Explanatory Notes for Act 1, Scene 3
From The Merchant of Venice. Ed. Felix E. Schelling. New York: American Book Co.
"Shylock enters with slow, shuffling gait; restless, half-closed eyes, and the fingers of his disengaged hand (one holds a staff)
ever moving, as if from the constant habit of feeling and caressing the ducats that are passing through them" (Booth). The Jews of
Venice were distinguished by orange-tawny and scarlet and black hats, as they were Levantine or Italian Jews. In Shakespeare's
day Shylock was probably represented in the costume of the English Jews and money-lenders of that time, a more or less sombre
gown or gaberdine, furred in winter, covering the customary doublet and hose, and perhaps distinguished by some such cap as that just
mentioned. The addition of earrings, which were commonly worn by men in Shakespeare's day, and of finger and thumb rings would
be quite in keeping. Shylock leans on a staff not because he is infirm, but because of a premature stoop, the result of much leaning
over his desk and money-bags.
In this scene the bargain is struck between Shylock and Antonio, and the exposition, as it is called, - that part of a play that makes
clear the circumstances on which the story is founded and the relations of the characters, - is complete. Shylock's hatred of Antonio
is fully set forth, but not without Antonio's plain avowal, on the other hand, of the contempt and insult with which he had always
treated the Jew. It is Antonio that is made to suggest the loan as made not to a friend, but to an enemy; but it is Shylock who
after all has guided the whole transaction and who suggests the "merry sport," a forfeit of a pound "of your fair flesh." In Bassanio's words: "You shall not seal," and "I like not fair terms and a villain's mind," we have the foreboding and dramatic foreshadowing of Shylock's terrible claim to come.
1. ducats. A Venetian ducat was a gold coin varying in value, but worth roughly about an American dollar.
4. the which, the article is frequently thus employed to make clearer the reference to its antecedent, where it would not be so
used in modern English. See below, iii. 4. 34, and compare the phrases, "at the least, at the length."
7. May you stead me? Are you willing to assist me?
18. in supposition, doubtful because exposed to the hazards of
20. the Rialto, "an eminent [i.e. lofty] place in Venice," says
Florio (Italian Dictionary, 1611), "where marchants commonly
meete," as on the Exchange at London.
25. pirates, a very real peril of the sea, especially of the Mediterranean, in Shakespeare's day.
35. See Matthew, viii. 32: "And when they [the devils] were
come out, they went into the herd of swine."
42. fawning publican. The thought in Shakespeare's mind here
is evidently the contrast in Luke, xviii. 10-14, between the publican
and the pharisee, Shylock showing the contempt of the latter for
the publican's attitude of humility.
46. usance, interest. "It is almost incredible what gain the Venetians receive by the usury of the Jews, both privately and in
common. For in every city the Jews keep open shops of usury, taking gages of ordinary for fifteen in the hundred by the year
[i.e. charging interest at the rate of fifteen per cent]." Thomas's History of of Italye, 1561. See also Bacon's Essay on Usurie, in
which such popular sayings as "the usurer is a drone," that "it is against nature for money to beget money," and that "usurers
should have orange-tawny bonnets because they do judaize," are quoted with the sensible comment: "For since there must be borrowing and lending, and men are so hard of heart as [that] they will not lend freely [without interest], usury must be permitted."
47. catch ... upon the hip, a wrestlers' phrase for "to have at
a disadvantage." See below, iv. 1. 334.
52. interest, a word conveying insult, like others concerning the
trade of money-lending.
54. of, concerning.
60. Rest you fair, good signior. Shylock, turning from his words
addressed to Bassanio, affects surprise and addresses Antonio obsequiously but with a tone of irony in his voice.
63. excess, the amount above the actual sum loaned, the interest.
65. possess'd, informed.
72. When Jacob, etc. See Genesis, xxx.
74. As [For so] his wise mother. See Genesis, xxvii.
79. were compromised, had come to a mutual agreement.
80. eanlings, lambs just born.
95. inserted, i.e. in the Scriptures.
97. I make it [i.e. money] breed. Compare the words quoted
from Bacon above line 46.
98-103. Mark you this, etc. Antonio speaks aside to Bassanio
while Shylock pretends to be considering their proposition.
99. The devil can cite Scripture. See Matthew, iv. 4, 6, where
Psalm, xci. is so quoted.
106. beholding, beholden.
107. many a time and oft, many, many times.
108. Rialto. See above, i. 3, 20.
109. my moneys and my usances, my practice of lending money
110. Still, always.
112. call [are in the habit of calling] me ... dog.
113. Jewish gaberdine. It does not appear that the gaberdine
was distinctively a mark of Jewish costume. It means here doubtless no more than Shylock's outer garment or cloak.
118. void your rheum, expectorate - [Cough or spit out phlegm from the throat or lungs].
119. foot, kick.
131. In a ruder age such acts as these, self-confessed by Antonio,
would be regarded as natural if not meritorious as against a despised
and hated race. None the less in these two lines Shakespeare has
contrived at once to give the reason for Shylock's later implacability
and to stir in every kindly heart a certain amount of sympathy for
the Jew's outrageous wrongs.
135. A breed of barren metal, i.e. interest derived from money, a
thing which, according to Antonio's ideas, should not be made to
breed. The phrase alludes to Shylock's illustration of usury from
the Bible, and is an additional insult to the Jew. Notice that the
notion of lending "to thine enemy" is first put into words by
137. Who, if he break. The use of the relative with no verb to
follow as here was not infrequent. See Bacon, Advancement of
Learning: " Which though it be not true, yet I forbear to note any
138. Why, look you, etc. Shylock controls himself lest he lose
the loan, and with it the opportunity of revenge.
141. doit, a trifling coin worth about half a farthing, or the fourth
of an American cent.
146. single bond, literally a bond to which no condition is attached. "Give me your bond without any condition, - at least,
none worthy of the name or to be legally enforced, - though for the
joke of the thing we will say that I am to have a pound of your
flesh if you fail to pay up at the appointed time" (Rolfe).
153. I'll seal. Addressed to Bassanio.
162. dealings teaches. It is not uncommon to find thus apparently the singular verb used with a plural subject. The form of
the verb in many of these cases is really an old northern plural
162. teaches them [to] suspect. The omission of to before the infinitive is very common. See below, ii. 7. 43: "To come view fair
164. break his day, fail to pay on the appointed day.
168. muttons, beefs. Both of these plurals are elsewhere used by
171. for my love, in consideration of the kindness I now show
you, do not impute any wrong motives to me.
176. fearful guard, a guard about whose trustworthiness fear is
to be entertained.
How to cite the explanatory notes:
Shakespeare, William. The Merchant of Venice. Ed. Felix E. Schelling. New York: American Book Co., 1903. Shakespeare Online. 20 Feb. 2011. (date when you accessed the information) < http://www.shakespeare-online.com/plays/merchant_1_3.html >.