat" and "daughter" very strongly and memorably imprints the parodying tone and overall mockery in his telling of this story.  Near the end of his rant, Solanio inserts into his speech the double-edged word jewel, as he tells, "And jewels, two stones, two rich and precious stones, / Stol'n by my daughter...She hath the stones upon her, and the ducats!" (Act II, Scene 7, Lines 20-22).  The image of "jewels" not only continues the message of Shylock's cupidity, but also takes a dig at his manhood, as it suggests that he does not have any testicles, or "family jewels."  Salarino caps off this mean discourse when he remarks, "all the boys in Venice follow him, / Crying, 'His stones, his daughter, and his ducats!'" (Act II, Scene 7, Lines 23-24).  Salarino reveals here that most Venetians, along with he and Solanio, are united in their harsh humiliation of the poor old Jew.  Through this scorning chat between the two men, Shakespeare uses specific tone and word choice to portray Solanio and Salarino's downright hateful perception of Shylock.