asks Bassanio to stop from trying to dissuade the moneylender.
The Duke asks Shylock how he can ever expectmercywhen he shows none toward others (line 87). At this point Shakespeare, through the character of Shylock, inserts somesocial commentary. Shylock, in return, asks the Duke why the people of Italy do not show mercy to their slaves. During the Middle Ages and earlier, slaves were treated like animals, overworked and abused. And even in the time of Shakespeare, the attitude of most Christian leaders was a toleration and acceptance of slavery. In fact, slavery continued to exist within the British Empire until theSlavery Abolition Act of 1833. Shylock is correct in pointing out that people who accept and support slavery have no right to talk about mercy. A slave owner who talks about mercy is, thus, a hypocrite; for the very institution of slavery was one without mercy.
Of course, slavery is wrong; but, as the old maxim goes, “two wrongs don’t make a right.” One act of injustice and immorality does not give others permission to commit similar acts of injustice elsewhere. Although Shylock is correct in pointing out the hypocrisy of slave owners, he is wrong in thinking that it justifies his own behavior.