Portfolio B:
Social norms/Monologue
Shakespeare, through Shylocks monologue is demonstrating Christian hypocrisy throughout this play, by comparing the immorality of owning slaves and a pound of flesh. Shylock says “you have among you many a purchased slave/ which, like your asses and your dogs and mules, / you use in abject and in slavish parts, / because you bought them”(4.1.192.89- 92). Shakespeare is persuading the audience by comparing slaves, to “Asses,dogs, and mules” to show the dehumanization of minorities in Europe. Thus demonstrating that Christians aren’t as kind and gentle, as they like to portray themselves to be. Then Shylock states “you use in abject and in slavish parts, / because you bought them”. Shylock is proclaiming that Christians believe ownership allows them the right to treat slaves like animals. Through this quote Shylock is asking the difference between buying a pound of flesh and treating others like nothing more than a pound of flesh. Shylock later says, “’the slaves are ours’. So do I answer you. / The pound of flesh which I demand of him/ is dearly bought: ‘tis mine” (4.1.193.97-99). Shylock is making the point that by law what is bought is owned, and such is how he justifies taking a piece of Antonio’s flesh. The word “dearly” is used in a mocking tone as to demonstrate the utter pretense of his encounter with the law. Shylockcompares taking Antonio’s flesh to slavery in order to demonstrate the hypocrisy of denying Shylock his winnings.
i will read this soon please
ReplyDeleteIf Michelle's taking mine then I call this one. Sorry for the late claim.
ReplyDeleteSage, you make a really great point about the hypocrisy of the Christian characters in this play and how they criticize Shylock about his cruelty while being incredibly cruel themselves. I completely agree, Shakespeare's definitely calling into question the treatment of minorities in Europe as well. Your quotations do a great job of supporting that point and it's such an interesting and provocative passage to address. I also your point about the word "dearly" being meant in a mocking way, I hadn't thought of that when reading the passage but it makes a lot of sense. One other quotation that also supports your argument would be the part of the same speech where Shylock says "If you deny me, fie upon your law!/There is no force in the decrees of Venice." (4.1.100-101). Here, not only is Shylock pointing out their hypocrisy through the lack of legal grounds to support their argument, but he makes the point that there will be resounding consequences for the law if they don't oblige him. After pointing out that if they insist on adhering to the law then he will too with the whole slave bit, Shylock reasons that the law is moot if they break their own rules. This also goes along with the whole theme of contracts throughout the play and his reasoning here has unfortunate implications for Shylock in the climax of the scene.
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