In William Shakespeare's play "The Merchant of Venice", there is a very thought provoking quote given in Act Three, Scene One (lines 49–61). It concerns Shylock’s promise to Solanio and Salarino. He is the one who uses the quote: "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?".

Here, Shylock is reminding the Venetians that all people, even those who are not part of the majority, are human. A Jew, he reasons, is a person just the same as a Christian. Therefore, they all feel the same pains and comforts and emotions. Shylock nevertheless is not talking about any shared experience or providing an invitation for the Venetians to acknowledge their enemy’s humanity. Instead of using reason to elevate himself above his Venetian tormenters, he is delivering a caustic monologue. It is one that allows him to sink to their level.

Doubtlessly, some or many of the Venetians sympathize with the him. They may agree and have emotional responses to Shylock. They understand that all have a right to fair and decent treatment and shouldn't be neglected. Jews have “hands, organs, dimensions, senses” similar to theirs.

Shylock may in the end lose all or most of the good will; he is vowing to behave even more villainously than the Venetians.

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