Simple Summary of The Merchant of Venice Act IV, Scene I, II

ACT IV Scene I

The Duke enters the court set in Venice along with the magnificoes

He feels apologetic about Antonio having to go through ordeal: he mentions Shylock as them stony adversary and an ‘inhuman wretch’

Shylock, according to the Duke, is not capable of showing any pity and has not even a drop of mercy in his character

Antonio thanks the Duke for trying hard to reduce the instinct of revenge in Shylock’s character and trying to mitigate (reduce) the harsh court proceedings. Yet, Shylock’s obdurate (stubborn) nature has made it impossible for any compromises to be reached.

Antonio tells the Duke that he is beyond legal redemption; no legal remedies can pull him out of Shylock’s reach now

Antonio’s only approach is to battle Shylock’s hatred with his own patience

Antonio confesses that he has run out of all options to compromise: his only strategy now is to brave Shylock’s fury in a patient manner

Shylock enters the scene

Make room (the Duke asks people to stand aside so that Shylock is visible to the audience), and let him stand beforeour face (let the Duke and Shylock be face to face; Dramatic

device).

Shylock, the world thinks (people around; society and the world is of this opinion), and I think so too (and the Duke is in agreement with that opinion),

That thou but lead’st this fashion of thy malice (that Shylock is conducting himself in this hateful manner)

To the last hour of act; and then ’tis thought (only up to the last point of the act. The Duke means to imply that Shylock won’t show his revengeful aspect to Antonio finally and be

considerate)

Thou’lt show thy mercy and remorse more strange Than is thy strange apparent cruelty; (That once he has satisfiedhimself on Antonio’s plight, he will display his merciful side)

And where thou now exact’st the penalty, (And while Shylock has requested the Duke for granting him the forfeiture of his bond, the Duke hopes that Shylock will not seek it in the

final analysis and show mercy) Which is a pound of this poor merchant’s flesh, (The Duke

defines the penalty: a pound of Antonio’s flesh) Thou wilt not only loose the forfeiture (He hopes that Shylock will not only forgo the penalty), But, touch’d with human gentleness and love, (under the influence of human feelings of Love and compassion,) Forgive a moiety of the principal; (Shylock will also forgive a large portion of the penalty, having felt pity for Antonio) Glancing an eye of pity on his losses, (fig of speech: personification; the Duke personifies pity to convey that Shylock will cast an eye of pity on Antonio’s losses)

That have of late so huddled on his back, Enow to press a royal merchant down (Antonio’s losses have been such that any other merchant would have given way under them)

And pluck commiseration of his state (and his losses are enough to influence people into sympathising with him)From brassy bosoms and rough hearts of flint, (even the savage

races, such as the Turks and the Tartars, who have hardened emotions and wild feelings and have never been made civilized and sensitive would have pitied Antonio and a man

in his state) From stubborn Turks and Tartars, never train’d

To offices of tender courtesy.

We all expect a gentle answer, Jew (The Duke tells Shylock to be considerate and gentle).

Shylock refuses to budge and tells the Duke that it is his wish to proceed against Antonio

 He has, according to his own admission, sworn on the holy Saturday that he will work for the penalty and damages to be paid if the bond is forfeited.

 If the Duke denies him the forfeit,  the foreigners will lose their trust in Venetian law.

 The very ‘charter’, the document of Venetian constitution and independence, will be risked by such a denial

 As for reasons why he chooses to be so malicious towards Antonio, Shylock simply blames his whim

 HE uses the following examples to illustrate the role of ‘humour’ in a person’s conduct:

1. If his house were infested with a rat and he pleased to spend ten thousand ducats to have the rat poisoned, no one will question the legal validity of his judgment

2. There are men who do not love the sight of a gaping pig ( a reference to the roasted pig on the dinner table)

3. There are men who behave abnormally when they see a cat

4. And then there are men who are allergic to the notes and the tunes of the high-pitched bagpiper (a bag-pipe is a popular Scottish musical instrument)

 Shylock uses the dichotomy (division) of AFFECTION (Preference) and PASSION (Strong like or dislike) to justify his argument. Preference is guided by a man’s nature and thus rules his Passions.

 For all the examples Shylock mentions, he tells the Duke and the Court that there is no basis for why a man can’t tolerate the sight of a roasted pig, the cat and the bagpipe.

 A man (any man) may offend others by taking a dislike to popularly accepted things. But the intention of such a man is not to offend others. The man is offended by things popularly

appreciated. Therefore, he dislikes them and is considered offensive.

Shylock relates his argument to Antonio and announces it in the Court that he dislikes and hates Antonio as he (Antonio) has offended him.

 It is, therefore, that Shylock has chosen to forego his financial interest and pursue a losing suit (a loss making venture in letting go nine thousand ducats and accepting a pound of human flesh).In the interaction that follows BASSANIO and SHYLOCK have a verbal duel and accuse each other of wrong doing:

 Bassanio accuses Shylock of being insensitive and cruel

 Shylock tells Bassanio that he is not bound, or forced to please Bassanio with his answers

 Bassanio accuses Shylock of trying to kill all that he does not love

 Shylock concludes that violence proceeds from hatred and a man kills what he hates

 Bassanio argues that hatred should not be born out of offence

 Shylock answers that it will be folly to let a serpent sting a man twice

Antonio has so far been mute and he tells his friends and the Duke that:

1. Shylock’s Jewish cruelty is coming to the fore here

2. Shylock is more difficult to reason with than:

a) Standing on the beach and expecting the tides to reduce

b) Asking the wolf why  he has made the  ewe (the mother sheep) weep for her lamb

c) Asking the mountain pines (the pine trees on the hills) to move their tops from one side to another when ‘gusts of heaven’ (high winds) blow across them without making any noise

Shylock’s Jewish heart is the most impossible thing for a man to convince

 Antonio tells his friends not to look to Shylock for any mercy and make any further offers

 He also asks the Court to pronounce the judgment shortly and simply and Shylock have his will

 In the interaction that follows Bassanio offers Shylock six thousand ducats and Shylock rejects it saying that he would not accept thirty six, let alone six thousand ducats.

 The Duke wonders how Shylock will plead for mercy if he himself is so unrelenting

What judgment shall I dread, doing no wrong?

(Shylock has nothing to fear. He tells the Duke and the Court that his actions are perfectly justified)

You have among you many a purchased slave,(Shylock points out that the Venetians and the Duke have practiced Slavery, that they keep ‘purchased slaves’)

Which, like your asses and your dogs and mules,(These slaves, Shylock points out, are used much in the manner of animals. He uses a simile to indicate the treatment meted out to the slaves by Venetian people)

You use in abject and in slavish parts(in low tasks and slavery),

Because you bought them (as ‘you,’ the Venetians, have bought them, the slaves have no rights): shall I say to you (Will it be right if Shylock were to ask the Duke and the

Venetian society…),

Let them be free, marry them to your heirs?(To let the slaves be free and marry the slaves to their sons and daughters)

Why sweat they under burthens(and not to let the slaves sweat in toil)? let their beds

Be made as soft as yours (another simile. Why should the beds of the slaves not be as comfortable as those of their masters) and let their palates (the tongues of the slaves)

Be season’d (be given) with such viands (delicious food)?

You will answer

‘The slaves are ours:’ (If Shylock asked the Venetian people to treat the slaves fairly, they will tell him that the slaves are theirs and purchased. They don’t have rights and thus get

no fair treatment…)

so do I answer you:

The pound of flesh, which I demand of him,

Is dearly bought; ’tis mine and I will have it.

(Shylock is merely extending the logic of Slavery to his own argument: Antonio’s pound of flesh that he demands of the Duke and the Court is earned by Shylock. He is legally entitled to cut it from Antonio’s body. It is not for him to look into it morally when the Venetians do not look at Slavery morally)

If you deny me, fie upon your law! (if the pound of flesh be denied to Shylock, the laws of Venice are flawed)

There is no force in the decrees of Venice. (The legal statutes of Venice are without any power as they are not function on the principle of equality)

I stand for judgment: answer; shall I have it? (Shylock craves for judgment.)

 The Duke declares that he has the power and the authority to dismiss the Court and that he will dismiss the court unless Bellario, a learned doctor, whom the Duke has decided to

adjudicate on the issue, approaches the Court.

 Salerio informs the Duke that there is a man waiting for the Duke’s permission to enter the Court. The man has the letters and has come all the way from Padua. The Duke expresses his wish to see the letters and asks for the messenger

 Bassanio asks Antonio to take courage and not to give in

 Antonio confesses that he is a tainted or sick ram of his flock and will fall to the ground first

 He says that he is the fittest for death; he compares himself with the weakest fruit that has fallen first on the ground in a metaphor.

 He asks Bassanio to write ‘his epitaph’ (tombstone address).

 Nerissa enters and she is dressed like a lawyer’s clerk

 The Duke asks where she has come from and she greets the Duke telling him that she is from Padua and sent on by Bellario

 Bassanio asks Shylock why he whets his knife so seriously

 Shylock answers that it is his desire to cut off a pound of flesh from the bankrupt Antonio

 Gratiano remarks that Shylock is sharpening his knife not on his ‘sole’ but his ‘soul’ (he uses a pun). He calls Shylock a cruel Jew.

 Gratiano tells Shylock that no metal—not even the executioner’s axe (the axe that the executioner kills the criminals)—could ever be half as sharp as Shylock’s hatred.

 Shylock remarks that no prayers will be able to ‘move’ him

O, be thou damned (Gratiano curses Shylock and calls him damned), inexecrable (repulsive, hateful) dog,

And for thy life let justice be accused! (Shylock should have no reason to live except that he can not be killed legally in a civilized society)

Thou almost makest me waver in my faith (Shylock forces Gratiano to lose faith in his Christian beliefs and thoughts)

To hold opinion with Pythagoras (And Gratiano will agree with the philosophy of Pythagoras)

That souls of animals infuse themselves (The philosophy of Pythagoras was that the souls of animals fly into the human bodies at the time of their death.)

Into the trunks of men (into the bodies of men). Thy currish spirit (Shylock’s dog-like soul)

Governed (inhabited, was present in) a wolf who, hanged for human slaughter, (and that wolf was hanged for the killing of human beings)

Even from the gallows did his fell soul fleet, (while the wolf  was hanged, his soul escaped his body)

And whilst thou layest in thy unhallowed dam (and while Shylock lay in the womb of his evil mother)

Infused itself in thee (the spirit of the cruel wolf entered Shylock’s body), for thy desires

Are wolfish, bloody, starved, and ravenous. (As Shylock’s thoughts are cruel, bloodthirsty and violent)

Shylock tells Gratiano and Antonio’s friends in general to shut up, for all their words will not make Shylock’s course illegal

 He tells Gratiano that he (Gratiano) is hurting his lungs in railing Shylock in this manner

 The Duke mentions a letter from Bellario and wonders where the learned doctor from Padua is

 Nerissa answers that Portia (the learned doctor) is waiting to be admitted in the Duke’s service

 The Duke instructs his men to escort Portia to the Court room and asks his clerk to read him the letter from Bellario

 The Clerk reads:

Bellario in his letter has expected the Duke to:

a. Understand that he was sick at the receipt of the letter

b. His dear friend and collegue, a young doctor of laws by the name of Balthasar, was with him at the time he received the Duke’s letter

c. Bellario informed Balthasar of the disput between Antonio and Shylock

d. Together they consulted many books

e. Balthsar carries Ballario’s opinion and has his own learning to back it

f. Bellario does not have enough words to describe Balthasar’s learning and it is Balthasar who attends the Duke’s court at Bellario’s ‘importunity’ (request) and in his ‘stead’ (place)

g. Bellario requests the Duke not to let Balthasar’s visible lack of experience stand in way of his Judgment

h. In Bellario’s opinion Balthasar has ‘so young a body’ with ‘so old a head’

i. Bellario leaves Balthsar to the service of the Duke and the Duke’s ‘trial’ (here test offered to young Balthasar) should be the benchmark for Balthasar’s fame



 Portia next enters the scene ‘dressed like a doctor of laws’

 The Duke asks if Portia has been sent on by Bellario and she answers in the positive

 Portia is welcomed in the Duke’s court

 The Duke asks her if she knows the dispute between the Jew and Antonio

 Portia has full knowledge of the matter and asks Antonio and Shylock to stand before her

 She remarks that:

a. Shylock’s ‘suit’ (request) is ‘strange’ (anomalous/abnormal)

b. However, it is not illegal and he cannot be stopped on purely legal grounds

c. She asks Antonio his awareness of his predicament. That he stands to be threatened for life.

d. She asks him if he signed the Bond

e. Antonio confirms having signed the Bond

Portia expects Shylock to be merciful.  Shylock asks her why he should show Antonio mercy; there is no provision in law that can force him to do so.

Portia argues that:

1. The quality of Mercy is not forced on anyone and by anyone

(Shylock should not think of it that way)

2. It (the quality of Mercy) is like the gentle rain from heaven (figure of speech: metaphor) on earth

3. The quality of Mercy is blessed twice:

a. It blesses the person who receives it

b. It blesses the person who gives it (or shows mercy)

4. It is the ‘mightiest’ (the greatest feature) in the ‘mightiest’(most powerful people)

5. Mercy suits and defines the chosen King better than his crown

6. The scepter (royal staff) of the King represents the authority of his earthly power

The scepter of the King is also the feature, the symbol of his power and grandeur, in which resides the awe and the fear with which the King’s subjects perceive him

8. Mercy, however, is higher; greater than the influence of the scepter

9. Mercy resides and is enthroned in the very hearts of Kings (Portia draws a distinction between authority and compassion of Kings. She argues that a King is known not by his authority of power but by his greater merciful self.)

10. Mercy is a quality of God himself

11. It is with Mercy that a mortal King and his mutable power appears Godly and Divine

12. The King’s judgment is Godly when his Mercy moderates his Justice

13. She tells Shylock to remember that Justice alone does not lead the human race to salvation; that though he requests Justice, he should know that Justice devoid of mercy dooms the human race (a ref to the original sin in the bible that doomed the human race). Mercy shown by God leads us to salvation and, therefore, we should know the importance and the need of Mercy.

14. Man prays to God for Mercy and our prayers tell us to be merciful to others

15. Portia observes that she speaks in such detail to remove the element of cruel and cold-hearted justice from Shylock’s plea

16. If Shylock follows the course of Justice without mercy, the Venetian Court will, by the rule of law, have to deliver a sentence of punishment on Antonio

Shylock is unmoved and asks the Court to deliver his Justice and the penalty on Antonio as forfeit

 Portia wonders if Antonio has been able to arrange the money he owed Shylock

 Bassanio answers that he has the money and he deposits it on Antonio’s behalf. He says that

1. He is indebted to pay the money ten times over

2. And use his hands, his head and his heart to settle Antonio’s debt

3. If such an offer fails to break ice with Shylock, it should appear that Malice (hatred) has won over Truth

4. He requests Portia and the Duke to alter the law once so as not to let Shylock perform a legally sanctioned murder

5. He requests them to do a great right by doing a little wrong to rein in Shylock’s malicious will.

 Portia tells the Court that the law cannot be altered

 There is no authority in Venice that can change a decree ‘a rule established by law’

 As such a change will be recorded in the annals of legal history in Venice as a precedent and errors will be made by its use in future

 Shylock praises Portia by calling her a Daniel (NOTE: it is a biblical allusion to Daniel, a character in the Bible, the old testament, who was known for his wisdom and judgment) and

says that he wishes to honor her.

 Portia looks over the bond and tells Shylock that for his money lent, he is being offered thrice the amount

 Shylock cries foul and cites his oath he has made to God. He declares he will not lay perjury upon his soul for the state of Venice

 Portia declares that the bond is forfeit and that Shylock, by the bond, is entitled to claim a pound of flesh from Antonio to be extracted from nearest his heart

 She asks Shylock to be merciful and accept thrice his money and let her tear the bond

SHYLOCK: When it is paid according to the tenor (when the bond is paid in accordance with the words in it i.e. a pound of Antonio’s flesh.)

It doth appear you are a worthy judge (Shylock calls Portia a deserving judge of the case, someone who has shown knowledge and understanding of Shylock’s cause);

You know the law, your exposition (Portia is complimented by Shylock. She knows the law and her understanding has been perfect)

Hath been most sound (perfect): I charge you by the law

(Shylock asks Portia to adhere to law in judging his case),

Whereof you are a well-deserving pillar, (He also calls Portia a well deserving pillar of law; someone who knows and intends to implement the law) Proceed to judgment (It is in the name of law that a judgment should be delivered): by my soul I swear There is no power in the tongue of man (he swears that there is not a single soul in the state of Venice whose words could dissuade Shylock from carrying out his intention of executing the bond on Antonio in letter and spirit) To alter me: I stay here on my bond (He intends to seek the

implementation of his bond)

Antonio requests the Court to give the judgment without delay

 Portia is prompt in telling Antonio that the judgment is not in his favour: he must prepare his bosom for Shylock’s knife

 Shylock calls Portia noble and excellent

 Portia explains that the intent (direction) and the purpose (scope) has a complete relation with the penalty that Antonio must pay and which is also mentioned on the bond

 Shylock praises Portia yet again and compliments her on the maturity of her judgment

 Portia asks Antonio to ‘lay bare his bosom’ and Shylock asserts that Antonio must expose him his breast as it is from there that he must lose flesh

 Portia confirms the words of the bond; that Antonio must lose flesh from ‘nearest his heart. She asks for the scales to weigh the flesh

 Shylock confirms that he has the scales but refuses to provide for the surgeons as it is not nominated by the Bond

 Portia does mention that the lack of surgeons might bleed Antonio to death and Shylock ruthlessly conveys that he is under no obligation to save Antonio’s life

 On Portia’s importuning his moral conscience, Shylock replies in the negative and tells the Court that he does not intend to provide for any medical assistance to Antonio.

Portia asks Antonio if he has anything to say to his friends before the final judgment is passed and he makes a long speech:

ANTONIO

But little (he does not have much to speak): I am arm’d

(protected by his fortitude) and well prepared (prepeared for Shylock’s knife).

Give me your hand, Bassanio: fare you well! (he bids him goodbye)

Grieve not (do not be sad) that I am fallen to this for you; (that he has met with this fate on his account)

For herein Fortune shows herself more kind  than is her custom: (Antonio’s optimism, a point in contrast with his pessimism in the first act, tells him to read his fate positively.)

It is still her use (It is the usual fate of people)

To let the wretched man (the unfortunate man) outlive his wealth (see the days of his poverty after his wealth),

To view with hollow eye (tired eyes) and wrinkled brow (lose forehead skin)

An age of poverty; (Antonio argues that man generally lives to see his bad days while he does not have to live on. He is saved the pain of living through his miseries. He will be

dead soon and spared the horror of his poverty.) from which

lingering penance (from that lasting punishment)

Of such misery doth she cut me off. (of the misery and the pain of misfortune, fortune saves him)

Commend me to your honourable wife: (he asks Bassanio to tell Portia his story)

Tell her the process of Antonio’s end; (Bassanio should tell her how Antonio died)

Say how I loved you, speak me fair in death; (Bassanio should tell the world about their friendship and their close bond)

And, when the tale is told, bid her be judge

Whether Bassanio had not once a love. (and leave it to his wife to be the judge of their friendship)

Repent not you that you shall lose your friend,

And he repents not that he pays your debt; (neither of them should repent on what has happened and what will follow)

For if the Jew do cut but deep enough,

I’ll pay it presently with all my heart. (As no matter how deep an incision the Jew makes on Antonio’s body, Antonio will pay the debt most willingly.)

Bassanio responds to this emotional speech by referring to his dear wife.

He says that Portia is as dear to him as life itself but not even life and his wife and all the world together holds a position that may be compared with Antonio’s

 He says that he is prepared to lose all to Shylock to save Antonio

 Portia, who is listening to this conversation unbeknownst to Bassanio, expresses her disapproval of her husband’s offer

 Gratiano is the next to commit all his resources, including his wife to Antonio’s defence. He goes a step further and wishes that Nerissa were in heaven to request the Gods to change

Shylock’s mind

 Shylock mocks the Christian husbands for the frivolity with which they pledge their wives to the welfare of their friend. He wishes his daughter were married to a descendent of Barrabus (a criminal in the Bible, another Biblical allusion) and not to a Christian.

 Shylock asks the Court to hurry up and award him his sentence

 Portia announces that Antonio’s pound of flesh is Shylock’s for the taking. It is sanctioned by law and awarded by the Court.

 Shylock rushes to thank Portia.

 Portia further states that Shylock may cut off the same pound of flesh from close to Antonio’s chest; this is also sanctioned by law and awarded by the Court

 Shylock rushes towards Antonio and thanks Portia again for a decisive sentence against the erring merchant.

 Before he can lay his knife on Antonio’s body, Portia stops Shylock

 She tells him that the Bond does not mention blood. Shylock is entitled to the flesh and not the blood.

NOTE: An understanding of the Biblical canon is required here.

The Bible considers Blood to be a sacred component of life. And in Venice, shedding Christian blood was a crime of the highest order. The flesh (that represents sin in the Bible) could be risked as it was rank and base. Yet the distinction between blood and flesh is nowhere more apparent than in the Christian theology; Shylock’s bond would not have had legal sanction had it explicitly referred to shedding Christian blood. It is the implicit reference, the natural outcome that Portia takes out from what appears to be an unassailable Bond. The bond is malafide in light of what it would do if it were executed. It would shed

Christian blood: an illegal and immoral act to commit in a predominantly Christian country.

Portia asks Shylock to take away a pound of flesh without shedding a drop of Christian blood

 She tells Shylock that

1. He can cut off a pound of flesh

2. But if he sheds a drop of Christian blood in the cutting of a pound, his lands and goods will be confiscate by the State of Venice

 Gratiano is ecstatic and Shylock is shocked. He wonders if that is the law and Portia points out that he can see the relevant act

 Shylock can immediately sense that he has been exposed and his game is up. He asks for a compromise. The Bond could be paid thrice and Antonio could go home.

 Portia however has other plans. She intends to hunt Shylock with his own weapon: cold legality. Shylock has refused settlement in open court and he will get only what his legal

entitlement is: a pound of flesh without a drop of blood. She intends to give him nothing but the penalty

 Portia tells Shylock:

1. To be ready to cut off the flesh

2. Not shed any blood

3. Cut no less, no more than a mere pound; if he cuts more or less than a pound by the twentieth part of a scruple (the smallest unit of measurement) or even the weight of a hair, Shylock will lose all his wealth and property to the State of Venice and risk death

himself.

Antonio’s friends know that he has won the case. Gratiano begins to celebrate already by daring Shylock to act

 Shylock asks for the principal amount he lent Antonio, the three thousand pounds. If he is given that he can go home

 Portia refuses to let him have the offer. Shylock’s earlier refusals to settle the matter financially entitle him only to Justice and nothing else

 Shylock is so defeated that he conveys his intent to forego even the principal. He knows that he stands thoroughly exposed.

 Portia however will not let him go scot free. She brings the charge of murder to his door:

Tarry, Jew (she asks Shylock to wait):

The law hath yet another hold on you (Shylock has further accountability to the Venetian law).

It is enacted in the laws of Venice (it is so written and mentioned in Venetian law, so enacted),

If it be proved (successfully established) against an alien (against a foreign citizen; Shylock was a foreign citizen)

That by direct or indirect attempts

He seek the life of any citizen (that directly or otherwise, he plotted against the life of a citizen),

The party [the person (here, Antonio)] ‘gainst the which he doth contrive (the person against whom the foreign citizen makes such an attempt)

Shall seize one half his goods [that person (here Antonio )] will own half the property and goods of the foreign citizen (here Shylock) of the ; the other half (the other half of the property) Comes to the privy coffer of the state (will be owned by the

state’s treasury); And the offender’s life lies in the mercy [the life of the offender (here Shylock) will lie at the mercy of the Duke and the government of Venice]

Of the duke only, ‘gainst all other voice. [and in this matter the judgment of the Duke will be final and undisputed]

In which predicament [in this problem and conflict], I say, thou stand’st [Portia is telling Shylock that he will have to defend himself now that he can be said to have tried murder]

;

For it appears, by manifest proceeding, (as it is very clear by the case that Shylock tried to harm Antonio’s life)

That indirectly and directly too (both directly and indirectly)

Thou hast contrived against the very life [that he contrived, planned, against the very life of Antonio)

Of the defendant (Antonio is the defendant here); and thou hast incurr’d (and Shylock has become liable for being prosecuted by the state of Venice for a crime that he could

not have committed)

The danger formerly by me rehearsed (the danger here refers to the danger that Shylock faces now from Venetian law) .

Down therefore and beg mercy of the duke (Shylock should go down on his knees and beg the Duke for forgiveness).

 Gratiano tells Shylock to beg mercy of the Duke and others so that he may get the leave to hang himself. He tells Shylock that:

1. Shylock does not have the leave to hang himself either

2. He does not have the value of a cord (rope) left with him

3. And the State must hang him

 The Duke tells Shylock that there is vital difference between him and the Christians and makes two points:

1. He forgives Shylock his life even before he has asked for it

2. Half Shylock’s wealth is Antonio’s

3. And the other half should come to the state of Venice. This could be further converted into a fine if Shylock is humble.

Shylock’s defeat is now visible and he asks the Duke to:

1. Punish him severely.

2. He uses a metaphor comparing his life with a house. He argues that a house without foundations is hollow; very similarly, a life without money and means is hollow and Shylock wants to have none of it

3. That if they have decided to take the means that have sustained his life, they have decided to take his life

 Portia asks Antonio if he could show Shylock mercy. Gratiano observes that all that Shylock deserves is a halter gratis (a rope free of cost)

 Antonio’s merciful character however comes out and he declares that if it pleases the Duke and the lords and the Court, he would:

1. Request the Duke and the Court to cancel the fine against half of Shylock’s wealth.

2. Keep the other half of Shylock’s wealth (that now goes to

Antonio) to give it away to Lorenzo, who eloped with his daughter Jessica. Two further points he stipulates:

A) That Shylock should embrace Christianity

B) That he should draw up a deed of gift in the Court of all his possessions and transfer them to his son in law and his daughter

 The Duke tells the Court that he will withdraw the pardon that he has given Shylock if Shylock fails to satisfy the Court on these points

 Portia asks Shylock if he has anything to say

 Shylock answers that he is satisfied and has no say in the matter anymore

 Portia asks Nerissa to draw the deed of gift. Shylock asks them to send it on and let him go home

 The Duke gives Shylock the leave to go

 Gratiano mentions that Shylock’s christening (the ritual of acquiring a new Christian name) will bring him to the font (the large stone bowl kept in the Church with holy water) with two Godfathers but had he been the Judge, he would have sent Shylock to the gallows (to the hanging place) with ten Godfathers. Gratiano means to say that he would have called ten more Godfathers as Jury to punish Shylock had he been the judge.

 Shylock exits the scene

 The Duke asks Portia to go home with him to dinner

 Portia humbly turns the Duke’s request down. She tells him that she must go back to Padua by the next boat.

 The Duke feels sorry that Portia is not able to dine with him

 He asks Antonio to reward Portia as she has saved him his life

 The Duke, the Magnificoes and the followers exit the scene

 Bassanio thanks Portia for her service to them as a lawyer. Portia has freed them of grievous penalties and for her services he offers her the three thousand dollars that he got for Shylock.

 Antonio also requests her to accept the money and expresses his indebtedness to her

 Portia does not intend to take the fee. She says:

1. A man satisfied with his work is paid by it

2. In being able to deliver Antonio (save him) Portia is satisfied and therefore well paid.

3. She tells them that she has never been interested in money and monitory gains

4. She asks them to recognize her when they meet again

5. She intends to take her leave of them

 Bassanio importunes Portia to accept something to remind her of them. He asks Portia to accept something as a tribute, if not as fee

 He asks for two things to be granted: Portia should forgive him for being stubborn; she should not say no to him

 Portia asks for Antonio’s gloves and Bassanio’s ring

 On being asked his wedding ring Bassanio recoils. This is the ring that his wife gave him and he does not wish to part with it

 He says that the ring is a worthless article and it will be shameful of him to give Portia that

 Portia positions herself brilliantly and says that she will not have any other ring but the one that she asked for

 Bassanio pleads his helplessness and says that:

1. More depends on the ring than the value

2. He will look for the most valuable ring in Venice and give Portia that

3. He will make public announcements to that effect if Portia spares her this ring that he got from his wife

 Portia mocks the offer Bassanio made and calls him ‘liberal only in making offers. She accuses him of making an offer first and then not keeping his promise

 Bassanio tells her that the ring is a gift from his wife and that he swore it when he put it on that he would never remove it.

 Portia terms Bassanio’s explanation a mere excuse and wonders if his wife would truly object to the ring being given away if she knew the contribution Portia has made in Antonio’s life

 She says that Bassanio’s wife would not ‘hold enemy’ forever if she knew how well Portia deserved the ring

 She exits the place with Nerissa dissatisfied

 Antonio requests Bassanio to let the lawyer have the ring. He requests Bassanio to consider his friendship with Antonio and the lawyer’s deserving nature to make his point

 Bassanio finally gives in and asks Gratiano to run after the clerk and give him the ring and bring him to Antonio’s house

 Gratiano exits the scene

 Bassanio and Antonio go to Antonio’s house even as Bassanio tells Antonio that they will fly away to Belmont in the morning (fig of speech metaphor; their going to Belmont is being

compared with the flight of the bird)

ACT IV Scene II

 Portia and Nerissa enquire the Jew’s house so that the deed could be given Shylock to sign

 They intend to leave Venice that evening itself in order to reach Belmont before Bassanio

 The deed, Portia says, will be welcome to Lorenzo Gratiano enters the scene

 He overtakes Portia and Nerissa and hands them the ring that Bassanio has sent on

 He also makes them a dinner invitation

 Portia expresses her inability in attending the dinner

 She accepts the ring most thankfully

 She asks Gratiano to show Nerissa Shylock’s house

Nerissa tells Gratiano that she will try to get the ring out from her husband and Portia wishes her good luck. Once the rings have been obtained, the women will have defensive husbands. There will be a lot of swearing on the part of the husbands, who will swear and pledge their innocence in the matter.

Portia tells Nerissa to hurry and join her at the tranect (where the ferry for Belmont will be caught on their way back).