Today's post was originally going to be about Shylock's big speech in 3.1, but I continue to have a hard time wrapping my mind around it. Of course, that's the beauty of the speech. Wondering, is it meant to make us empathize with Shylock more thank we may already do? Is it meant to villainize him even more in our eyes? The answer is, yes.
The line from that speech that really gets to me is, "If you tickle us, do we not laugh." This one really strikes at the core. Takes the train of thought and derails it!
Instead, because I don't think anyone is really fundamentally good or evil in this play (especially in this play)-- ok, before I continue, a note about Portia. And I am breaking some rules, here. Getting a little subjective. But on the "quality of mercy speech." First, if you have access to it, then I strongly recommend that you read Steven Doloff's article, "The Qualitas of 'Mercy': Etymological Conversion in The Merchant of Venice" from the Winter 2009/2010 issue of The Shakespeare Newsletter. If you don't, then just look what this speech leads to: Shylock having to choose between his losing his wealth or converting to Christianity. Granted, he chooses conversion, but what kind of way is this to admit or accept someone into the Christian fold? This is the mercy that Antonio can render Shylock?
Antonio is my least favorite character in all of Shakespeare. This does not mean that I think he is a poorly written character. I don't. I just fail to find any redemptive quality in him. He's a wonderfully written character who is just in no way wonderful. The purpose of the "sacrifice" that he makes, is willing to make, for his friend Bassanio is defeated by two things. 1) The fact that it leads to a public hearing. If Antonio really knows his scripture--more on this very shortly--then he should know that his act of charity, no matter what it leads to, should not be made public or turned into a spectacle. 2) It still comes at the cost of someone else, even if that someone else is Shylock. Yet another gain made by Antonio at Shylock's expense.
The title of and basis for today's post comes from something particularly despicable that he says in 1.3. This is in response to Shylock's speech about Jacob and Laban's lambs:
Mark you this, Bassanio,
The devil can cite Scripture for his purpose.
An evil soul producing holy witness
Is like a villain with a smiling cheek,
A goodly apple rotten at the heart:
O, what a goodly outside falsehood hath!
It's almost as if Antonio is describing himself! Thus ends my catechism....
Read Doloff's article.
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