GCE A/L English Literature - Made Easy - Drama:

The Merchant of Venice

- by William Shakespeare

Act 4 Scene 2

This is a very short scene. Portia requests Gratiano to show Nerissa, Shylock's house and get him to sign the deed "bequeathing everything he owns to Jessica, his daughter and to Lorenzo. Gratiano gives the ring from Bassanio to Portia together with an invitation to dinner.

Portia accepts the ring but doesn't accept the invitation. Nerissa too is anxious to get the ring she gave her husband. "we shall have old swearing.

That they did give the rings away to men."

Commentary: Act 4 Sc 2

This is a short scene in Act 4 and seems to be the conclusion of scene one. It is clear that Portia

and Nerissa will " out face them and out swear them too." In Shakespeare's Romantic comedies usually the women are made to outshine proving themselves wiser than the men folk.

Shakespeare's one such heroine is Portia who excels men in word and deed. She is the active and brilliant lawyer who ventures to carry out "merciful justice" and save Antonio from the horrendous situation created by Shylock's vindictive aspirations.

The Merchant of Venice

Act 5 Scene I

Summary:

At Belmont. A beautiful moon lit night Lorenzo recalling the various heroic deeds of lovers. "Troilus, Thisbe, Dido, Medea and the best of all Jessica stealing from the wealthy Jew, Shylock. Arriving at Belmont, Jessica reminds Lorenzo how he swore his vows of love to her.

Stephano brings news of the arrival of his mistress, Bassanio Gratiano and Antonio and the followers too are to arrive in time. Portia and Bassanio amidst loving greetings and Gassanio introducing his loving friend Antonio to Portia.

The quarrel between Nerissa and Gratiano over the wedding ring which Gratiano has given to a judge's clerk and Bassanio too has given his ring to the 'judge'. Portia and Nerissa decide "Never to sleep with husbands until they get their wedding rings again."

Bassanio stressing the true reason for giving the ring to save his bosom friend, Antonio. Portia assuring him that "if that lawyer comes here, I'll have him for my bed fellow and Nerissa too assuring that "I, his clerk."

Antonio is highly depressed when he hears Portia's words. "I am the unhappy subject of these quarrels" and Antonio assures Portia.

"My soul upon the forfeit, that your lord will never more break faith advisedly."

Portia gives him a ring to be given to Bassanio requesting him to "keep it better than the other" Bassanio recognises it as the same ring which he gave the lawyer and Gratiano receives his ring in amazement.

Portia unfolding the secret of her plan, explains that Portia herself was the lawyer and Nerissa was the clerk. She gives a surprise to Antonio - a letter saying that three of Antonio's ships have safely arrived.

"Sweet lady, you have given me life and living

For her I read for certain that my ships

Are safely come to road."

Portia, observing that it is almost morning,

"Let us go in,

And charge us there upon inter'gatories,

And we will answer all things faithfully."

Commentary:

Act IV deals with the Romantic Love Theme though "dominated by the figure of Shylock." The last Act of the play Act 5 - Belmont.

The opening scene begins with Lorenzo and Jessica

"When the sweet wind did gently kiss the trees"

"And they did make no noise, in such a night."

The dialogue between Lorenzo and Jessica creates the atmosphere of love blessed with moonlight "establishing the tone of the scene." Lorenzo describing the beauty of the moonlit night:

" and bring your music forth into the air

How sweet the moon light sleeps upon this bank!

Here will we sit and let the sounds of music

Creep in our ears; soft stillness and the night

Become the touches of sweet harmony."

Lorenzo's continuous description of music and signalling Portia's musicians to play "elaborating the nature of music to Jessica" This is a significant procedure in Shakespearean plays. Shakespeare's if not appreciating music are "invariably incomplete" Lorenzo stresses this fact "the man that hath no music in himself,

Nor is not moved with concord of sweet sounds,

- Is fit for treasons, stratagems, and spoils,

Let no such man be trusted."

"The final movement of the play" starts with the arrival of Portia, Nerissa, Bassanio, Gratiano and Antonio. This is 'ring story' comes in. Nerissa and Gratiano facing "violent disagreement." Bassanio and Gratiano did part with their wedding rings and they are in a crucial situation facing the accusations of their wives.

Developing from the first scene of Act IV Antonio has persuaded Bassanio to give the ring to the young doctor of Rome. In most comedies a man "wrongly accused by his wife" is unable to correct himself; and Portia's fiery speech:

"I dare be sworn for him he would not leave it

Nor pluck it from his finger for the wealth

That the world masters.'

Bassanio is highly embarrassed.

"Why, I were best to cut my left hand off

And swear I lost the ring defending it."

The comedy in the Merchant of Venice lies in the irony of the words and lines "the knowledge which the two women have, and the knowledge which the audience has and the knowledge which husbands do not have." (Cliff Notes).

Somelines spoken by Portia and Nerissa are shocking as Bassanio and Gratiano listen in amazement. "I'll have that doctor for my bed fellow" and Nerissa "And I his clerk" Getting subjected to such humiliation Bassanio's and Gratiano's success creeps in (at the end of the scene).

The true identity of the lawyer and the clerk is revealed and finally the safe arrival of Antonio's ships with a heap of fortune; Lorenzo and Jessica inheriting the wealth of Shylock "The Ring Story" of this romantic comedy ends with Bassanio and Gratiano coming to know the true saviours of Antonio.

The lovers are re-united. This is "unique and usual" in Shakespeare's comedy. The lovers may face misunderstandings but all such trivial incidents could be overcome by mutual understanding and "a sense of humour."

The Romantic Comedy - The Merchant of Venice is written in blank verse with naturalness, freedom and variety. Lines of irregular length expressing the emotions and usually by the "haste and excitement of the speaker. The freedom of handling the material is superb.

For obvious purpose of contrast Shakespeare, blackens the character of Shylock and whitens the character of Antonio, modelling the character of Antonio on a genuine friend, a philanthropist and a wise and prudent man. Shakespeare has highlighted the characteristics of Antonio, a royal merchant, and a genuine Christian Portia the venetian beauty, wise and intelligent and Shylock, his very name suggesting secrecy and hoarding.

The audience is "convinced of the essential sanity of the casket test for Portia's suitors. There's the fear of Shylock's bond anticipating tragedy but the whole story turns out to be a romantic comedy turning out Portia and Shylock as necessary foils to each other.

The "gracious lyricism of the opening to the fifth act" is a contrast to the previous scene. Thus Shakesapeare gently invites the attention of the reader/audience to the circumstances regarding "Jewry and usury" emphasising the character of Shylock as a userer and his contrast Antonio with kind and human qualities.

The play ends in a pleasant and endearing manner. "The Merchant of Venice has appealed so fundamentally to an audience's sense of cultural identity that each age has used (the play) as a mirror to reflect its own face." (Michael Taylor)

Mrs. C. Ekanayake, Retd. Specialist Tr. Eng Lit, St. Anne's College, Kurunegala.