Merchant of Venice summaries

ACT II, vi The carnival has begun. Gratiano and Salarino are waiting for Lorenzo outside Shylock’s house. Lorenzo arrives late – he’s come to fetch Jessica. Jessica is dressed up as a page and she is concerned about her appearance: “For I am much asham’d of my exchange But love is blind, and lovers cannot see The pretty foolishness that themselves commit.” (II, vi, 36-38) Jessica will be Lorenzo’s torchbearer and so no one will recognise her. Gratiano says Jessica is too nice to be a Jew: “Now by my hood, a gentle and no Jew!” (II, vi, 52) Lorenzo states why he loves Jessica – she’s wise, beautiful and loyal (lines 53-58, p.35) Antonio comes to say that there is no masque anymore tonight – Bassanio is setting sail immediately because the wind is blowing in the right direction.

ACT II, vii The Prince of Morocco is about to choose a casket. The casket that has Portia’s portrait in is the correct one. He reads the inscriptions on each casket: “This first of gold, who this inscription bears… …Who chooseth me, must give and hazard all he hath.” (II, vii, 4-9) It’s important that the lead casket has this inscription – only the gentleman who truly loves Portia would risk everything!! Morocco chooses the gold casket, and it is the wrong one!! “All that glisters is not gold; Often have you heard told…” (II, vi, 65-73) Morocco leaves immediately. Portia’s closing comment is racist: “A gentle riddance! Draw the curtains, go. Let all of his complexion choose me so.” (II, vi, 78-79)

ACT II, ix The Prince of Arragon arrives to choose a casket. He has to observe three things: He must never tell anyone which casket he chooses If he chooses the wrong casket, he must never talk to a woman about marriage If he chooses the wrong one, he must leave immediately (II, ix, 10-15) He chooses the silver casket: “What’s here? The portrait of a blinking idiot” (II, ix, 53) He reads the scroll and leaves. “Hanging and wiving goes by destiny” (II, ix, 82) – Destiny chooses when you will die and who you will marry. A messenger arrives with news that a young Venetian is on his way – he has sent “gifts of rich value” There is much excitement around the arrival of this gentleman…

ACT III, scene iv Lorenzo tells Portia how worthy Antonio is of Portia’s help ‘how true a gentleman you send relief, How dear a lover of my lord your husband, I know you would be prouder of the work Than customary bounty can enforce you.’ (III, iv, 6-9) Portia says it is a small cost and she is glad to do good. She then tells Lorenzo that she is leaving her estate in his hands while she is going away (lines 24-26) She and Nerissa are going to stay at a nearby monastery… Portia then orders her servant, Balthazar, to go to her cousin, Doctor Bellario to fetch ‘notes and garments’ for her, and then meet her at the ferry leaving for Venice. Portia and Nerissa are going to disguise themselves as men and go to Venice ‘They shall, Nerissa, but in such a habit that they shall think we are accomplished with what we lack.’ (III, 60-64)

ACT III, scene v This scene provides a lapse in time between Portia leaving for Venice and the day of the trial. Lancelot has a conversation with Jessica about her Jewish heritage ‘the sins of the father are to be laid upon the children…Therefore be o’good cheer, for truly I think you are damned.’ (III, v, 1-5) Jessica says she will be saved by her Christian husband. ‘I shall be saved by my husband; he hath made me Christian.’ (III, v, 16-17) Lorenzo enters and has some banter with Lancelot…(lines 25-55) Lorenzo asks Jessica if she likes Portia: Jessica says, ‘Past all expressing.’ (lines 64-74) Portia is without match, she is perfect in all respects. This makes Portia seem powerful – everyone admires her.

ACT IV, scene i This scene is the climax of the play The duke is sympathetic towards Antonio and says that he feels sorry for him. He calls Shylock an ‘inhuman wretch, uncapable of pity, void and empty’ of mercy (lines 4-6). Antonio is prepared to accept his fate, he knows he can’t stand against Shylock because he could not pay back the money. He is prepared ‘to suffer with a quietness of spirit’ and endure Shylock’s anger. (lines 11-13) When Shylock enters, the duke tells him that they all expect him to have pity on Antonio – “We all expect a gentle answer, Jew” (line 34) The duke says Antonio has suffered greater losses than any merchant could survive. But Shylock is determined: “If you deny it, let the danger light upon your charter and your city’s freedom!” (lines 38-39) “So can I give no reason, not I will not, more than a log’d hate and a certain loathing I bear Antonio, that I follow thus a losing suit against him.” (lines 59-62)

Nerissa enters, disguised as a lawyer’s clerk… Bassanio begins to argue with Shylock, but Antonio tells him to give up – “You may as well do anything most hard as seek to soften that – than which what’s harder? – his Jewish heart.” “Therefore I do beseech you/ Make no moe offers, use no farther means,/ But with all brief and plain conveniency/ Let me have judgement, and the Jew his will.” (lines 80-83) Bassanio gives Shylock six thousand ducats (from Portia), but Shylock refuses – “I would not draw them; I would have my bond.” (lines 86-87) “The pound of flesh which I demand of him/ is dearly bought; ‘tis mine, and I will have it./ If you deny me, fie upon your law:/ There is no force in the decrees of Venice./ I stand for judgement. Answer: shall I have it?” (lines 99-103) The duke threatens to dismiss the court unless Doctor Bellario (Portia’s cousin) arrives to help judge the case Bassanio fears for Antonio and says, “The Jew shall have my flesh, blood, bones and all,/ Ere thou shalt lose for me one drop of blood” (lines 112-113) But Antonio has already given up the fight (lines 114-118) Nerissa enters, disguised as a lawyer’s clerk… Shylock starts to sharpen his knife “to cut the forfeiture from that bankrupt there” (line 122), and Gratiano says that Shylock’s envy is sharper than the metal of a hangman’s axe (lines 123- 126)

Portia is very careful and clever in handling the case: Gratiano says Shylock must be the reincarnation of a dog spirit– “for thy desires are wolfish, bloody, starv’d, and ravenous.” (IV, I, 137-138) The Duke reads a letter from Doctor Bellario, saying that he is sick, but Balthazar, a young doctor of Rome, is a wise young man and can judge the case (lines 149-164, pg. 72). Portia enters, disguised as this Balthazar. Portia is very careful and clever in handling the case: She does not take sides with Antonio or Shylock, unlike the Duke She speaks very eloquently about mercy – “It is enthroned in the hearts of kings/It is an attribute to God himself” (lines 182-195), hoping to persuade Shylock to be merciful. She asks Shylock to moderate his demands and have mercy (lines 200-203) But Shylock refuses – “My deeds upon my head! I crave the law,/The penalty and forfeit of my bond.” (lines 204-205) Gratiano asks Portia and the Duke to use their authority and bend the law just once, but Portia refuses….this makes Shylock respect her – “O wise young judge, how I do honour thee” (line 222)

Portia tells Antonio to prepare himself for Shylock’s knife. Portia says that Shylock can lawfully take the pound of flesh because the money wasn’t paid back, but she also asks Shylock to “Be merciful” and take the 6ooo ducats and let her tear up the contract (lines 231-232) Shylock says only when it is paid according to the terms in the contract “By my soul, I swear/There is no power in the tongue of man/To alter me. I stay here on my bond.” (lines 238-240) Portia tells Antonio to prepare himself for Shylock’s knife. Shylock takes out some scales to weigh the pound of flesh, and states he will cut nearest the heart. Portia asks if he has a surgeon ready to stop the blood, but Shylock does not care about that because it was not stated in the contract (lines 255-260) He is impressed and pleased with Portia’s judgement – “O wise and upright judge/How much more elder art thou than thy looks!” (lines 248-249) Antonio speaks to Bassanio: (lines 262-279, pg 77) “And when the tale is told, bid her be judge/Whether Bassanio had not once a love” (lines 278-279) Bassanio responds and says that he would sacrifice his wife, his life and all the world to save Antonio (…and Portia is standing right there…) (lines 280-285) Portia says: “Your wife would give you little thanks for that/If she were by to hear you make the offer” (dramatic irony because the audience knows that Portia is there to hear him)

Shylock asks the court to continue – Portia says - “A pound of that same merchant’s flesh is thine/The court awards it, and the law doth give it.” (lines 297-298) As Shylock is about to cut into Antonio’s flesh, Portia stops him: “This bond doth give thee here no jot of blood. The words expressly are ‘a pound of flesh’ Take then thy bond, take thou thy pound of flesh, But in cutting it, if thou dost shed One drop of Christian blood, thy lands and goods Are by the laws of Venice confiscate Unto the state of Venice.” (lines 303-310) This is a very clever twist of the contract – Shylock can’t possibly cut out a pound of flesh and not draw blood, but if he does draw blood, his land and goods will be confiscated… Shylock decides to have the money – “I take this offer then. Pay the bond thrice/And let the Christian go.” (lines 316-317)

But Portia tells Bassanio to wait and says that Shylock must take what is lawfully his – the pound of flesh. “The Jew shall have all the justice…” (line 319) “Therefore prepare thee to cut off the flesh…” (lines 323-330) She says that if Shylock cuts off more or less than one pound exactly, “Thou diest, and all thy goods are confiscate” (line 330) Shylock says he will rather just have the money, but Portia says he has already refused the money – “Thou shalt have nothing but the forfeiture,/To be taken at thy peril, Jew.” (lines 341-342) Portia has cunningly placed Shylock in an impossible situation. Portia continues: The Venetian law states that if it can be proven that a foreigner wanted to take the life of a citizen, directly or indirectly, then the foreigner’s goods will be confiscated, half will be given to the victim and half will be given to the State, and the offender’s life will be at the mercy of the Duke. (lines 345-360) This clearly applies to Shylock because he is a foreigner and he wanted to take Antonio’s life! “Down, therefore, and beg mercy of the duke” (line 361)

Portia asks Antonio if he can show any mercy to Shylock: The Duke tells Shylock that in order for him to see the difference in spirit between the Jews and the Christians, the Duke will pardon Shylock before Shylock even asks for it. “I pardon thee thy life before thou ask it. For half thy wealth, it is Antonio’s; The other half comes to the general state, Which humbleness may drive unto a fine.” (lines 366-371) Shylock says they should rather take his life because they are taking the means away that he lives by (lines 372-375) Do we feel sorry for Shylock now…? Portia asks Antonio if he can show any mercy to Shylock: Antonio says he is happy to set aside the fine of one half of Shylock’s property As long as he can use the second half to give to Lorenzo, ‘that lately stole’ Jessica Antonio asks two more things: 1. That Shylock converts to Christianity 2. That Shylock must make a will in court that leaves all his property to Lorenzo and Jessica when he dies.

We see that Antonio has no revenge for Shylock – he does not want to destroy Shylock The Duke agrees to Antonio’s terms, and Shylock is asked if he’s content (lines 389-392) Shylock says he is, but asks to be dismissed from court to go home because he is unwell (he was in the position of power at the beginning of the court session, but now he is completely powerless, everything has been taken from him!) Is he a villain or a victim….? The court is dismissed.

Bassanio and Antonio thank Portia and Nerissa (still disguised as Balthazar and a clerk) for all they’ve done in saving Antonio’s life, and wish to give the three thousand ducats that were due to Shylock (lines 406-410) But Portia says she is satisfied enough because the case went well. Bassanio urges her to take something from them so she can remember them… So Portia asks for his gloves…and then his ring! Bassanio asks her to rather not take his ring – “There’s more depends on this than on the value./ The dearest ring in Venice will I give you,/ And find it out by proclamation./ Only for this I pray you pardon me.” (lines 432-435) Portia lets Bassanio keep his ring and leaves, but Antonio urges him to give it to the lawyer – “My lord Bassanio, let him have the ring.’ Let his deservings and my love withal/ Be valu’d ‘gainst your wife’s commandment.” (lines 447-449) Gratiano takes Bassanio’s ring to Portia….(meaning Bassanio failed Portia’s test…)

Act V, scene i The play ends in Belmont  significance? Lorenzo and Jessica have a lovers’ conversation under the moonlight… A messenger tells them Portia will arrive back from ’the monastery’ in the morning Lancelot also brings news that Bassanio will be arriving in the morning Musicians play for Portia’s arrival Jessica says “I am never merry when I hear sweet music” (line 69) Maybe because Shylock never let her have fun…? Portia and Nerissa arrive Portia orders Nerissa to tell all servants that they must not say anything about Portia’s absence Bassanio, Antonio and Gratiano arrive…Portia is very welcoming Gratiano and Nerissa start arguing about the ring she gave him He said he gave it to the judge’s clerk (line 143) – “I could not for my heart deny it him” (line 165) He calls it a ‘paltry ring’ (line 147), paltry means insignificant

Portia says Gratiano is to blame, he should never have given away a ring containing such honour She says that she gave her husband a ring and if he lost it, she would be just as upset (dramatic irony…we know her husband has given the ring away!) Bassanio says, aside, that he wishes his left hand had been cut off rather than having to tell Portia he gave her ring away… Gratiano tells Portia that Bassanio gave his ring to the lawyer… Portia and Nerissa act angry and give Bassanio and Gratiano a hard time (p.95-97) Bassanio tries to explain why he gave the ring away. NB: lines 266-279: Portia tells everyone to calm down and then reveals their disguise to Gratiano and Bassanio and admits that they left Belmont shortly after Bassanio She then tells Antonio that three of his ships (argosies) have actually returned! Antonio tells her that she has given him life – “You have given me life and living” (line 286) This is the happiest Antonio has been in the whole play! Nerissa then gives the deed to Lorenzo and Jessica stating that they will inherit Shylock’s property on his death. Gratiano ends the play saying he will look after Nerissa’s ring better than anything else in his life.