The Merchant of Venice/Headscratchers: Difference between revisions

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** One theory (just putting this out there): Antonio does not feel comfortable asking his friends for assistance, whether or not he has done anything to earn their respect or their friendship. He would rather go to a career moneylender, despite his disdain towards them, simply because he will not have to plead or justify himself.

* Okay, this is kind of silly to be the only thing that bugged at a cursory glance: I get the whole [[Pound of Flesh Twist|"you can have his flesh but can't take any blood"]] deal, but didn't anyone realize that by way of [[Body Horror|a process similar to flaying]] you can extract a pound of flesh... after an [[Jerkass|untold number of weeks/months/years]]. It would be slow and painful, but possible until the very second that the accuracy of the knife is (inadvertently?) compromised. [[Personal Horror|Sorry if I]] [[My God, What Have I Done?|give anyone]] [[Nightmare Fuel|nightmares.]]

** It was very much a [[Literal Genie]] interpretation of the contract: A pound of flesh from the chest, to which the stipulation of "without drawing a drop of blood" is added. Sure, Shylock can take his chances skinning him, but with a ''very'' hostile crowd and magistrate in view, would he really take the chance?

 

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