This is one of the only moments in the play the reader is meant to feel true sympathy for Shylock. The answer to this question follows as “I am a Jew.” It is a simple statement, one that should strike readers as quite impactful. My bargains, cooled my friends, heated mine enemies. Mocked at my gains, scorned my nation, thwarted
Hindered me half a million, laughed at my losses, To bait fish withal if it will feed nothing else, The speech begins with this clear reference to Antonio: Shylock pushes back against this and defends his race. As with the case of Antonio, many of these men came to resent those to whom they owed money. Christians were forbidden to lend money therefore, anyone who needed a loan went to a Jewish lender. Within the play, and specifically within this passage, Shakespeare alludes to moneylending rules in Venice at the time. He’s laughed at the man’s loss and treated him cruelly due to his race. He has failed to repay his debt, and he has also insulted Shylock. At the beginning of the speech, which is quoted below, Shylock is alluding to the amount of money that Antonio has cost him. The speech encompasses emotions ranging from sorrow to vengeance. For example, “If you prick us, do we not bleed?” He can be hurt with the same weapons, is subject to the same diseases, and is at risk from the same natural elements as “a Christian is.” The most famous lines of this quote utilize repetition in the use of questions and answers. Within these lines, Shylock states that he is a Jew, but, more importantly, he is a human being. Here, Shylock is arguing for the equal treatment and consideration of Jews, a theme that comes up several times in the play. This excerpt begins a few lines into the speech. Will execute, and it shall go hard but I will better the If a Christian wrongĪ Jew, what should his sufferance be by ChristianĮxample? Why, revenge! The villainy you teach me I We not revenge? If we are like you in the rest, we will Poison us, do we not die? And if you wrong us, shall Warmed and cooled by the same winter and summerĪs a Christian is? If you prick us, do we notīleed? If you tickle us, do we not laugh? If you The same diseases, healed by the same means, Same food, hurt with the same weapons, subject to Senses, affections, passions? Fed with the Hath not a Jew hands, organs, dimensions, Here is the quote in context, as spoken by the moneylender Shylock: It is part of a speech that lasts from line forty-nine to line sixty-one. William Shakespeare used this quote in Act III, Scene 1 of The Merchant of Venice. He has learned a great deal from the cruelty of his fellow man and will use what he has learned to exact the greatest vengeance he possibly can. In the last lines, Shylock declares that as Christians would, Jews will also seek vengeance. The rest of the speech alludes to other universal human experiences. Shylock declares that, just like a Christian, he bleeds when he is pricked and laughs when he is tickled. The quote proudly asserts the equality between Christians and Jews and all other races of human beings on earth. “If you prick us, do we not bleed?” is a well-known quote from William Shakespeare’s The Merchant of Venice. “If you prick us, do we not bleed?…” Meaning
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