Page:The International Journal of Psycho-Analysis II 1921 3-4.djvu/104

 358 ISADOR H. CORIAT

defaecation. Now the profound significance of Shylock's words to Jessica becomes clear:

Shylock, I am bid forth to supper, Jessica:

There are my keys. But wherefore should I go? I am not bid for love; they flatter me: But yet I'll go in hate, to feed upon The prodigal Christian. Jessica, my girl, Look to my house. I am right loath to go: There is some ill a-brewing towards my rest, For I did dream ol money-bags to-night. (II, v)

Here we have an exquisite combination of the precipitation of strongly repressed anal-erotic traits into the unconscious, produc- ing the dream of 'money bags' the superstitious interpretation of the dream, the hate of Shylock and the love and tenderness for his daughter. In addition, the scatological symbolism of 'money-bags' in the dream is very apparent to workers in psycho- analysis. This relationship with the usual Elizabethan freedom of coprophilic expression is also seen in the last words of Shylock's warning to Jessica.

Fast bind, fast find,

A proverb never stale in thrifty mind. (II, v)

Shylock's sadism as shown in his literal demand for the pound of flesh is already found foreshadowed in his 'aside', when he first meets Antonio, the 'aside' I take it, as in all dramas, being a sort of a day-dream.

If I can catch him once upon the hip,

I will feed fat the ancient grudge I bear him. (I, iii)

and the later words: /

Cursed be my tribe, If I forgive him! (I, iii)

This sadistic hate is further emphasized in the following dialogue :