Analysis of Act One Scene 3 of William Shakespeare's the Merchant of Venice

Analysis of Act One Scene 3 of William Shakespeare's the Merchant of Venice

Shylock, a Jewish moneylender, agrees to loan Bassanio three -thousand

ducats for a term of three months. Bassanio assures Shylock that

Antonio will guarantee the loan, but Shylock is doubtful because

Antonio's wealth is currently invested in business ventures that may

fail. In the end, however, Shylock decides that Antonio's guarantee of

the loan will be sufficient assurance, and asks to speak with him.

When Antonio arrives, Shylock, in an aside, confesses his hatred for

the man. Antonio, Shylock says, is a Christian who lends money without

interest, which makes more difficult the practice of usury, in which

money is lent out at exorbitant interest rates. Shylock is also

incensed by Antonio's frequent public denunciations of Shylock.

Antonio makes it clear to Shylock that he is not in the habit of

borrowing or lending money, but has decided to make an exception on

behalf of his friend Bassanio. Their conversation leads Antonio to

chastise the business of usury, which Shylock defends as a way to

thrive. As he calculates the interest on Bassanio's loan, Shylock

remembers the many times that Antonio has cursed him, calling him a

"misbeliever, cut-throat, dog / And spit upon [his] Jewish gaberdine"

(I.iii.107-108). Antonio responds that he is likely to do so again,

and insists that Shylock lend him the money as an enemy. Such an

arrangement, Antonio claims, will make it easier for Shylock to exact

a harsh penalty if the loan is not repaid. Assuring Antonio that he

means to be friends, Shylock offers to make the loan without interest.

Instead, he suggests, seeming...

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money without interest to prove his sincerity However there is a

catch; if Bassanio does not repay the debt within the specified two

months, Shylock who hates Antonio can by agreement, cut from him a

pound of flesh.

Bassanio does not like this but Antonio assures him that when his

ships return he expects a "return [profit] / Of thrice three times the

value of this bond [three thousand ducats]" Shylock notes that a pound

of flesh is not nearly as valuable as "flesh of muttons, beefs, or

goats" adding that he makes this offer in friendship Emphasizing that

Shylock is not serious about the pound of flesh, Shylock urges Antonio

and Bassanio to meet with him at the "notary's; [an official]" to

inform this man of "this merry [silly humorous] bond," after which

Shylock promises to deliver the ducats immediately.