When Antonio asks Shylock about the rate of interest for the loan to Bassanio, Shylock does not answer directly. Rather, he first recites a list of his complaints againstAntonio:
Antonio has directly criticized Shylock. (103)
He has criticized Shylock’s business practices. (104)
He has called Shylock names, like “cut-throat” and “dog.” (107)
And he has spit on Shylock’s gabardine coat.
(108)
In other words, Shylock is fully justified in refusing Antonio. And Shylock sarcastically adds that if he is a dog, as Antonio has called him, how can he then loan money to Bassanio? “Hath a dog money?” (117). Shylock is asking why should he do Bassanio and Antonio the courtesy of lending them money when Antonio has been extremely discourteous to him in the past. However, although Shylock should just say “no” to Antonio, Shylock is plotting evil. He is the hypocrite Antonio has just described. Although Shylock cries about being the hurtvictimontheoutside,insideheisplanningto