شرح وتحليل The Merchant of Venice

Merchant of Venice Summary
Merchant of Venice Summary provides a quick review of the play's plot including every important action in the play. Merchant of Venice Summary is divided by the five acts of the play and makes an ideal introduction before reading the original text.
Act I.
The play famous for the expression "a pound of flesh" and the lines, "If you prick us, do we not bleed? if you tickle us, do we not laugh? if you poison us, do we not die? and if you wrong us, shall we not revenge?" begins in Venice with Antonio a wealthy merchant who is not happy since he is worried about his business enterprises, namely his ships at sea which could be at peril from rough seas or pirates.
Antonio's friend Bassanio owes Antonio money but unable to repay his debts, asks Antonio for more money so he may marry the wealthy and beautiful Portia and so pay back his friend. Antonio has no money to spare but tells Bassanio to use his good name to try to get a loan...
Meanwhile Portia laments that she has yet to find her special someone. She famously complains about the faults of all her past suitors and her late father's will which chooses her husband for her. Portia's father's will chooses Portia's husband by means of three caskets, one gold, one silver and one lead. A suitor must choose one of the three caskets, a picture of Portia being contained in the correct casket. When a suitor chooses a casket, he makes his worthiness to Portia clear, this devise ensuring that only the right man for Portia will marry his daughter. Though Portia does not like any of her past suitors, she does however, remember one man quite fondly, Bassanio...
Bassanio gets his loan of three thousand ducats from a Jewish merchant named Shylock. The price for not repaying the debt is high, namely a pound of flesh from Antonio, but Antonio is not worried. His ships (and wealth) come back a month before the debt is due...
Act II.
The Prince of Morocco is willing to take the challenge set by Portia's father for Portia's hand in marriage....
Meanwhile, Launcelot Gobbo, Shylock's servant has a problem; he hates his boss. Bassanio arrives and after some conversation, Launcelot becomes Bassanio's new servant. Jessica, Shylock's daughter plans to elope with Lorenzo against her father's wishes, were he to know. Jessica reveals her shame for her father.
Lorenzo explains to his friends Gratiano, Lorenzo, Salarino and Salanio, how they will help him help Jessica run away from her father.
Launcelot, Shylock's former servant delivers to Lorenzo a letter from Jessica explaining that Jessica will be waiting at her house for Lorenzo and friends and that she has taken some of her father's jewels and gold as well. The letter also explains that Jessica will be disguised as a boy to aid her escape...
Shylock bumps into Launcelot, learning that Bassanio's party which he will reluctantly be attending, will be a masque (masked ball). Shylock tells his daughter Jessica to stay at home and to do her best to ignore the Christian revelries, which Shylock despises.
Jessica escapes from her father's house to live a new life as a Christian and as the wife of Lorenzo. Jessica is embarrassed to be dressed as a boy. The masque (masked ball) is canceled and Lorenzo and Jessica are to sail with Bassanio instead of attending the masque...
The Moroccan Prince undergoes the three-casket challenge for Portia's hand in marriage, choosing the gold casket and losing. Salarino and Salanio comment that a ship has recently floundered, hoping it is not one of Antonio's. We learn that Lorenzo and Jessica escaped successfully from Shylock who was too late to prevent his daughter's escape. Shylock is furious at having lost his daughter, his gold and his precious jewels to a Christian and knows that Antonio was partially involved and swears revenge...
At Belmont, another suitor has arrived, The Prince of Arragon. Not blinded by the inscription on the gold casket which bears the phrase, "Who chooseth [chooses] me shall gain what many men desire" he instead chooses the silver casket which bears the inscription, "Who chooseth [chooses] me shall get as much as he deserves."
Opening the silver casket, he finds a "portrait of a blinking idiot" mocking him and presenting a schedule or letter to him which he reads and realizing he has lost, goes home in failure.
Act III.
Shylock makes it clear that he no longer wants repayment of Bassanio's debt of three thousand ducats. He would prefer his pound of flesh from Antonio instead since he now sees Antonio as the source of all his miseries and reaffirms his desire to make Antonio pay for this...
Bassanio arrives to court Portia who is reluctant to never see Bassanio again should he fail the casket challenge. Bassanio takes the challenge, choosing correctly. Bassanio will marry Portia and it is revealed that Gratiano, Bassanio's friend, has fallen in love with Nerissa, Portia's maid and so another marriage will also occur.
We learn from Salanio that Antonio has forfeited his debt to Shylock and now stands to lose a pound of his flesh and with it his life for helping Bassanio. Portia enthusiastically offers to pay Shylock Bassanio's debt twelvefold...
Antonio pleads to let him pay back Bassanio's debt but Shylock wants Antonio's pound of flesh and therefore his death instead...
Portia and Nerissa leave Belmont on a secret mission to save Antonio, disguising themselves as men. In a garden at Portia's house, Launcelot believes Jessica to be damned telling her to "hope that your father got you not, that you are not the Jew's daughter." Jessica replies that, "I shall be saved by my husband; he hath made me a Christian." Lorenzo arrives, engaging Launcelot in witty banter.
Act IV.
The Duke of Venice attempts to convince Shylock to let Antonio pay back Bassanio's debt. Shylock refuses, threatening the Duke that if he ignores their agreement, Venice will lose its credibility as a place for merchants... Portia, now disguised as a man, defends Antonio, winning his life, through the technicality defense that Shylock can take only a pound of flesh and no more, a clearly impossible task. Furthermore she argues that Shylock has conspired to murder, an offense that is punishable by asset confiscation and death. A compromise whereby Shylock must become Christian and give half his assets to Jessica when he dies is reached. Portia ensures that Shylock will sign a deed making the verdict binding. Gratiano meets Portia and gives her Bassanio's ring. Nerissa tells Portia she too will get the ring of her husband. Portia resigns herself to making both men regret their rash action.
Act V.
Portia and Nerissa arrive back at Belmont before Bassanio, Antonio, Gratiano and their followers, all of whom are unaware that it was Portia and Nerissa who defended them in Venice. Nerissa and then Portia scold their husbands for giving away their wedding rings, an important symbol of their love and fidelity to their two wives. Much comedy ensues as the two men attempt to make excuses for this. Portia ends Bassanio's and Gratiano's suffering by producing a letter which explains their role in Venice. The two men are embarrassed that they could not even recognize their own wives...

Merchant of Venice Commentary - Act I.Merchant of Venice Commentary provides a comprehensive description of every act with explanations and translations for all important quotes.
Act I. Scene I. - Venice. A Street.
Antonio a wealthy merchant is not happy since he is worried about his business enterprises. Antonio's friend Bassanio owes Antonio money but unable to pay back his debts, asks Antonio for yet more money so he can marry the wealthy Portia and so pay back his friend. Antonio has no money to spare but tells Bassanio to use his name to try to get a loan...
The play begins with the picture of one depressed Antonio. Antonio is a wealthy "Merchant of Venice" but he is not happy. His friends Salarino and Salanio suggest he is worried about his ventures or business enterprises.
Antonio's wealth comes from the ships he owns and Salarino comments that Antonio is worried for his ships which could easily be at peril from storms or pirates.
One of Antonio's friends is Bassanio. Bassanio has a problem; he still owes Antonio a great deal of money and wants to pay it back to his friend. He has a plan. If Antonio lends him still more money, he will pursue the very beautiful and wealthy Lady Portia whose "sunny locks / Hang on her temples like a golden fleece;" (Line 170).
Bassanio suspects Portia likes him and says, "sometimes from her eyes I did receive fair speechless messages:" (Lines 164-165). Her hand in marriage will give Bassanio the money he needs to pay back Antonio.
Antonio agrees, but he has no money; all his wealth is tied up at sea in his ships. He will however help, urging Bassanio to look for moneylenders, adding that his good name should help... "Try what my credit can in Venice do:" Antonio urges (Line 181).
Act I. Scene II. - Belmont. A Room in Portia's House.
Portia: "I remember him well, and I remember him worthy of thy praise."
Portia laments that she has yet to find her special someone. She famously complains about the faults of all her past suitors and her father's will which chooses her husband for her.
Portia's father's will chooses Portia's husband for her by means of three caskets, one gold, one silver and one lead. A suitor must choose one of the three caskets, a picture of Portia being contained in the correct casket.
When a suitor chooses a casket, he makes his worthiness to Portia clear, this devise ensuring that only the right man for Portia will marry his daughter. Though Portia does not like any of her past suitors, she does however, remember one man fondly, Bassanio...
Within a room in Portia's house at Belmont, a tired and weary Portia laments her situation, "By my troth, Nerissa [Portia's Waiting-maid], my little body is aweary [tired] of this great world" (Lines 1-2). Portia is tired of her continuous stream of suitors, mocking each in comedic fashion. Nor is she happy about her father's will denying her the right to choose for herself her future husband.
Nerissa tells Portia that her father was wise:
Your father was ever virtuous, and holy men at their death have good inspirations; therefore, the lottery that he hath [has] devised in these three chests of gold, silver, and lead, whereof [whereby] who chooses his meaning chooses you, will, no doubt, never be chosen by any rightly but one who you shall rightly love. (Lines 30-36)
(Your father was ever virtuous and holy men near their deaths often have good inspirations. Thus the lottery your father has devised whereby a man must choose between three caskets, one gold, one silver and one lead, each proving his true desire, will no doubt ensure that the man you will marry will be the one who you will rightly love), (Lines 30-36).
Of her "Neapolitan prince", the "County Palatine", "The French lord, Monsieur Le Bon", a young English baron (Falconbridge), "the Scottish lord," and the "young German, the Duke of Saxony's nephew", Portia disliked them all. Though Portia does not like her late father's casket challenge, she is unwilling to disobey her father's last will (Lines 95-104). So far none of the suitors described have taken up the challenge for Portia (Lines 106-113). To lose, we later learn, is to agree never to marry, nor ever to see Portia again. Portia does remember Bassanio, "A Venetian, a scholar and a soldier," fondly however: "I remember him well, and I remember him worthy of thy [my] praise" (Line 130).
Act I. Scene III. - Venice. A public Place.
Bassanio gets his loan of three thousand ducats from a Jewish moneylender named Shylock. The price for not paying the debt back is high, namely a pound of flesh from Antonio, but Antonio is not worried. His ships (and wealth) come back a month before the debt is due...
Back in Venice, Bassanio secures his three thousand ducats from a rich Jewish moneylender named Shylock. Shylock is reluctant to have Antonio secure the loan since Shylock explains Antonio's ships and wealth are at sea on his ships and are at risk from pirates and "the peril of waters, winds, and rocks" (Lines 12-28).
Shylock when asked to dine with Antonio, significantly refuses, explaining that while he will do business with Antonio, walk, buy, sell and talk with him, he will not drink, dine or pray (Shylock is Jewish, Antonio is Christian) with him (Lines 32-40).
Shylock hates Antonio intensely and has little love for Bassanio. Shylock in particular resents Antonio for being "Christian;" (Line 43), for lending money without charging interest which lowers the interest rate in Venice that Shylock can lend money out on, for hating Shylock's "sacred nation," (Line 49) and for criticizing Shylock for charging interest on loans which Shylock considers to be good business.
Shylock has not yet decided if he will charge interest noting that Antonio has always pledged neither to lend nor borrow money with interest and tells the story of Jacob and his flock of sheep. Antonio insults Shylock by asking if interest was charged (Line 76).
Shylock calculates the interest he will charge but does not name a figure (Lines 104-108), noting how Antonio now asks for money from a man Shylock considers was seen as a "dog" in Antonio's eyes (Lines 108-138).
Antonio tells Shylock to make the terms of the loan those he would give to an enemy (Line 136).
Feigning friendship now towards Antonio, Shylock agrees to lend the money without interest to prove his sincerity (Lines 138-143).
However there is a catch; if Bassanio does not repay the debt within the specified two months, Shylock who hates Antonio can by agreement, cut from him a pound of flesh.
Bassanio does not like this but Antonio assures him that when his ships return he expects a "return [profit] / Of thrice three times the value of this bond [three thousand ducats]" (Line 160).
Shylock notes that a pound of flesh is not nearly as valuable as "flesh of muttons, beefs, or goats" (Line 168), adding that he makes this offer in friendship (Lines 144-152).
Emphasizing that Shylock is not serious about the pound of flesh, Shylock urges Antonio and Bassanio to meet with him at the "notary's; [an official]" to inform this man of "this merry [silly humorous] bond," after which Shylock promises to deliver the ducats immediately.
Bassanio, suspicious of the "merry bond," does not like his friend taking such a risk for him but Antonio is not worried since as he says, "My ships come home a month before the day" (my ships and wealth return a month before the debt is due), (Line 183).
Merchant of Venice Commentary - Act II.
Act II. Scene I. - Belmont. A Room in Portia's House.
The Prince of Morocco is willing to take the challenge set by Portia's father for Portia's hand in marriage....
Back at Belmont, The Prince of Morocco has sought the fair Portia's hand in marriage. Unlike the previous suitors, he is willing to take his chances for the fair Portia.
Act II. Scene II. - Venice. A Street.
Meanwhile, Launcelot Gobbo, Shylock's servant has a problem; he hates his boss. Bassanio arrives and after some conversation, Launcelot becomes Bassanio's new servant.
Act II. Scene III. - The Same. A Room in Shylock's House.
Jessica, Shylock's daughter plans to elope with Lorenzo against her father's wishes, were he to know. Jessica reveals her shame for her father...
At Shylock's house, Jessica is planning to leave her father. She tells Launcelot that "Our house is hell, and thou [you, Launcelot], a merry devil, / Didst rob it of some taste of tediousness" (our home is hell and you, a merry devil, have at least robbed it of some of its boredom for me), (Line 2).
Jessica also reveals that Launcelot will help her to escape her father Shylock by conveying a letter to Lorenzo, the man Jessica intends to marry by elopement.
She bids Launcelot, Shylock's servant good-bye and privately expresses her shame of her father Shylock and her intention to reject her father and his Jewish religion, to become Lorenzo's wife and a Christian, thereby rejecting all that her father Shylock believes in...
Jessica: "Alack, what heinous [terrible] sin is it in me / To be asham'd to be my father's child! But though I am a daughter to his blood, I am not to his manners. O Lorenzo! If thou [you] keep promise, I shall end this strife, [conflict] / Become a Christian, and thy [your] loving wife" (Lines 16-20).
Act II. Scene IV. - The Same. A Street.
Lorenzo: "tell gentle Jessica I will not fail her; speak it privately."
Lorenzo explains to his friends Gratiano, Lorenzo, Salarino and Salanio, how they will help him help Jessica run away from her father. Launcelot, Shylock's former servant delivers to Lorenzo a letter from Jessica explaining that Jessica will be waiting at her house for Lorenzo and friends and that she has taken some of her father's jewels and gold as well. The letter also explains that Jessica will be disguised as a boy to aid her escape from her father...
Gratiano, Lorenzo, Salarino and Salanio enter, Lorenzo telling his friends what preparations are required of them for their plan to help Jessica escape Shylock to be with him.
Lorenzo explains that they will help Jessica escape by disguising themselves, returning in an hour (Lines 1-3). Salarino makes reference to torch-bearers being needed so Bassanio's party, a masque (masked ball) to be held that night will be well lit.
Lorenzo explains that they have much to do adding that is now "four o'clock:" and they have just two hours left...
Launcelot enters, bearing a letter. Lorenzo reveals to Gratiano that the letter comes from Jessica and tells them how they will proceed...
Thanking Launcelot for conveying the letter, Lorenzo tells Launcelot to return to Jessica and to "tell gentle Jessica I will not fail her;" telling Launcelot to tell Jessica this privately (Lines 20-21).
Jessica in her letter has told Lorenzo how he will take Jessica from her father Shylock's house, Jessica explaining that she will be bringing some of Shylock's jewels and gold with her.
This "dowry" of sorts will help Lorenzo and Jessica once they have eloped and are married. She also explains that she has a "page's suit" (Line 33) or the uniform of a male page ready which she will wear to disguise herself as a boy.
Lorenzo speaks glowingly of his future bride by saying, "If e'er [ever] the Jew her father [Shylock] come to heaven, / It will be for his gentle daughter's [Jessica's] sake;" (Line 34).
Lorenzo now tells Gratiano that it is Jessica who "shall be my torch-bearer", a metaphor for her love always guiding him (Line 39).
Act II. Scene V. - The Same. Before Shylock's House.
Shylock bumps into Launcelot, learning that Bassanio's party which he will be reluctantly attending, will be a masque. Shylock tells his daughter Jessica to stay at home and to do her best to ignore the Christians' revelry which Shylock despises.
Before his house, Shylock happens upon Launcelot who is returning Lorenzo's message to Jessica that Lorenzo will soon come for her. Shylock makes his lack of love clear to Launcelot for working for Lorenzo by telling him "thou [you] shalt not gormandize, / As thou hast [has] done with me;" and to "sleep and snore," as he has done whilst employed by Shylock (Line 3).
Shylock now announces that he is leaving for supper, to go to Bassanio's party where Shylock intends to "go in hate, to feed upon / The prodigal Christian" by using his hospitality out of spite (Line 14). Shylock reveals that he does not feel right, that "There is some ill a-brewing towards my rest, / For I did dream of money-bags to-night" (Line 17).
Launcelot now scares Shylock by telling him that Bassanio and friends have decided to make Bassanio's party a masque or a masked ball.
This terrifies Shylock who tells Jessica to "Lock up my doors;" and to not "thrust your head into the public street / To gaze on Christian fools with varnish'd [the masks] faces, / But stop my house's ears," so as to prevent the sounds of these Christian activities from penetrating into his house or as Shylock describes it, "the sound of shallow foppery enter / My sober house" (Lines 32-34 and Line 35).
Shylock explains to Launcelot that he will go to the party despite his misgivings, Launcelot then exiting (Lines 36-43).
Shylock now remarks that his former servant Launcelot "sleeps by day / More than the wild cat:" (Line 47), reminding Jessica again to "Do as I bid [tell] you; shut doors after you: / 'Fast bind, / 'Fast bind, fast find,' / A proverb never stale in thrifty mind" (Lines 53-54).
Jessica who now is conveniently alone where she can make her escape, ends the scene, bidding her father farewell: "Farewell; and if my fortune be not crost, I have a father, you a daughter, lost" (Lines 55-56).
Act II. Scene VI. - The Same.
Jessica escapes from her father's house to live a new life as a Christian and as the wife of Lorenzo. Jessica is embarrassed to be dressed as a boy. The masque is canceled and Lorenzo and Jessica are to sail with Bassanio instead of attending the masque...
Gratiano and Salarino, described as "masqued" or masked in the text, are waiting anxiously for Lorenzo at the "penthouse under which Lorenzo / Desir'd [desired / wanted] us to make stand" or under the extended (overhanging) roof of Shylock's house (Line 1).
They are surprised that Lorenzo is not already there waiting for them for as Gratiano comments, "lovers ever [always] run before the clock" (Line 4) or are usually extremely punctual. Salarino agrees and Lorenzo now enters (Line 21), thanking his friends for their patience and explaining that "my affairs," have made them wait (Line 22).
Asking who is within Shylock's house, Lorenzo discovers that it is his beloved Jessica, dressed in boy's clothes who is waiting for them from above. Jessica asks if she hears Lorenzo, Lorenzo replying that he is: "Lorenzo, and thy [your] love" (Line 28).
Jessica now tosses down a casket to Lorenzo and company, explaining that its contents (Shylock's jewels and gold) are "worth the pains" or the trouble of receiving it (Line 33).
Jessica now makes it clear that she is reluctant to be seen in boy's clothes, saying that she is glad it is night, "For I am much asham'd [ashamed / embarrassed] of my exchange [into a man];" (Line 35), famously adding "But love is blind, and lovers cannot see / The pretty follies [silly things] that themselves commit [do]; / For if they could, Cupid himself would blush / To see me thus transformed to a boy" (Lines 36-39).
Lorenzo now tells Jessica to descend or climb down to him, asking Jessica to be his "torch-bearer" (Line 40). Jessica is not so happy about this, asking why she must "hold a candle [a torch] to my shames?" a reference again to her wearing men's clothes (Line 41).
In Jessica's opinion, her appearance "should be obscur'd" (Line 43) or covered from sight and she makes it quite clear that she is reluctant to be seen this way at Bassanio's masque.
Lorenzo however makes it clear he does not mind and that she will be his "torch-bearer" at Bassanio's party, which they will soon go to.
Before leaving. Jessica dutifully says that she will "make fast the doors," or lock Shylock's house as her father requested and then take some more ducats (money) and return to Lorenzo immediately (Line 49).
Lorenzo now reaffirms his love for Jessica by saying, "I love her heartily;" (Line 52) adding that she is "wise," as well as "fair, and true" and so "Shall she be placed in my constant soul" (Always be in my heart or soul), (Line 57).
Jessica returns and we learn from Antonio that the masque has been canceled, the wind has changed direction and that Bassanio and his men will sail tonight; they have sent twenty men to tell Lorenzo this. Gratiano makes it clear that he is happier to be sailing than at a masque.
Act II. Scene VII. - Belmont. A Room in Portia's House.
The scroll within the gold casket: "All that glitters is not gold; / Often have you heard that told...."
The Moroccan Prince undergoes the three-casket challenge for Portia's hand in marriage, choosing the gold casket and losing.
Back at Belmont, The Moroccan Prince reads the inscription on the gold casket. The inscription says: "Who chooseth [chooses] me shall gain what many men desire" (Lines 5-6). Obviously Portia is desired by many...
The second, a silver casket bears the inscription, "Who chooseth (chooses) me shall get as much as he deserves" (Line 6).
The third casket is lead, bearing the inscription, "Who chooseth [chooses] me must give and hazard [risk] all he hath [has]" (Lines 8-9). The Prince dismisses this. Why would anyone risk all they have "For lead?" (Lines 16-22).
We are told the right casket bears Portia's picture. The Prince hesitates between choosing the gold or silver chests. He reasons that he deserves Portia as the inscription says on the silver chest but decides on the gold casket (Lines 36-62) and finds "a carrion Death [a human skull], within whose empty eye / There is a written scroll" (Line 63).
The scroll famously says "All that glitters is not gold; / Often have you heard that told:" (Lines 65-73).
In choosing the wrong casket, the Prince has failed and must now depart empty handed, never to see Portia again nor ever to marry...
Act II. Scene VIII. - Venice. A Street.
Salarino and Salanio comment that a ship has recently floundered, hoping it is not one of Antonio's. We learn that Lorenzo and Jessica escaped successfully from Shylock who was too late to prevent his daughter's escape. Shylock is furious at having lost his daughter, his gold and his precious jewels to a Christian and knows that Antonio was partially involved and swears revenge...
Meanwhile, back in Venice, Salarino and Salanio, friends of Bassanio, Antonio, Gratiano and Jessica, comment on news of a ship floundering "in the narrow seas that part / The French and English,-" (Line 28).
They hope it isn't one of Antonio's ships. We also learn of Jessica and Gratiano's escape; Shylock (Jessica's father) attempted to find Jessica on Bassanio's ship but "He came too late, the ship was under sail:" (Line 6).
Antonio pledges to the Duke that, "They were not with Bassanio in his ship" (Line 11). We also learn of Shylock's immense anger at the loss of his daughter and her theft of his ducats: "'My daughter! O my ducats! O my daughter! Fled with a Christian! O my Christian ducats!'" (Line 16).
Salarino ends this scene, commenting that Bassanio has now departed for Belmont to woo the fair Portia:
I saw Bassanio and Antonio part: / Bassanio told him he would make some speed / Of his return: he answered 'Do not so; / Slubber [slur over, soil, ruin] not business for my sake, Bassanio, / But stay the very riping of the time; / And for the Jew's bond which he hath [has] of me, / Let it not enter in your mind of love: (Lines 36-45).
Act II. Scene IX. - Belmont. A Room in Portia's House.
The scroll inside the silver casket: "Who chooseth me shall get as much as he deserves."
Meanwhile, at Belmont, another suitor has arrived, The Prince of Arragon. Not blinded by the inscription on the gold casket which bears the phrase, "Who chooseth [chooses] me shall gain what many men desire" (Line 24), he instead chooses the silver casket which bears the inscription, "Who chooseth [chooses] me shall get as much as he deserves" (Line 21) since he believes that what many men desire is superficial, the Prince realizing that those men who would choose the gold casket are being led by appearances and nothing more (Line 50).
Opening the silver casket, he finds a "portrait of a blinking idiot," (Line 54), mocking him and presenting a schedule or letter to him which he reads (Lines 64-72), and realizing he has lost, The Prince of Arragon heads home in failure.
Merchant of Venice Commentary - Act III.
Act III. Scene I. - Venice. A Street.
Shylock: "If you prick us, do we not bleed? if you tickle us, do we not laugh? if you poison us, do we not die? and if you wrong us, shall we not revenge?"
Shylock makes it clear that he no longer wants repayment of Bassanio's debt of three thousand ducats. He would prefer his pound of flesh from Antonio instead since he now sees Antonio as the source of all his miseries and reaffirms his desire to make Antonio pay for this...
Back in Venice, we learn from Salanio and Salarino who have been following events "on the Rialto [a bridge]" which is a business district of Venice, that Antonio has lost a ship "on narrow seas; the Goodwins," a stretch of sea. (Lines 1-.
Shylock now arrives and is quite aware that Salanio and Salarino knew of his daughter's escape with Lorenzo (Line 28), adding that Jessica is his "flesh and blood" (Line 41). Salarino insults Shylock by saying her flesh is as similar to his as the difference between "jet and ivory;" and that their blood is as different as "red wine and Rhenish [a drink]" (Lines 42-47).
Shylock makes it clear that he knows of Antonio's misfortune by describing him as "a beggar," now and repeatedly tells Salarino that Antonio should "look to his bond" (Line 54) or remember his penalty for forfeiting his debt, namely a pound of flesh.
Salarino thinks Shylock could not be serious, asking Shylock "what's that good for?" (Line 55).
Shylock darkly replies that it is "To bait fish withal:" adding that if nothing else, Antonio's flesh will "feed my revenge" (Line 56). Shylock now explains how Antonio has "disgraced me, and hindered [lost] me half a million [presumably in lost interest], laughed at my losses, mocked at my gains, scorned my nation, thwarted my bargains, [and] cooled my friends," (Lines 58-61) and "heated [protected] mine enemies;" (Lines 61-62) finally saying that the reason for all his suffering is because "I am a Jew."
Famously, Shylock points out that in being human like Antonio, who feels, thinks and acts the same way, he deserves better, asking:
Hath not a Jew eyes? hath not a Jew hands, organs, dimensions, senses, affections, passions? fed with the same food, hurt with the same weapons, subject to the same diseases, healed by the same means, warmed and cooled by the same winter and summer, as a Christian is? If you prick us, do we not bleed? if you tickle us, do we not laugh? if you poison us, do we not die? and if you wrong us, shall we not revenge? (Lines 63-72)
Shylock gleefully adds that in seeking revenge, he will simply be doing no more than following what he sees as Christian custom: "If a Christian wrong a Jew, what should his sufferance be by Christian example? Why, revenge. The villany you teach me I will execute, and it shall go hard but I will better the instruction", Shylock says (Lines 73-78).
Shylock learns from Tubul who has been in Genoa, that his daughter Jessica could not be found (Line 89). The mere mention of his daughter sends Shylock into rage since he recalls the loss of his precious jewels and "two thousand ducats" (Line 90).
Tubul also informs a delighted Shylock that Antonio has lost another ship, this time "coming from Tripolis" (Line 109).
Tubul's news that Jessica had spent on one night some "fourscore ducats" (Line 117) enrages the previously jubilant Shylock who says that he is glad Antonio cannot repay his debt since now he can take his revenge upon him for all the suffering he has endured at the hands of Christians (Shylock being insulted, Jessica leaving).
From Tubul, we learn that Antonio cannot possibly repay his debt. Shylock is delighted, "I am very glad of it: I'll plague him; I'll torture him: I am glad of it" (Line 125).
When Tubul remarks that "Antonio is certainly undone" or in trouble, Shylock significantly agrees (Line 132).
Act III. Scene II. - Belmont. A Room in Portia's House.
Bassanio arrives to court Portia who is reluctant to never see Bassanio again should he fail the casket challenge. Bassanio takes the challenge, choosing correctly. Bassanio will therefore marry Portia and it is revealed Gratiano has fallen in love with Nerissa, Portia's maid and so another marriage will also occur.
We learn from Salanio that Antonio has forfeited his debt to Shylock and now stands to lose a pound of his flesh and with it his life for helping his friend Bassanio. Portia enthusiastically offers to pay Shylock Bassanio's debt twelvefold to avert this...
Back in Belmont, Bassanio arrives to pursue Lady Portia. Portia is delighted and scared; she fears she will never see Bassanio again if he chooses the wrong casket (the gold or silver caskets) and pleads with him to delay his attempt. Bassanio however cannot wait.
Shunning the materialistic, Bassanio ignores the gold and silver caskets, instead choosing the one made of lead which bears the inscription, "Who chooseth [chooses] me must give and hazard [risk] all he hath [has]:" (Act II, Scene IX, Line 21).
Bassanio finds in it Portia's portrait and realizes he has won the fair Portia. The scroll inside, tells Bassanio to "hold your fortune for your bliss, / Turn you where your lady [Portia] is / And claim her with a loving kiss." (Line 136).
Portia declares her loyalty to Bassanio (Lines 149-174) significantly giving Bassanio a ring which she tells Bassanio not to part from, lose nor give way, Bassanio pledging that the only time this ring will part from his finger is when he is dead (Line 185).
Bassanio and Portia now learn that Bassanio's friend Gratiano has also fallen in love with Portia's maid, Nerissa, Gratiano betting a thousand ducats that he will have a son before Bassanio and Portia (Line 215).
Marriage plans are made at once but we then learn by letter from Antonio that he has forfeited the debt and Shylock will kill him when he extracts his pound of flesh. It appears Antonio has lost all his ships at sea and so avoiding forfeiting the debt is now impossible (Lines 269-272).
Bassanio tells Portia "Here are a few of the unpleasent'st words / That ever blotted [marked] paper" (Line 252), Bassanio explaining now how all his wealth he owed to his friend Antonio. Portia learning this and no doubt aware that Antonio's actions allowed Bassanio to court her, beseeches (asks) Bassanio to save his friend with money she provides, telling Bassanio: "Pay him [Shylock] six thousand, and deface the bond; / Double six thousand, and then treble that, / Before a friend of this description / Shall lose a hair through Bassanio's fault" (Lines 300-303).
Act III. Scene III. - Venice. A Street.
Antonio pleads to let him pay back Bassanio's debt but Shylock wants Antonio's pound of flesh and therefore his death instead...
Out on the streets but accompanied now by a "gaoler," or a jailer, Antonio tries to plead with Shylock not to demand the bond. Shylock will not listen, saying: "I'll have my bond; speak not against my bond:" (Lines 3-4).
Antonio realizes Shylock will not be reasoned with, commenting that "I'll follow him no more with bootless [useless] prayers. He seeks my life; his reason well I know" (Lines 20-21).
Act III. Scene IV. - Belmont. A Room in Portia's House.
Portia and Nerissa leave Belmont on a secret mission to save Antonio...
Within a room of Portia's home at Belmont, Portia instructs Jessica and Lorenzo to mind her house; she and Nerissa intend on praying at the monastery which is "two miles off," (Line 31).
Portia tells Jessica and Lorenzo not to tell anyone. With Jessica and Lorenzo gone, she instructs Balthazar, her messenger to deliver a letter "In speed" (Line 49) to Padua, to be placed into the hands of her cousin, a Doctor Bellario and to deliver "what notes and garments he [Doctor Bellario] doth give thee, [to Balthazar]" and deliver them "with imagin'd speed / Unto the traject, to the common ferry / Which trades to Venice" (Line 53).
She implores Balthazar to waste no time, "Waste no time in words, / But get thee gone: I shall be there before thee [you]" (Line 54). Portia tells her maid Nerissa to join her for as Portia says "I have work in hand / That you yet know not of: we'll see our husbands / Before they think of us" (I have work to do that you Nerissa do not yet know about. We'll see our husbands before they even begin to think of us), (Line 57).
Portia tells Nerissa that their husbands will indeed see them "but in such a habit / That they shall think we are accomplished / With that we lack", (Lines 61-62) a reference to the two girls looking so much like men that their own husbands will think they are men.
Act III. Scene V. - The Same. A Garden.
Within a garden at Portia's house, Launcelot believes Jessica to be damned telling her to "hope that your father got you not, that you are not the Jew's daughter" (Lines 11-12).
Jessica replies that "I shall be saved by my husband; he hath [has] made me a Christian" (Lines 20-21). Lorenzo arrives, engaging Launcelot in witty banter.
Merchant of Venice Commentary - Act IV.
Act IV. Scene I. - Venice. A Court of Justice.
The Duke of Venice attempts to convince Shylock to let Antonio pay back Bassanio's debt. Shylock refuses, threatening the Duke that if he ignores their agreement, Venice will lose credibility as a place for merchants...
Portia, disguised now as a man, defends Antonio, winning his life, through the technicality defense that Shylock can take only a pound of flesh and no more, a clearly impossible task. Furthermore she argues that Shylock has conspired to murder, an offense that is punishable by asset confiscation and death in Venice. A compromise is reached whereby Shylock must become Christian and give half his assets to Jessica when he dies.
Back in Venice, things don't look good for Antonio. He has forfeited the debt and Shylock wants justice. Shylock is unlikely to show mercy easily, the Duke commenting that Shylock is "A stony adversary, an inhuman wretch / Uncapable of pity, void and empty / From any dram of mercy" (Lines 4-6).
The Duke attempts to appeal to Shylock's sense of "human gentleness and love," (Line 25). Shylock, however will have none of it; he wants his justice and he wants it delivered by the court, reminding the Duke that "If you deny it [Shylock's pound of flesh from Antonio], let the danger light / Upon your charter and your city's freedom" (Lines 38-39).
Shylock explains that he would rather have, "A weight of carrion flesh than to receive / Three thousand ducats:" (Lines 41-42).
To the Duke questioning his motives for the pound of flesh, Shylock explains that he can offer no reason other than "a certain loathing I bear Antonio, that I follow thus / A losing suit [for Antonio] against him" (Lines 60-62).
Bassanio pledges six thousand ducats for his friend, "For thy [your] three thousand ducats here is six" (Lines 83-84). Shylock will not be deterred from his revenge: "If every ducat in six thousand ducats / Were in six parts and every part a ducat, I would not draw them; I would have my bond" (Lines 85-87).
The Duke intercedes asking, "How shalt thou hope for mercy, rendering none?" (Lines 87-88). Shylock replies that since the Duke and court all have slaves with which they can do as they please, so too, can Shylock of Antonio, since his right to him, like that of using slaves has been "dearly bought;" (Line 100).
Shylock reminds the Duke of his obligation to uphold the law commenting that, "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 101-103).
Seeing no other way to stall time, the Duke replies that, "Upon my power I may dismiss this court, / Unless Bellario, a learned doctor, / Whom I have sent for to determine this, / Come here [arrives] to-day" (Lines 103-107).
The Duke is brought a letter from the eminent and well regarded Dr Bellario. It explains that he cannot make it, but that instead, he will send a very learned colleague of his in his place. Nerissa, disguised as Portia's clerk, arrives, "dressed like a lawyer's clerk." Portia later arrives "dressed like a doctor of laws."
The Duke asks Portia if she is familiar with the nature of the dispute. She answers that she is. She claims that Shylock must be merciful, claiming that the quality of mercy is "twice bless'd; / It blesseth him that gives and him that takes:" (Lines 186-187). Shylock disagrees, demanding his justice.
When Bassanio pledges twice the sum owed, Portia explains that "There is no power in Venice / Can alter a decree established:" adding that this case will form a precedent (Line 218). Portia explains that since the bond is forfeit, "the Jew may claim / A pound of flesh, to be by him cut off / Nearest the merchant's heart" (Line 231).
This shocking advise by Portia (still disguised as a man) overjoys Shylock no end and Portia implores Shylock to be merciful and take "thrice [three times] thy money offer'd thee [to you]" (Line 226). Shylock will not and demands a verdict. Portia implores Shylock to have a surgeon on hand to stop the bleeding.
Shylock replies that it is not in the contract. Says Shylock, "I cannot find it [the surgeon provision]:'tis [it is] not in the bond" (Line 263).
Antonio resigns himself to the worse (Portia, the doctor of laws appears to have just taken Shylock's side) and Bassanio explains that he would be happy to lose his wife: "I would lose them all, ay, sacrifice them all, / Here to this devil [Shylock], to deliver you" (Lines 287-288).
Portia comically replies, "Your wife would give you little thanks for that, / If she were by to hear you make the offer" (Lines 289-290).
Gratiano makes a similar statement to which his wife the disguised Nerissa replies, "'Tis well you offer it behind her [Nerissa's] back; / The wish would make else an unquiet house" (it is just as well you make this offer behind her back. If she knew of it, there would be no end of trouble), (Line 294).
Portia makes her judgment. Since the "bond doth give thee here no jot of blood;" (the bond gives you no right to blood), the words only refer to the flesh, Shylock may have his pound of flesh if he draws no blood (Line 307).
This is impossible. Shylock cannot have his bond.
Secondly, as Portia explains, it is an offense to take the life of any citizen of Venice directly or indirectly. The demand for the pound of flesh qualifies.
As such, the state can have half Shylock's assets, the other half going to the citizen in question and Shylock may be hanged at the Duke's discretion or will...
A compromise is however reached. Antonio suggests that Shylock not lose half his assets to the state, and that the other half of his assets should be given to his daughter upon his death. Shylock is spared death and must become a Christian, a verdict all involved can live with.
The scene ends with a grateful Antonio and Bassanio. The Duke asks Portia to have dinner with him but Portia politely turns the Duke down, saying she must leave Padua tonight (Lines 402-405). Similarly, Portia politely refuses Bassanio's offer of "Three thousand ducats," which was the sum originally due to Shylock (Line 412).
Bassanio politely insists that Portia whom he does not recognize take some gift from them in remembrance and appreciation. She insists on his wedding ring. He refuses, he was told by his wife never to surrender it following his marriage.
"Good sir, this ring was given me by my wife; / And, when she put it on, she made me vow / That I should never sell nor give nor lose it" Bassanio explains (Line 443). However Antonio later talks Bassanio into giving away the ring. This he does, giving it to Gratiano to give to Portia.
Act IV. Scene II. - The Same. A Street.
Portia ensures that Shylock will sign a deed making the verdict binding. Gratiano meets Portia and gives her Bassanio's ring.
Nerissa tells Portia that she too will get the ring of her husband (Line 13). Portia decides to make both men regret their rash action (giving away their rings), (Line 16).

Merchant of Venice Commentary - Act V.
Act V. Scene I. - Belmont. The Avenue to Portia's House.
Portia: "I'll not deny him anything I have; No, not my body, nor my husband's bed."
Portia and Nerissa arrive back at Belmont before Bassanio, Antonio, Gratiano and their followers, all whom are unaware that it was Portia and Nerissa who defended them in Venice. Nerissa and then Portia scold their husbands for giving away their wedding rings, an important symbol of their love and fidelity to their two wives. Much comedy ensues as the two men attempt to make excuses for this. Portia ends Bassanio's and Gratiano's suffering by producing a letter which explains their role in Venice. The two men are embarrassed that they could not even recognize their own wives...
Lorenzo and Jessica exchange sweet nothings. Stephano, a messenger arrives, bidding news that Portia will soon be back at Belmont.
Portia and Nerissa arrive at Belmont and shortly after, arrive Bassanio, Antonio, Gratiano and their followers. Bassanio introduces his friend Antonio to his wife, Portia. He describes him as a man, "To whom I am so infinitely bound" (Line 134). Portia replies that "You should in all sense be much bound to him, / For as I hear, he was much bound for you" (Line 136).
We hear Gratiano pleading with his wife that he gave his ring to the "judge's clerk:" (Line 143). Nerissa replies that "You swore to me, when I did give it to you, / That you would wear it till your honour of death," (Line 152).
She does not believe Gratiano's excuse, fearing it now belongs to another women, cheekily adding since that clerk was her, that "The clerk will ne'er [never] wear hair on's a face that had it." Given that the clerk was of course Nerissa, this statement is both comedic and ironic in nature.
Portia now takes Nerissa's side and Bassanio in an aside (a speech sharing his innermost thoughts with the audience but not other characters) thinks up an excuse: "Why I were best to cut my left hand off, / And swear I lost the ring defending it" (Line 177).
Gratiano drops Bassanio into the mess, telling everyone that Bassanio gave his ring to the judge "that begg'd it," adding that the clerk (Nerissa in disguise) demanded his ring too (Lines 180-183).
Portia asks Bassanio if this is true. Sheepishly, he confirms it. He tries to defend himself with little success (Lines 192-221).
Portia tells him that as holder of her ring, should the judge ever come by her house she will not deny him anything she has (Lines 224-233), including, ominously for Bassanio, her body: "I'll not deny him [the holder of the ring] anything I have; / No, not my body, nor my husband's bed" (Lines 227-228), warning Bassanio to never let her out of his sight.
Bassanio, now quite scared of losing his wife forever, pleads that he will never again break an oath again to his wife: "Pardon this fault, and by my soul I swear I never more will break an oath with thee [you]" (Line 247). Greatly disturbed by all this, Antonio nobly steps in offering his soul upon forfeit should his friend break his promise.
Satisfied, Portia gives Antonio her ring telling him to make sure Bassanio takes better care of it this time. Bassanio is amazed to see the same ring. Portia teasing Bassanio says, "by this ring, the doctor lay with me" (lay meaning made love), (Line 259).
Nerissa adds that the doctor's clerk lay with her. Gratiano is not impressed (Line 265). To clear the air and end the two men's torment, Portia produces a letter.
It explains her role in the court case (Lines 266-279). Antonio is dumbstruck, "I am dumb" he says and the two husbands are left to ponder the fact that they could not even recognize their own wives.

Merchant of Venice Characters
Merchant of Venice Characters guide studies each character's role and motivation in this play.
Antonio: A Venetian merchant of considerable wealth, he makes his money from "ventures", or mercantile enterprises using his fleet of ships. Much liked by his friends, Salanio, Gratiano and Salarino, Antonio is owed money by his friend Bassanio. The title of this play is considered to be derived from this character as well as the character of Shylock.
Bassanio: The romantic lead of this play. He aims to successfully court the fair Portia. Her marriage will give him the money he needs to pay off his large debts to friend Antonio and so his courtship of Portia is also an attempt to pay off his debts.
Shylock: A successful Jewish moneylender who is much maligned over his religion and the practice of moneylenders such as himself of charging interest. He lends the 3000 ducats Bassanio needs to court Portia and hopefully, pay off his debts to Antonio. There is however a catch; if the debt is not repaid, Antonio as security will forfeit one pound of his flesh. It is Shylock who is responsible for the immortal lines, "If you prick us, do we not bleed? if you tickle us, do we not laugh? if you poison us, do we not die? and if you wrong us, shall we not revenge?" (Act III, Scene I, Lines 63-72).
Tubul: Friend of Shylock. Dispatched by Shylock to find his daughter, he tells Shylock of the loss of Antonio's ships. This lets Shylock realize that Antonio has now forfeited his debt.
Portia: The heroine of this play, Portia is a wealthy and beautiful women who is desired by many, so much so that her father has devised an ingenious test all suitors must perform to win her hand in marriage. This consists of a suitor choosing one of three chests in which her portrait lies. Far from being merely beautiful, Portia also possesses a sharp mind, one, which saves Antonio from doom at the hands of Shylock.
Nerissa: As Portia's waiting-maid, she tends to Portia and also helps Portia save Antonio's life. She later marries Bassanio's friend Gratiano.
Gratiano: A good friend of Bassanio, he marries Nerissa after falling in love with her at Portia's palace. Bassanio describes him as talkative, saying; "Gratiano speaks an infinite deal of nothing, more than any man in all Venice" (Act I, Scene I, Lines 114).
The Prince of Morocco: This suitor is responsible for the expression "All that glitters is not gold; / Often have you heard that told:" (Act II, Scene VII, Lines 65-73). As one of Portia's suitors, he reads this upon choosing the gold casket, which is the wrong one and loses the right to marry Portia.
The Prince of Arragon: This suitor also fails to win the fair Portia's hand in marriage when he incorrectly chooses the silver casket.
Lorenzo: A close friend of both Bassanio and Antonio, his eloping with Shylock's daughter Jessica, results in part on Shylock's merciless insistence on his pound of flesh when Antonio forfeits Bassanio's debt.
Jessica: The daughter of Shylock, her eloping with the "Christian" Lorenzo and her stealing of his property, angers Shylock greatly.
Salarino and Salanio: Friends of Antonio who attempt to cheer him up in Act I, Scene I.
The Duke of Venice: As judge over the court case between Shylock and Antonio, he has the power to pardon a death sentence. In the play, he is put in a difficult position by Shylock; he doesn't want Antonio to die, but to ignore Shylock's legal rights would be to place all of Venice in disrepute as a place to conduct business.
Launcelot Gobbo: A clown and servant to Shylock, he later aids in the escape of Jessica from Shylock and works for Bassanio.
Old Gobbo: Launcelot's father, who is blind.
Balthazar and Stephano: Servants of Portia.
Leonardo: Servant of Bassanio.




Merchant of Venice Characters Analysis
Merchant of Venice Characters Analysis features noted Shakespeare scholar William Hazlitt's famous critical essay about the characters of The Merchant of Venice.
THIS is a play that in spite of the change of manners and prejudices still holds undisputed possession of the stage. Shakespear's malignant has outlived Mr. Cumberland's benevolent Jew. In proportion as Shylock has ceased to be a popular bugbear, "baited with the rabble's curse," he becomes a half-favourite with the philosophical part of the audience, who are disposed to think that Jewish revenge is at least as good as Christian injuries. Shylock is a good hater; "a man no less sinned against than sinning." If he carries his revenge too far, yet he has strong grounds for "the lodged hate he bears Anthonio," which he explains with equal force of eloquence and reason. He seems the depositary of the vengeance of his race; and though the long habit of brooding over daily insults and injuries has crusted over his temper with inveterate mis-anthropy, and hardened him against the contempt of mankind, this adds but little to the triumphant pretensions of his enemies. There is a strong, quick, and deep sense of justice mixed up with the gall and bitterness of his resentment. The constant apprehension of being burnt alive, plundered, banished, reviled, and trampled on, might be supposed to sour the most forbearing nature, and to take something from that "milk of human kindness," with which his persecutors contemplated his indignities. The desire of revenge is almost inseparable from the sense of wrong; and we can hardly help sympathising with the proud spirit, hid beneath his "Jewish gaberdine," stung to madness by repeated undeserved provocations, and labouring to throw off the load of obloquy and oppression heaped upon him and all his tribe by one desperate act of "lawful" revenge, till the ferociousness of the means by which he is to execute his purpose, and the pertinacity with which he adheres to it, turn us against him; but even at last, when disappointed of the sanguinary revenge with which he had glutted his hopes, and exposed to beggary and contempt by the letter of the law on which he had insisted with so little remorse, we pity him, and think him hardly dealt with by his judges. In all his answers and retorts upon his adversaries, he has the best not only of the argument but of the question, reasoning on their own principles and practice. They are so far from allowing of any measure of equal dealing, of common justice or humanity between themselves and the Jew, that even when they come to ask a favour of him, and Shylock reminds them that "on such a day they spit upon him, another spurned him, another called him dog, and for these curtesies request he'll lend them so much monies"—Anthonio, his old enemy, instead of any acknowledgment of the shrewdness and justice of his remonstrance, which would have been preposterous in a respect-able Catholic merchant in those times, threatens him with a repetition of the same treatment—
"I am as like to call thee so again,
To spit on thee again, to spurn thee too."
After this, the appeal to the Jew's mercy, as if there were any common principle of right and wrong 'between them, is the rankest hypocrisy, or the blindest prejudice; and the Jew's answer to one of Anthonio's friends, who asks him what his pound of forfeit flesh is good for, is irresistible—
"To bait fish withal; if it will feed nothing else, it will feed my revenge. He hath disgrac'd me, and hinder'd me of half a million, laughed at my losses, mock'd at my gains, scorn'd my nation, thwarted my bargains, cool'd my friends, heated mine enemies; and what's his reason? I am a Jew. Hath not a Jew eyes; hath not a Jew hands, organs, dimensions, senses, affections, passions; fed with the same food, hurt with the same weapons, subject to the same diseases, healed by the same means, warmed and cooled by the same winter and summer that a Christian is? If you prick us, do we not bleed? If you tickle us, do we not laugh? If you poison us, do we not die? And if you wrong us, shall we not revenge? If we are like you in the rest, we will resemble you in that. If a Jew wrong a Christian, what is his humility? revenge. If a Christian wrong a Jew, what should his sufferance be by Christian example? why revenge. The villainy you teach me I will execute, and it shall go hard but I will better the instruction."
The whole of the trial-scene, both before and after the entrance of Portia, is a master-piece of dramatic skill. The legal acuteness, the passionate declamations, the sound maxims of jurisprudence, the wit and irony interspersed in it, the fluctuations of hope and fear in the different persons, and the completeness and suddenness of the catastrophe, cannot be surpassed. Shylock, who is his own counsel, defends himself well, and is triumphant on all the general topics that are urged against him, and only fails through a legal flaw. Take the following as an instance:—
"Shylock. What judgment shall I dread, doing no
wrong?
You have among you many a purchas'd slave,
Which like your asses, and your dogs, and mules,
You use in abject and in slavish part,
Because you bought them:—shall I say to you,
Let them be free, marry them to your heirs?
Why sweat they under burdens? let their beds
Be made as soft as yours, and let their palates
Be season'd with such viands? you will answer,
The slaves are ours:—so do I answer you:
The pound of flesh, which I demand of him,
Is dearly bought, is 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 judgment; answer; shall I have it?"
The keenness of his revenge awakes all his faculties; and he beats back all opposition to his purpose, whether grave or gay, whether of wit or argument, with an equal degree of earnestness and self-possession. His character is displayed as distinctly in other less prominent parts of the play, and we may collect from a few sentences the history of his life—his descent and origin, his thrift and domestic economy, his affection for his daughter, whom he loves next to his wealth, his courtship and his first present to Lear, his wife! "I would not have parted with it" (the ring which he first gave her) "for a wilderness of monkies!" What a fine Hebraism is implied in this expression!
Portia is not a very great favourite with us; neither are we in love with her maid, Nerissa. Portia has a certain degree of affectation and pedantry about her, which is very unusual in Shakespear's women, but which perhaps was a proper qualification for the office of a "civil doctor," which she undertakes and executes so successfully. The speech about Mercy is very well; but there are a thousand finer ones in Shakespear. We do not admire the scene of the caskets: and object entirely to the Black Prince, Morocchius. We should like Jessica better if she had not deceived and robbed her father, and Lorenzo, if he had not married a Jewess, though he thinks he has a right to wrong a Jew. The dialogue between this newly-married couple by moonlight, beginning "On such a night," etc., is a collection of classical elegancies. Launcelot, the Jew's man, is an honest fellow. The dilemma in which he describes himself placed between his "conscience and the fiend," the one of which advises him to run away from his master's service and the other to stay in it, is exquisitely humourous.
Gratiano is a very admirable subordinate char-acter. He is the jester of the piece: yet one speech of his, in his own defence, contains a whole volume of wisdom.
"Anthonio. I hold the world but as the world, Gratiano,
A stage, where every one must play his part;
And mine a sad one.
Gratiano. Let me play the fool;
With mirth and laughter let old wrinkles come;
And let my liver rather heat with wine,
Than my heart cool with mortifying groans.
Why should a man, whose blood is warm within,
Sit like his grandsire cut in alabaster?
Sleep when he wakes? and creep into the jaundice
By being peevish? I tell thee what, Anthonio—
I love thee, and it is my love that speaks;—
There are a sort of men, whose visages
Do cream and mantle like a standing pond:
And do a wilful stillness entertain,
With purpose to be drest in an opinion
Of wisdom, gravity, profound conceit;
As who should say, I am Sir Oracle,
And when I ope my lips, let no dog bark!
O, my Anthonio, I do know of these,
That therefore only are reputed wise,
For saying nothing; who, I am very sure,
If they should speak, would almost damn those ears
Which hearing them, would call their brothers, fools.
I'll tell thee more of this another time:
But fish not with this melancholy bait,
For this fool's gudgeon, this opinion."
Gratiano's speech on the philosophy of love, and the effect of habit in taking off the force of passion, is as full of spirit and good sense. The graceful winding up of this play in the fifth act, after the tragic business is despatched, is one of the happiest instances of Shakespear's knowledge of the principles of the drama. We do not mean the pretended quarrel between Portia and Nerissa and their husbands about the rings, which is amusing enough, but the conversation just before and after the return of Portia to her own house, beginning "How sweet the moonlight sleeps upon this bank," and ending "Peace! how the moon sleeps with Endymion, and would not be awaked." There is a number of beautiful thoughts crowded into that short space, and linked together by the most natural transitions.
When we first went to see Mr. Kean in Shylock, we expected to see, what we had been used to see, a decrepit old man, bent with age and ugly with mental deformity, grinning with deadly malice, with the venom of his heart congealed in the expression of his countenance, sullen, morose, gloomy, inflexible, brooding over one idea, that of his hatred, and fixed on one unalterable purpose, that of his revenge. We were disappointed, because we had taken our idea from other actors, not from the play. There is no proof there that Shylock is old, but a single line, "Anthonio and old Shylock, both stand forth,"—which does not imply that he is infirm with age —and the circumstance that he has a daughter marriageable, which does not imply that he is old at all. It would be too much to say that his body should be made crooked and deformed to answer to his mind, which is bowed down and warped with prejudices and passion. That he has but one idea, is not true; he has more ideas than any other person in the piece; and if he is intense and inveterate in the pursuit of his purpose, he shews the utmost elasticity, vigour, and presence of mind, in the means of attaining it. But so rooted was our habitual impression of the part from seeing it caricatured in the representation, that it was only from a careful perusal of the play itself that we saw our error. The stage is not in general the best place to study our author's characters in. It is too often filled with traditional commonplace conceptions of the part, handed down from sire to son, and suited to the taste of the great vulgar and the small.—" 'Tis an unweeded garden: things rank and gross do merely gender in it!" If a man of genius comes once in an age to clear away the rubbish, to make it fruitful and wholesome, they cry, " 'Tis a bad school: it may be like nature, it may be like Shakespear, but it is not like us." Admirable critics!