In Shylocks second Speech in Act 1 Scene 3 Shylock is polite to Antonio by calling him “Signor Antonio” This makes Shylock a strong character : after all his anger towards Antonio he talks to him politely. This also shows Shylock has respect for him and also shows importance. He begins by saying “Many time and oft in the Rialto you have rated me about my moneys and my usances”. Antonio has insulted Shylock not just once but many times. He then goes on to say “For sufferance is the badge of all our tribe” This suggests that Shylock has tolerated all the insults and other bad things done by Antonio for a long time. This makes Shylock seem a stronger character because he has not taken out his anger yet or taken revenge. He shows patience and is calm. The next are some names Antonio has called Shylock and things he has done. “You call me misbeliever, cut throat dog and spit upon my Jewish gabardine”. Antonio has spat on shylocks Jewish gabardine, which is an important religious symbol to Shylock. This is disrespect to the gabardine and his religion. Next Shylock shows sarcasm “Well then, it now appears you need my help. Go on then, you come to me, and you say Shylock we could have moneys” he does this because when Shylock needed to be treated fairly in the past, he had been ignored and insulted by Antonio. When Antonio asks for help from shylock now, it is hardly surprising that shylock is sarcastic in response. At the end Shylock gives Antonio some options “Hath a dog money” this means Antonio called Shylock a dog and do dogs have money. This also reminds the audience of the names Antonio called shylock in the beginning of the speech. The options shylock gave to Antonio showed that he is not cruel like Antonio saying “no” but explains himself should he or shouldn’t he give the money to Antonio after all that he has done. In this speech Shylock is the better character not taking out His anger, but keeping calm.
In Shylocks last speech in Act 3 Scene 1 he starts by answering Slarios question concerning what he would do with the pound of flesh. Shylock’s answer is a joke, as if the first thing that came to his mind, which was “To bait fish withal. If it feeds nothing else, it will feed my revenge”. Then he lists eight things Antonio has done to Shylock in the past: “He hath disgraced me, and hindered me half a million, laughed at my losses, mocked at my gains, scorned my nation, thwarted my bargains, cooled my friends, heated mine enemies, and what’s his reason? I am a Jew” Antonio has done all of this because Shylock is a Jew. Next he says “Hath not a Jew hands, organs, dimensions, senses, affections, passions”. Then goes on to use rhetorical questions ”fed with the same food, hurt with the same weapon, subject to the same diseases, healed by the same means , warmed and cooled by the same winter and summer as a Christian is? I you prick us do we not bleed? If you tickle us do we not laugh? If you poison us do we not die”. These rhetorical make the audience listen more to shylock and get them on his side. The point Shylock is trying to make is political and passionate. It suggests that Jews and Christians should be treated equally and fairly. It also comes from his experiences how Shylock and the other Jews have been treated in the past and present.
Overall Shakespeare used a range of techniques to make us feel sympathetic towards Shylock. The long ancient grudge between Jews and Christians where the Jews were blamed for Jesus Christ death. Shy lock has been called names in the past and present by Antonio e.g. “cut throat dog”. Shylock has been patience putting up with the name calling and other bad things Antonio has done to him. Shylock used rhetorical questions which suggest that Christians and Jews should be treated fairly.
