Monologue

Duke Monologue from The Merchant of Venice

From The Merchant of Venice by William Shakespeare

male · dramatic · 1:12 min

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Make room, and let him stand before our face. Shylock, the world thinks, and I think so too, That thou but leadest this fashion of thy malice To the last hour of act, and then, ’tis thought, Thou’lt show thy mercy and remorse more strange Than is thy strange apparent cruelty; And where thou now exacts the penalty, Which is a pound of this poor merchant’s flesh, Thou wilt not only loose the forfeiture, But, touch’d with human gentleness and love, Forgive a moiety of the principal, Glancing an eye of pity on his losses That have of late so huddled on his back, Enow to press a royal merchant down, And pluck commiseration of his state From brassy bosoms and rough hearts of flint, From stubborn Turks and Tartars never train’d To offices of tender courtesy. We all expect a gentle answer, Jew.

About this piece

The Duke addresses Shylock in a courtroom, urging him to show mercy towards Antonio, the merchant, amidst a tense legal dispute over a bond that demands a pound of flesh.

40s · anticipation · mercy · justice · compassion · prejudice

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