Mojo, Will, & Me

 

For three months, - well.

-Shylock

The Merchant of Venice                Act I, scene iii, line 3

 

Here is our first look at Shylock, at the beginning of scene three. His first words, and the first words of the scene are, Three thousand ducats, - well. Bassanio says, Ay, sir, for three months. Shylock repeats him again with today’s Random Line (even though we didn’t hear Bassanio say three thousand ducats we can be pretty sure he did), then Bassanio says Antonio will be bound for it, and Shylock repeats him a third time. So Shylock’s first three lines in the play are parroting back what Bassanio said to him.

Isn't that interesting. Shylock, who is supposed to be the lender is, at the very outset, the borrower: borrowing his lines from Bassanio. Is Will giving us a cue right up front to suggest that Shylock may not be what we are going to assume him to be? 

He be, or not he be? You tell me.

Today's post is much too thought provoking for a picture. 

Just concentrate on the words.