Nerissa takes the deed and asks Graziano to show her the way to Shylock's house. The heiress Portia, now the wife of Antonio's friend, dresses as a lawyer and saves Antonio. He compares his desire to kill Antonio with "Some men there are love not a gaping pig, / Some that are mad if they behold a cat" (4.1.46-47). Antonio, however, denies that he is worried about his ships and remains depressed. Merchant of Venice study guide contains a biography of William Shakespeare, literature essays, a complete e-text, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis. The Merchant of Venice opens on a street in Venice (there are streets and not just canals in Venice—who knew?) Shylock instead asks the Duke to kill him, saying, "Nay, take my life and all, pardon not that. Portia adds to this sense of doubling when she arrives in the court. The Merchant of Venice Act 4 Scene 1 Summary Workbook Answers The Merchant of Venice Act 4 Scene 1 Summary. Although Antonio doesn't have cash handy, because all of his ships are at sea, he gives Bassanio permission to borrow as much money as he needs on Antonio's credit. What are the 4 main plot in The Merchant of Venice? Read our modern English translation of this scene. However, Portia is not willing to back down and instead only gives him the pound of flesh, further saying that if he takes a tiny bit more or less he will be put to death himself. The laws of Venice are such that if any Venetian's blood is shed, all the goods and lands of the perpetrator may be confiscated by the state. Meanwhile in Venice, Shylock, a rich Jewish moneylender who harbors a secret hatred for Antonio, has agreed to lend Bassanio three thousand ducats for three months, on Antonio's bond. His two friends leave after Bassanio, Graziano and Lorenzoarrive. After Shylock leaves, the duke invites Portia, still in the disguise of a young lawyer, to dinner. However, in forcing him to convert, they are stripping him of his identity as a Jew and forcing him to give up his occupation, because Christians may not practice usury. -Graham S. The Duke introduces "mercy" as an alternative to either "justice" or "revenge." Portia tells the Duke that she has thoroughly studied the case and then asks, "Which is the merchant here, and which the Jew?" Some have suggested Shylock meant to circumcise Antonio, others think he meant to make Antonio take over his place. Act I where Antonio, a Venetian merchant, complains of a … Read the full text of The Merchant of Venice Act 4 Scene 2 with a side-by-side translation HERE. They are given by Bassanio and Graziano as a token of respect and friendship to people they deem to be men. add evidence, Antonio is confident that he will be able to repay his loan to Shylock. Antonio, a merchant, is in a melancholic state of mind and unable to find a reason for his depression.His friends Salerio and Solanio attempt to cheer him up by telling him that he is only worried about his ships returning safely to port. The Merchant of Venice Summary Read the full text of The Merchant of Venice with a side-by-side translation HERE . He says that it was bad luck that Antonio fell into the clutches of such an enemy who doesn’t even have an ounce of … Portia rules that Shylock has the right to claim a pound of flesh from next to Antonio's heart according to the bond. Gratiano, too, shows his typical bile. Throughout this play there is also the concept of the scapegoat. She is surprised that Bassanio parted with it after all, and Nerissa decides to test Graziano in the same way. Additionally, Act 4 shows the extent of Antonio and Bassanio’s friendship and further suggests that their friendship is unusually close or perhaps of a … Foregoing his usual high interest rate, Shylock demands instead that if the day for payment falls due and the money is not returned, he may cut off one pound of flesh from Antonio's body. Indeed, given the confusion so many people have with the title, it is often this very question which is asked. As she leaves, the duke tells Antonio to reward the young law clerk, since it was he who saved Antonio’s … Shylock enters the court and the Duke tells him that all of the men gathered there expect him to pardon Antonio and forgive the debt. Antonio’s love for Bassanio is reflected in Bassanio’s love for Portia. Summary. A "gentile" is a non-Jew. The subplot further develops in this scene. Now he must beg for mercy rather than a strict interpretation of the law. He was advised to practice mercy but insisted on the law. ... Summary of scenes in Act 4. The essence of doubling is reinforced even more with the double exclusion of the two men at the end of the play. This is the scene where Shylock is to take his forfeiture from Antonio. His hatred towards Antonio can thereby be explained. Our, "Sooo much more helpful than SparkNotes. Summary and Analysis Act III: Scene 4 Summary At Belmont, following the departure of Bassanio, Lorenzo commends Portia for her perfect understanding of the friendship between her husband and Antonio. (4.1.218). The Duke is talking to Antonio. Chapter Summary for William Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice, act 4 scene 1 summary. Shylock tells them that Antonio should "look to his bond" and make sure he repays the money, or else Shylock is planning on taking his pound of flesh. Portia declines, saying that she must leave immediately for Padua. She tells Nerissa to take it to Shylock's house and make him sign it. She tells Nerissa to take it to Shylock's house and make him sign it. Shylock refuses to dismiss the bond, even for repayment of twice the original loan. My students love how organized the handouts are and enjoy tracking the themes as a class.”, “Every teacher of literature should use these translations. The scene is of a court in Venice. Merchant of Venice Act 4 Scene 2 Summary, Merchant of Venice Workbook Answers. / You take my house when you do take the prop / That doth sustain my house; you take my life /When you do take the means whereby I live" (4.1.369-373). (4.1.169). (4.1.169). Analysis. Summary. "Merchant of Venice Act 4 Summary and Analysis". The Merchant of Venice Act 4 Scene 2 Summary Workbook Answers The Merchant of Venice Act 4 Scene 2 Summary. Shylock tells him that even if there were six times as much money offered to him, he would not take it. He further offers to take care of the half he was awarded as a form of inheritance for Jessica and Lorenzo. Solanio and Salerio discuss the rumor that Antonio has lost yet a second ship. She is treating the law much like a riddle, as something to be interpreted. ICSE Solutions Selina ICSE Solutions ML Aggarwal Solutions. Shylock replies that he has already sworn by his Sabbath that he will take his pound of flesh from Antonio. In running through the conditions and possibilities of the case, Portia echoes the suitors trying to figure out the riddle of the caskets. The duke hopes Shylock will relent and show Antonio mercy at the last minute, but Shylock makes it clear he has no such plan. The "wether" is a castrated male sheep, thus directly stating the fact that Antonio is unable to breed. These papers were written primarily by students and provide critical analysis of Merchant of Venice. The Duke of Venice warns Antonio, the … Summary. What are Bassanio’s concerns and reactions about the terms? When Bassanio finally offers a self-sacrificing gesture, Antonio immediately overrides it. Antonio, having received half of Shylock's wealth, essentially takes over for Shylock by using Shylock's money. Portia, repeatedly calling for Shylock to show mercy, finds that each time he wants to insist on the most literal interpretation of the law. However, at Antonio's urging, Bassanio takes off the ring and gives it to Graziano, telling him to take it to Portia and invite her to dinner that night at Antonio's. Summary: Act IV, scene i, lines 397–453. She is surprised that Bassanio parted with it after all, and Nerissa decides to test Graziano in the same way. Learn exactly what happened in this chapter, scene, or section of The Merchant of Venice and what it means. Antonio intervenes on Shylock's behalf, and asks the Duke to allow Shylock to keep half of his wealth. In the case of Shylock, it is true that his heart can't be softened. After a few days, Shylock hears that his daughter Jessica is squandering her stolen wealth in Genoa. Shylock starts the play on the opposite extreme, able to make his money breed with interest and his family breed through Jessica. True: Antonio accepts the absurd payment of a pound of his flesh should he default on his loan. The duke of Venice greets Antonio and expresses pity for him, calling Shylock an inhuman monster who can summon neither pity nor mercy. stony adversary – stone hearted rival; inhuman wretch – a person without feelings; Dram – a very small amount; qualify – reduce; stands obdurate – remains hard-hearted; arm’d – prepared; fashion of thy malice – mood of your cruelty; exact’st – insist on having Antonio's bosom is laid bare and Shylock gets ready to cut. Last Updated on December 8, 2020, by eNotes Editorial. GradeSaver, 1 January 2000 Web. Bassanio has already promised that he would sacrifice Portia to save Antonio. She delivers a short speech on mercy, but Shylock ignores it and demands the contract be fulfilled. By citing Daniel as a Jewish forefather (who, incidentally was renamed Balthazar upon moving to Babylon), Shylock is basing his actions in a specifically Jewish set of beliefs and interpretations. However, it is Antonio who convinces him to not take interest on this particular bond, and it is later Antonio whom Shylock accuses of allowing Jessica to escape. Bassanio and Graziano go to Portia and thank her profusely, and Bassanio offers the young doctor anything he wants. She makes a clever plan to save Antonio. From the creators of SparkNotes, something better. Shylock realizes that he cannot cut the flesh without drawing blood, and instead agrees to take the money instead. Shylock, unable to comply with this stipulation, decides to withdraw his case. Shylock's mistake is that he is premature in calling Portia a Daniel, because he is the one who represents the Elders, and Antonio signifies Susanna. The town would drive one goat out of town and sacrifice another. Add Evidence. He is unable to provide a good reason for wanting to punish Antonio in this manner, other than to say, "So can I give no reason, nor I will not, / More than a lodged hate and a certain loathing / I bear Antonio" (4.1.58-60). Thus for Shylock, Antonio represents the man who made him impotent as well. After once again being insulted as an animal, Shylock insists that the law be carried out. The Merchant of Venice Act 4 Scene 1 Summary Word Meanings. At the court of law in Venice, the Duke, Antonio, Bassanio, Salerio, Graziano, and various notable personages are gathered for Antonio's trial. The Duke threatens to dismiss the court without settling the suit brought by Shylock if Doctor Bellario fails to arrive. Next. Portia beats Shylock at his own game: she interprets the law even more literally than Shylock ever did, and in doing so she finds a loophole she can use to rescue Antonio. Portia asks him if he has a surgeon ready to stop the bleeding once he has taken his pound of flesh. Copyright © 1999 - 2021 GradeSaver LLC. Summary Act 4 Scene 1. He further has no wife or children and therefore emerges as an impotent character. The Merchant of Venice: Home Act 1 Act 2 Act 3 Act 4 Act 5 Literary Devices Mini Character Profiles Details Summary of scenes in Act 4. Portia says that she feels that if Antonio is worthy of Bassanio's friendship, he is well worth rescuing from "hellish cruelty" at any cost. Salarino and Solanio suggest that his sadness must be due to his commercial investments, for Antonio has dispatched several trade ships to various ports. First performed in 1598, Shakespeare’s study of religious difference remains controversial. The plots are also reflective of one another. The plan is that there will be a procession in which the revellers will wear masques and carry torches. The only requirements Antonio puts on his offer are that Shylock must convert and become a Christian, and further that he must give everything he owns to Lorenzo upon his death. Shylock demands fulfillment of the letter of their contract, and Antonio believes it is pointless to argue or try to reason with Shylock. Summary of Merchant of Venice Act 4, Scene 1 ICSE Class 10, 9 English. He tells the Duke that he does not demand that the Christians should free their slaves, and therefore the Christians should not demand that he free Antonio. He does, and Portia then says that Shylock therefore must be merciful. True or False. In addition, the life of the foreigner will be in the hands of the Duke, who may decide to do whatever he wants to. He wants revenge! At the moment Graziano catches up with the two women and gives the ring to Portia. In this context, Portia's question about who is the merchant and who is the Jew would probably be played as a joke. Although the 20 th century has altered the way Western culture portrays the Jew within the Merchant of Venice, the compelling character of Shylock still disturbs and entices his audience. Scholars have tried to attribute her question to blind justice, arguing that Portia does not want to show any favorites. Word Count: 1202 Scene 1 Lorenzo and Jessica stare at the moon and talk about how the evening reminds them of Greek literature, and they liken their own situation to a … They will be busy in merry-making in the procession. Merchant of Venice literature essays are academic essays for citation. Again, the Christians insult the Jews as animals. The Editor. Shylock is forced to kneel on the ground before the court, but the Duke pardons his life before he can beg for mercy. Perfect for acing essays, tests, and quizzes, as well as for writing lesson plans. Shylock is furious with Antonio, whom he blames for the loss of Jessica, and also bears an older … This implies that Shylock is Jewish not because he was born that way, but because he acts that way. The scene opens in a street of Venice. They completely demystify Shakespeare. Act I, Scene One. Shylock, impressed that Portia is supporting his case, says, "A Daniel come to judgment, yea, a Daniel!" Merchant of Venice Act 4 Scene 2 Summary. Antonio reveals in Act Four what sort of person he represents: "I am a tainted wether of the flock" (4.1.113). Another interesting interpretation deals with why Antonio must stand trial at all. Portia tells Nerissa to find Shylock's house and give him the deed of gift they drafted for Lorenzo and Jessica's inheritance. As he sees it, he is doing no worse than the Christians do. Here, the hospitality and friendly generosity that Act 1 suggested was typical among Venetian Christians, emerges again. Themes and Colors Key LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in The Merchant of Venice, which you can use to track the … Read the full text of The Merchant of Venice Act 4 Scene 1 with a side-by-side translation HERE. Portia tells Shylock to remain in the court. By referring to himself as a castrated ram, he casts doubt upon his sexual potency and his potential ability to marry or father children, further supporting the claim that he may be in love with Bassanio. Shylock's reasons for wanting to kill Antonio come across as very arbitrary and obscure. In essence, the destroyed Shylock at the end of the play is very similar to the melancholy Antonio in the beginning. Instant downloads of all 1427 LitChart PDFs The fact that Bassanio parts with the ring for Antonio's sake, as does Graziano, implies that Bassanio chooses Antonio over Portia. Detailed explanations, analysis, and citation info for every important quote on LitCharts. Not affiliated with Harvard College. At Belmont, following the departure of Bassanio, Lorenzo commends Portia for her perfect understanding of the friendship between her husband and Antonio. Antonio explains that he … Act 4 : Scene 1 Summary – The Merchant of Venice. Portia gives Nerissa the deed by which Shylock will pass his inheritance to Lorenzo. His inability to see past his ultimate goal (marrying Portia) leaves us wondering about his impulsiveness. On the street in Venice, Gratiano, Lorenzo, Salerio and Solanio discuss Lorenzo's plan to elope with Jessica that night, before the dinner at Bassanio's. Setting : Venice Characters : Portia, Nerissa, Gratiano. Merchant of Venice E-Text contains the full text of Merchant of Venice. Now the tables have been turned on Shylock. “Would not have made it through AP Literature without the printable PDFs. Shylockenters and complains that both Solanio and Salerio had something to do with his daughter's flight. This creates the conflict between Portia and Antonio, a conflict she is willing to test by demanding that Bassanio give her his ring. The way the content is organized, LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in. It is further irony that in this act Antonio makes Shylock convert to Christianity, thus removing even that distinction between the two men. Shylock's surprise at hearing these Christian men say that they are willing to sacrifice their wives increases the sense that, in some respects, he may deserve more sympathy than the Christian Venetians do.