Meaning:
Something which is owed that is ruthlessly required to be paid back.
Background:
This of course derives from Shakespeare's Merchant of Venice, 1596. The
insistence by Shylock of the payment of Antonio's flesh is the central plot
device of the play:
SHYLOCK:
The pound of flesh which I demand of him Is deerely bought, 'tis mine, and
I will haue it.
The figurative use of the phrase to refer to any lawful but nevertheless
unreasonable recompense dates to the late 18th century.
- www.phrases.org.uk [edited]
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I forgot how it started but I used to recite the ``Hath not a Jew hands?''
speech in college in the early 90s. Back then, with a giant chip perching on my
unworldly shoulder, I had no trouble overlooking his vices and feeling for the
much sinned-against Shylock.
Nowadays, I think he suffered the most from his own lack of gratitude and even
love toward his own blood and flesh. When Tubal brought back news about his
daughter who had fled to Genoa, for example, ``There, there, there, a diamond
gone. Cost me 2000 ducats in Frankfurt. The curse never fell upon our nation
until now,'' he whined.
Anyway, here launches the guy's apology for that famous poundage before the
aforementioned speech,
Salerio: I'm sure if he[Antonio] forfeits,
you will not take his flesh.
What's that good for?
Shylock:
To bait fish withal.
If it will feed nothing else,
It will feed my revenge.
He hath disgraced me, and
Hindered me half a million,
Laughed at my losses,
Mocked at my gains,
Scorned my nation,
Thwarted my bargains,
Cooled my friends,
Heated mine enemies,
And what's his reason?
I am a Jew!
