The Merchant of Venice (2004)
Al Pacino: Shylock
Photos
Quotes
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Shylock : 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, healed by the same means, warmed and cooled 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? If we are like you in the rest, we will resemble you in that. If a Jew wrong a Christian, what is his humility? Revenge. If a Christian wrong a Jew, what should his sufferance be - by Christian example? Why, revenge. The villany you teach me, I will execute, and it shall go hard - but I will better the instruction.
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Shylock : 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.
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Shylock : If a Jew wrong a Christian, what is his humility? Revenge. If a Christian wrong a Jew, what should his sufferance be by Christian example? Why, revenge. The villany you teach me, I will execute, and it shall go hard but I will better the instruction.
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Portia : [disguised as Balthasar] Do you confess the bond?
Antonio : I do.
Portia : Then must the Jew be merciful.
Shylock : On what compulsion must I? Tell me that.
Portia : The quality of mercy is not strained, it droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven upon the place beneath. It is twice blessed - it blesseth him that gives and him that takes. 'Tis mightiest in the mighty. It becomes the throned monarch better than his crown. His sceptre shows the force of temporal power, the attribute to awe and majesty wherein doth sit the dread and fear of kings. But mercy is above this sceptred sway. It is enthroned in the heart of kings. It is an attribute to God himself and earthly power doth then show likest God's when mercy seasons justice. Therefore, Jew, though justice be your plea, consider this. That in the course of justice, none of us should see salvation. We do pray for mercy and that same prayer doth teach us all to render the deeds of mercy. I have spoke thus much to mitigate the justice of your plea.
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Shylock : May I speak with Antonio?
Bassanio : If it please you, dine with us.
Shylock : Yes, to smell pork, to eat of the habitation which your prophet the Nazarite conjured the devil into. I will buy with you, sell with you, talk with you, walk with you, and so following; but I will not eat with you, drink with you, nor pray with you.
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Shylock : Jessica, I say!
Launcelot Gobbo : Aye, Jessica!
Shylock : Uh, who bid you call? I did not bid you call.
Launcelot Gobbo : Your worship used to say, I could do nothing without bidding.
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[first lines]
Title Card : Intolerance of the Jews was a fact of 16th Century life even in Venice, the most powerful and liberal city state in Europe.
Title Card : By law the Jews were forced to live in the old walled foundry or 'Geto' area of the city. After sundown the gate was locked and guarded by Christians
Title Card : In the daytime any man leaving the ghetto had to wear a red hat to mark him as a Jew.
Man in Crowd : Usurer! Usurer!
Title Card : The Jews were forbidden to own property. So they practised usury, the lending of money at interest. This was against Christian law.
Title Card : The sophisticated Venetians would turn a blind eye to it but for the religious fanatics, who hated the Jews, it was another matter...
Franciscan Friar : If a man is righteous, and does what is lawful and right, if he has not exacted usury nor taken any increase, but has withdrawn his hand from all iniquity and executed true judgment between men and men, if he has walked in my statute and kept my judgment faithfully, then he is just and he shall surely live. But if he has exacted usury and taken increase, shall he then live? No, he shall not live. If he has done any of these abominations, he shall surely die, says the Lord our God. And yet you live from day to day by theft and robbery.
Shylock : Antonio.
[Antonio spits on Shylock]
Franciscan Friar : For a usurer is a thief and a robber who should hang on the gallows seven times higher than other thieves. Indeed, you trample all of God's commandments under your sinful feet.
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Shylock : You called me dog before you had a cause. But since I am a dog, beware my fangs. The duke will grant me justice.
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[repeated line]
Shylock : Three thousand ducats.
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Shylock : Go with me to a notary and seal me there your single bond. And in a merry sport, if you repay me not on such a day in such a place, such a sum or sums as are expressed in the condition, let the forfeit be nominated - for an equal pound of your fair flesh to be cut off and taken in what part of your body pleaseth me.
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Shylock : O father Abraham, what these Christians are, whose own hard dealings teaches them suspect the thoughts of others. I pray you, tell me this. If he should break his day, what should I gain by the exaction of the forfeiture? A pound of a man's flesh taken from a man is not so estimable, profitable neither, as flesh of muttons, beefs, or goats. I say, to buy his favour, I extend this friendship. If he will take it, so. If not, adieu. And, for my love, I pray you, wrong me not.
Antonio : Shylock, I will seal unto this bond.
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Shylock : The fool is kind enough but a huge feeder. Snail-slow in profit, and he sleeps by day more than a tomcat. Therefore, I part with him.
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Shylock : Signior Antonio, many a time, and oft in the Rialto, you have reviled me about my moneys and my usances. Still, I have borne it with a patient shrug, for sufferance is the badge of all our tribe. You call me misbeliever, cut-throat dog, and spit upon my Jewish gaberdine. And all for use of that which is my own. Well, it now appears you need my help.
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Shylock : You have among you many a purchased slave, which like your asses and your dogs and mules, you use in abject and in slavish parts because you bought them. Shall I say to you, let them be free? Marry them to your heirs. Why sweat they under burdens? Let their beds be made as soft as yours. Their palates seasoned with your food. You will answer, "The slaves are ours. " So do I answer you. The pound of flesh that I demand of him is dearly bought. 'Tis mine. 'Tis mine! 'Tis mine. And I will have it.
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Antonio : Most heartily I do beseech the court to give the judgment.
Portia : [disguised as Balthasar] Then thus it is. You must prepare your bosom for his knife.
Shylock : O noble judge, excellent young man.
Portia : For the intent and purpose of the law has full relation to the penalty which here appeareth due upon the bond.
Shylock : 'Tis very true, O wise and upright judge.
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Antonio : I pray you, hear me speak!
Shylock : I'll have my bond, I will not hear you speak. I'll have my bond, therefore speak no more. I'll not be made a soft and dull-eyed fool, to shake their head, relent and sigh and *yield* to Christian intercessors. I'll have no speaking, follow not. I will have my bond.
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Shylock : If you deny me, fie upon your law!
