Question

Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow :
I have sworn an oath that I will have my bond.
Thou call'dst me dog before thou hadst a cause;
But, since I am a dog, beware my fangs:
The duke shall grant me justice. I do wonder,
Thou naughty gaoler, that thou art so fond
To come abroad with him at his request.
(i) What are the reasons Shylock has provided just before this extract for
his hatred for Antonio? Is there any justification of Shylock's hatred?
(ii) What is meant by "before thou hadst a cause"? Why does the speaker
say "since I am a dog'? Who are the people who called the speaker a
dog?
(iii) What makes the speaker call the jailer "naughly"? What has the speaker
asked the jailor to do earlier in the scene?
​

Answer 1

Explanation:

(i) Yes Shylock hate Antonio because Antonio has rescue many people who owed money from Shylock and stop them to collect the interest.

(ii)"before thou hadst a cause " means before you had even a reason ". Antonio tell Shylock a dog so Shylock says that since I am a dog beware my teeth.

(iii)Shylock tell jailer naughty because he had taken out Antonio from the prison on the Antonio request to visit to Shylock to talk him not to take the bond.