The Duke has attempted to persuade Shylock to spare Antonio, but Shylock will not. / 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). Shylock is furious with Antonio, whom he blames for the loss of Jessica, and also bears an older … Antonio, a Venetian merchant, complains to his friends, Salarino and Solanio, that a sadness has overtaken him and dulled his faculties, although he is at a loss to explain why. Bassanio inf… The Editor. Shylock, however, sticks by his claim that he has the law on his side: he has bought Antonio for money, just like other Venetians buy the flesh of animals and slaves. Antonio, Bassanio, and Gratiano, take their friendship and generosity to extraordinary, and, as Portia's quip points out, even ridiculous levels. She says that Venice has a further law which says that if any foreigner tries to kill a Venetian, the foreigner will have half of his property go to the Venetian against whom he plotted, and the state will receive the other half. 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 … 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. 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. Shylock responds that he is doing nothing wrong, and compares his contract with Antonio to the Christian slave trade. Nerissa takes the deed and asks Graziano to show her the way to Shylock's house. "Merchant of Venice Act 4 Summary and Analysis". (4.1.87). Perfect for acing essays, tests, and quizzes, as well as for writing lesson plans. It is further irony that in this act Antonio makes Shylock convert to Christianity, thus removing even that distinction between the two men. Antonio starts the play unable to make his money breed because he takes no interest. The town would drive one goat out of town and sacrifice another. One of the great ironies of this play is where Shylock calls Portia, "A Daniel come to judgment, yea, a Daniel!" In Venice, the Court convenes for Antonio’s trial. At the court of law in Venice, the Duke, Antonio, Bassanio, Salerio, Graziano, and various notable personages are gathered for Antonio's trial. Antonio, having received half of Shylock's wealth, essentially takes over for Shylock by using Shylock's money. (4.1.218). This is the scene where Shylock is to take his forfeiture from … The scene is taking place in Belmont. The scene is of a court in Venice. Read a character analysis of Shylock, plot summary and important quotes. Scholars have tried to attribute her question to blind justice, arguing that Portia does not want to show any favorites. Portia adds to this sense of doubling when she arrives in the court. At the moment Graziano catches up with the two women and gives the ring to Portia. He does, and Portia then says that Shylock therefore must be merciful. Portia gives Nerissa the deed by which Shylock will pass his inheritance to Lorenzo. At the moment Graziano catches up with the two women and gives the ring to Portia. In essence, the destroyed Shylock at the end of the play is very similar to the melancholy Antonio in the beginning. Both men fit this description in The Merchant of Venice, with Shylock clearly driven out of society and Antonio representing the goat about to be sacrificed. Act 4 : Scene 1 Summary – The Merchant of Venice. 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. 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. Merchant of Venice Act 4 Scene 2 Summary. The Merchant of Venice Act 4 Scene 2 Summary Workbook Answers The Merchant of Venice Act 4 Scene 2 Summary. Antonio, meanwhile, instructed to bare himself to be cut open, begins to resemble a Christ-like figure or sacrificial lamb even more fully. 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. Synopsis of Act 4 Scene 1 of The Merchant of Venice by William Shakespeare The Merchant of Venice Act 4 (Scene 1) Plot Summary with Word Meanings The trial scene of The Merchant of Venice' is the most famous and powerful scene of the play in the whole of English dramas. The Duke's "inhuman wretch" remark is the first of many instances in this court scene in which Shylock will be described as a non-human. Shylock has historically been portrayed as a comic book character, and in Shakespeare’s day would have dressed quite differently from the opposite characters so as to differentiate himself from the Christians. The heiress Portia, now the wife of Antonio's friend, dresses as a lawyer and saves Antonio. … When the play was first staged, the actor playing Shylock would have been costumed in a red wig with a prosthetic nose, looking nothing like the Venetian characters. The story is famous because Daniel rules in Susanna's favor, thus rescuing her. Antonio can't repay the loan, and without mercy, Shylock demands a pound of his flesh. Next. But in modern times, it reads as evidence of Antonio and Shylock's shared humanity. Portia, repeatedly calling for Shylock to show mercy, finds that each time he wants to insist on the most literal interpretation of the law. True: Antonio accepts the absurd payment of a pound of his flesh should he default on his loan. Portia asks him if he has a surgeon ready to stop the bleeding once he has taken his pound of flesh. The plots are also reflective of one another. All four plots are bound by the threads of love, generosity, friendship, and the wise use of money, which are the ideals of the Elizabethan society. This doubling of Shylock and Antonio takes place through the way they use money and family. He refuses, and Portia and Nerissa leave. In running through the conditions and possibilities of the case, Portia echoes the suitors trying to figure out the riddle of the caskets. Shylock insisted that he wants the law, and Portia makes sure that he sticks. Struggling with distance learning? The Duke is upset about the penalty, a pound of Antonio's flesh, but cannot find any lawful way of freeing Antonio from his bond. Portia then asks if no one has been able to repay the amount, but since Shylock has refused the money there is nothing she can do to make him take it. The duke hopes Shylock will relent and show Antonio mercy at the last minute, but Shylock makes it clear he has no such plan. They are given by Bassanio and Graziano as a token of respect and friendship to people they deem to be men. The Question and Answer section for Merchant of Venice is a great Antonio intervenes on Shylock's behalf, and asks the Duke to allow Shylock to keep half of his wealth. The way the content is organized, LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in. Shylock, impressed that Portia is supporting his case, says, "A Daniel come to judgment, yea, a Daniel!" Another interesting interpretation deals with why Antonio must stand trial at all. Again, the Christians insult the Jews as animals. Find a summary of this and each chapter of The Merchant of Venice! The scapegoat was used as a way of purging a town of its sins by heaping them onto the unfortunate animal instead. He was advised to practice mercy but insisted on the law. Bassanio has already promised that he would sacrifice Portia to save Antonio. 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. Analysis. She delivers a short speech on mercy, but Shylock ignores it and demands the contract be fulfilled. where Antonio, a Venetian merchant, complains of a … Summary. Detailed explanations, analysis, and citation info for every important quote on LitCharts. The scene is of a court in Venice. 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. Shylock demands fulfillment of the letter of their contract, and Antonio believes it is pointless to argue or try to reason with Shylock. True or False. He further has no wife or children and therefore emerges as an impotent character. 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. Portia sends Nerissa to look for Shylock’s house so that the deed can be signed which gives Lorenzo and Jessica Shylock’s property. Bassanio and Graziano go to Portia and thank her profusely, and Bassanio offers the young doctor anything he wants. The Merchant of Venice is the story of a Jewish moneylender who demands that an antisemitic Christian offer “a pound of flesh” as collateral against a loan. 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. Solanio and Salerio discuss the rumor that Antonio has lost yet a second ship. (including. In addition, the life of the foreigner will be in the hands of the Duke, who may decide to do whatever he wants to. Chapter Summary for William Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice, act 4 scene 1 summary. Antonio, however, denies that he is worried about his ships and remains … They will be busy in merry-making in the procession. He further offers to take care of the half he was awarded as a form of inheritance for Jessica and Lorenzo. We see Portia in a new light. She tells Nerissa to take it to Shylock's house and make him sign it. Throughout this play there is also the concept of the scapegoat. The essence of doubling is reinforced even more with the double exclusion of the two men at the end of the play. 'Tis not in the bond" (4.1.257). resource to ask questions, find answers, and discuss the novel. Merchant of Venice Act 4 Scene 2 Summary. J. N. Smith. Summary Act 4 Scene 1. They are … 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. However, on an Elizabethan stage she would be able to recognize Shylock immediately from his distinctive dress. Antonio, however, denies that he is worried about his ships and remains depressed. Graziano and Lorenzo remark that Antonio does not look well before exiting, leaving Bassanio alone with Antonio. The Duke threatens to dismiss the court without settling the suit brought by Shylock if Doctor Bellario fails to arrive. Teachers and parents! A "gentile" is a non-Jew. The Merchant of Venice Act 3 Scene 4 Summary Workbook Answers The Merchant of Venice Act 3 Scene 4 Summary. Antonio explains that he … Antonio's gentleness is contrasted with Shylock's refusal to be swayed from enacting his revenge. The Merchant of Venice Act 4 Scene 1 Summary Workbook Answers The Merchant of Venice Act 4 Scene 1 Summary. Shylock and Antonio appear before the Duke of Venice. The Duke is talking to Antonio. The original text plus a side-by-side modern translation of. On the street in Venice, Portia and Nerissa, still disguised as Balthazar and his attendant, continue to do their legal stuff. Portia rules that Shylock has the right to claim a pound of flesh from next to Antonio's heart according to the bond. Thus for Shylock, Antonio represents the man who made him impotent as well. Act 4, Scenes 1–2 Summary and Analysis ... with Shylock has been resolved by the end of the first scene in act 4. She makes a clever plan to save Antonio. The Duke of Venice warns Antonio, the … Having shown gracefulness throughout most of the scene, here Portia becomes a bit nastier, as she was when discussing her suitors with Nerissa. The plan is that there will be a procession in which the revellers will wear masques and carry torches. He follows this with the statement, "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). What are the 4 main plot in The Merchant of Venice? When Bassanio finally offers a self-sacrificing gesture, Antonio immediately overrides it. Summary Act 4 Scene 1 The trial of Antonio in a Venetian court of justice begins. Shylock is forced to kneel on the ground before the court, but the Duke pardons his life before he can beg for mercy. The Duke of Venice warns Antonio, the defendant, that the plaintiff (Shylock) is “a stony adversary... uncapable of pity … [and] void … of mercy.” Antonio declares that he is ready to suffer quietly. What are the 4 main plot in The Merchant of Venice? The Merchant of Venice Act 4 Summary The vengeful Shylock takes Antonio to court, demanding a pound of his flesh.