1. The Trial: Act 4, scene 1
The Merchant of Venice

2. Part 1: pages 141-161 For each quotation, answer Who said it?
What does it reveal about the character?

3. Lines 3-6
“I am sorry for thee. Thou art come to answer A stony adversary, an inhuman wretch, Uncapable of pity, void and empty From any dram of mercy.”

4. Lines 60-63
“So I can give no reason, nor I will not, More than a lodged hate and a certain loathing I bear Antonio, that I follow thus A losing suit against him. Are you answered?”

5. Line 70
“What, wouldst thou have a serpent sting thee twice?”

6. Lines 79-84
“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 more offers, use no farther means, But with all brief and plain conveniency Let me have judgment and the Jew his will.”

7. Lines ,
“O, be thou damned, inexecrable dog, And for thy life let justice be accused; Thou almost mak’st me waver in my faith… For thy desires Are wolfish, bloody, starved, and ravenous.”

8. Lines
“The quality of mercy* is not strained.
It droppeth as the gentle rain fro heaven
Upon the place beneath. It is twice blest:
It blesseth him that gives and him that takes.”
*Mercy = compassion or forgiveness shown to someone whom it’s within one’s power to punish or harm.

9. Lines
“O wise and upright judge, How much more elder art thou than thy looks!”

10. Lines
“Repent but you that you shall lose your friend And he repents not that he pays your debt. For if the Jew do cut but deep enough, I’ll pay it instantly with all my heart.”

11. Lines
“But life itself, my wife, and all the world Are not with me esteemed above thy life. I would lose all, ay, sacrifice them all Here to this devil, to deliver you.”

12. Lines
“I have a wife who I protest to love. I would she were in heaven, so she could Entreat some power to change this currish Jew.”

13. Part 2: pages 163-175 For the following quotations, Who said it?
Paraphrase it in your own words.
Answer, why are the lines so important?
What character trait does it reveal, or what important plot moment does it represent?

14. Lines
“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 the 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.”

15. Lines
“He has refused it [the money] in the open court. He shall have merely justice and his bond.”

16. Lines
“The party ‘gainst the which he doth contrive Shall seize one half of his goods; the other half Comes to the privy coffer of the state, And the offender’s life lies in the mercy Of the Duke only…”

17. Lines
“Thou shalt see the difference of our spirit, I pardon thee thy life before thou ask it.”

18. Lines
“Two things provided more: that for this favor He presently become a Christian; The other, that he do record a gift, Here in the court, of all he dies possessed Unto his son Lorenzo and his daughter.”

19. Lines
“In christ’ning shalt thou have two godfathers. Had I been judge, thou shouldst have had ten more, To bring thee to the gallows, not to the font.”

20. Lines
“You press me far, and therefore I will yield. Give me your gloves; I’ll wear them for your sake— And for your love I’ll take this ring from you. Do not draw back your hand; I’ll take no more, And you in love shall not deny me this.”

21. Lines
“My Lord Bassanio, let him have the ring. Let his deservings and my love withal Be valued ‘gainst your wife’s commandment.”

22. Essential Questions from 4.1
How does Portia save Antonio’s life? Ultimately, what role do women play in this scene?
How are Antonio and the Duke merciful towards Shylock?
What new insights about their husbands do Nerissa and Portia have?
Is Shylock’s trial a fair one? Why or why not?