Monologue

Shylock Monologue from The Merchant of Venice

From The Merchant of Venice by William Shakespeare

male · philosophical · 59 sec

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No, not take interest, not, as you would say, Directly interest; mark what Jacob did. When Laban and himself were compromis’d That all the eanlings which were streak’d and pied Should fall as Jacob’s hire, the ewes being rank In end of autumn turned to the rams, And when the work of generation was Between these woolly breeders in the act, The skilful shepherd pill’d me certain wands, And in the doing of the deed of kind, He stuck them up before the fulsome ewes, Who then conceiving did in eaning time Fall parti-colour’d lambs, and those were Jacob’s. This was a way to thrive, and he was blest; And thrift is blessing if men steal it not.

About this piece

Shylock reflects on the nature of profit and the cunning methods of Jacob, using biblical allegory to justify his own practices and beliefs about wealth and success.

40s · determination · power · revenge · identity · thrift

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