A Pound of Flesh

Sonnet and I go to The Globe last night to see The Bard's "Merchant of Venice" - my third of the season, lucky me. For those who don't recall their 10th grade Cliff's Notes, this is the play where merchant Antonio borrows 3,000 ducats from the Jewish money-lender Shylock. In place of interest and to prove his (villainous) friendship, Shylock excepts a bond for his principal plus a "pound of flesh" taken from nearby Antonio's heart. When Antonio's ship does not come in he must represent the bond.... Shylock and Antonio meet in the courts for settlement. Initially it appears that Shylock will have his revenge against the Christian Antonio, who has before treated him poorly. But as the blade is about to fall on flesh, Shylock's court fails him and he is told that "not a drop of blood" may be lost from the cutting (considered un-Christian) and any amount more, or less, than a pound must then be taken from Shylock. Finally, as Antonio's outcome is most certain death, Shylock is accused of murderous intentions and so must forfeit not only his bond but also his house and money which are split equally between Antonio and the state. This play raises the serious argument that Shakespeare was an anti-semite. Initially I was impressed that Shakespeare showed Shylock's ill-treatment and gave Shylock recompense through the courts - even if gruesome. In the end, Shylock is mocked by his daughter and assistant who leave hiim, his business associates and finally the Venetian court which fails Shylock and itself. The play was considered by Shakespeare to be humorous but the outcome raises questions from then and now.

"I am a Jew/ Hath not a Jew eyes? Hath not a Jew hands, organs/ dimensions, senses, affections, passions; fed with/ the same food, hurt with the same weapons, subject/ to the same diseases, heal'd by the same means/ warm'd and cool'd by the same winter and summer/ as a Christian is? If you prick us, do we not bleed?/ If you tickle us, do we not laugh? If you/ poison us, do we not die? And if you wrong us, shall we not revenge?"
Shylock, The Merchant of Venice