Merchant of Venies

MERCHANT OF VENIES

Play Script - TextMerchant of Venice

Act 4Merchant of Venice

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Script of Act 4 Merchant of Venice The play by William Shakespeare

IntroductionThis section contains the script of Act 4 of Merchant of Venice the play by William Shakespeare. The enduring works of William Shakespeare feature many famous and well loved characters. Make a note of any unusual words that you encounter whilst reading the script of Merchant of Venice and check their definition in the Shakespeare Dictionary The script of Merchant of Venice is extremely long. To reduce the time to load the script of the play, and for ease in accessing specific sections of the script, we have separated the text of Merchant of Venice into Acts. Please click Merchant of Venice Script to access further Acts.

Script / Text of Act 4 Merchant of Venice

ACT IVSCENE I. Venice. A court of justice.

Enter the DUKE, the Magnificoes, ANTONIO, BASSANIO, GRATIANO, SALERIO, and others DUKE What, is Antonio here?

ANTONIO Ready, so please your grace.

DUKE I am sorry for thee: thou art come to answerA stony adversary, an inhuman wretchuncapable of pity, void and emptyFrom any dram of mercy.

ANTONIO I have heardYour grace hath ta'en great pains to qualifyHis rigorous course; but since he stands obdurate

And that no lawful means can carry meOut of his envy's reach, I do opposeMy patience to his fury, and am arm'dTo suffer, with a quietness of spirit,The very tyranny and rage of his.

DUKE Go one, and call the Jew into the court.

SALERIO He is ready at the door: he comes, my lord.

Enter SHYLOCK

DUKE Make room, and let him stand before our face.Shylock, the world thinks, and I think so too,That thou but lead'st this fashion of thy maliceTo the last hour of act; and then 'tis thoughtThou'lt show thy mercy and remorse more strangeThan is thy strange apparent cruelty;And where thou now exact'st the penalty,Which is a pound of this poor merchant's flesh,Thou wilt not only loose the forfeiture,But, touch'd with human gentleness and love,Forgive a moiety of the principal;Glancing an eye of pity on his losses,That have of late so huddled on his back,Enow to press a royal merchant downAnd pluck commiseration of his stateFrom brassy bosoms and rough hearts of flint,From stubborn Turks and Tartars, never train'dTo offices of tender courtesy.We all expect a gentle answer, Jew.

SHYLOCK I have possess'd your grace of what I purpose;And by our holy Sabbath have I swornTo have the due and forfeit of my bond:If you deny it, let the danger lightUpon your charter and your city's freedom.You'll ask me, why I rather choose to haveA weight of carrion flesh than to receiveThree thousand ducats: I'll not answer that:But, say, it is my humour: is it answer'd?What if my house be troubled with a ratAnd I be pleased to give ten thousand ducatsTo have it baned? What, are you answer'd yet?Some men there are love not a gaping pig;

Some, that are mad if they behold a cat;And others, when the bagpipe sings i' the nose,Cannot contain their urine: for affection,Mistress of passion, sways it to the moodOf what it likes or loathes. Now, for your answer:As there is no firm reason to be render'd,Why he cannot abide a gaping pig;Why he, a harmless necessary cat;Why he, a woollen bagpipe; but of forceMust yield to such inevitable shameAs to offend, himself being offended;So can I give no reason, nor I will not,More than a lodged hate and a certain loathingI bear Antonio, that I follow thusA losing suit against him. Are you answer'd?

BASSANIO This is no answer, thou unfeeling man,To excuse the current of thy cruelty.

SHYLOCK I am not bound to please thee with my answers.

BASSANIO Do all men kill the things they do not love?

SHYLOCK Hates any man the thing he would not kill?

BASSANIO Every offence is not a hate at first.

SHYLOCK What, wouldst thou have a serpent sting thee twice?

ANTONIO I pray you, think you question with the Jew:You may as well go stand upon the beachAnd bid the main flood bate his usual height;You may as well use question with the wolfWhy he hath made the ewe bleat for the lamb;You may as well forbid the mountain pinesTo wag their high tops and to make no noise,When they are fretten with the gusts of heaven;You may as well do anything most hard,As seek to soften that--than which what's harder?--His Jewish heart: therefore, I do beseech you,Make no more offers, use no farther means,But with all brief and plain conveniency

Let me have judgment and the Jew his will.

BASSANIO For thy three thousand ducats here is six.

SHYLOCK What judgment shall I dread, doingWere in six parts and every part a ducat,I would not draw them; I would have my bond.

DUKE How shalt thou hope for mercy, rendering none?

SHYLOCK What judgment shall I dread, doing no wrong?You have among you many a purchased slave,Which, like your asses and your dogs and mules,You use in abject and in slavish parts,Because you bought them: shall I say to you,Let them be free, marry them to your heirs?Why sweat they under burthens? let their bedsBe made as soft as yours and let their palatesBe 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; 'tis 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?

DUKE Upon my power I may dismiss this court,Unless Bellario, a learned doctor,Whom I have sent for to determine this,Come here to-day.

SALERIO My lord, here stays withoutA messenger with letters from the doctor,New come from Padua.

DUKE Bring us the letter; call the messenger.

BASSANIO Good cheer, Antonio! What, man, courage yet!The Jew shall have my flesh, blood, bones and all,Ere thou shalt lose for me one drop of blood.

ANTONIO I am a tainted wether of the flock,Meetest for death: the weakest kind of fruitDrops earliest to the ground; and so let meYou cannot better be employ'd, Bassanio,Than to live still and write mine epitaph.

Enter NERISSA, dressed like a lawyer's clerk

DUKE Came you from Padua, from Bellario?

NERISSA From both, my lord. Bellario greets your grace.

Presenting a letter

BASSANIO Why dost thou whet thy knife so earnestly?

SHYLOCK To cut the forfeiture from that bankrupt there.

GRATIANO Not on thy sole, but on thy soul, harsh Jew,Thou makest thy knife keen; but no metal can,No, not the hangman's axe, bear half the keennessOf thy sharp envy. Can no prayers pierce thee?

SHYLOCK No, none that thou hast wit enough to make.

GRATIANO O, be thou damn'd, inexecrable dog!And for thy life let justice be accused.Thou almost makest me waver in my faithTo hold opinion with Pythagoras,That souls of animals infuse themselvesInto the trunks of men: thy currish spiritGovern'd a wolf, who, hang'd for human slaughter,Even from the gallows did his fell soul fleet,And, whilst thou lay'st in thy unhallow'd dam,Infused itself in thee; for thy desiresAre wolvish, bloody, starved and ravenous.

SHYLOCK Till thou canst rail the seal from off my bond,Thou but offend'st thy lungs to speak so loud:Repair thy wit, good youth, or it will fall

To cureless ruin. I stand here for law.

DUKE This letter from Bellario doth commendA young and learned doctor to our court.Where is he?

NERISSA He attendeth here hard by,To know your answer, whether you'll admit him.

DUKE With all my heart. Some three or four of youGo give him courteous conduct to this place.Meantime the court shall hear Bellario's letter.

Clerk [Reads]Your grace shall understand that at the receipt ofyour letter I am very sick: but in the instant thatyour messenger came, in loving visitation was withme a young doctor of Rome; his name is Balthasar. Iacquainted him with the cause in controversy betweenthe Jew and Antonio the merchant: we turned o'ermany books together: he is furnished with myopinion; which, bettered with his own learning, thegreatness whereof I cannot enough commend, comeswith him, at my importunity, to fill up your grace'srequest in my stead. I beseech you, let his lack ofyears be no impediment to let him lack a reverendestimation; for I never knew so young a body with soold a head. I leave him to your graciousacceptance, whose trial shall better publish hiscommendation.

DUKE You hear the learn'd Bellario, what he writes:And here, I take it, is the doctor come.

Enter PORTIA, dressed like a doctor of laws

Give me your hand. Come you from old Bellario?

PORTIA I did, my lord.

DUKE You are welcome: take your place.Are you acquainted with the difference

That holds this present question in the court?

PORTIA I am informed thoroughly of the cause.Which is the merchant here, and which the Jew?

DUKE Antonio and old Shylock, both stand forth.

PORTIA Is your name Shylock?

SHYLOCK Shylock is my name.

PORTIA Of a strange nature is the suit you follow;Yet in such rule that the Venetian lawCannot impugn you as you do proceed.You stand within his danger, do you not?

ANTONIO Ay, so he says.

PORTIA Do you confess the bond?

ANTONIO I do.

PORTIA Then must the Jew be merciful.

SHYLOCK On what compulsion must I? tell me that.

PORTIA The quality of mercy is not strain'd,It droppeth as the gentle rain from heavenUpon the place beneath: it is twice blest;It blesseth him that gives and him that takes:'Tis mightiest in the mightiest: it becomesThe throned monarch better than his crown;His sceptre shows the force of temporal power,The attribute to awe and majesty,Wherein doth sit the dread and fear of kings;But mercy is above this sceptred sway;It is enthroned in the hearts of kings,It is an attribute to God himself;

And earthly power doth then show likest God'sWhen mercy seasons justice. Therefore, Jew,Though justice be thy plea, consider this,That, in the course of justice, none of usShould see salvation: we do pray for mercy;And that same prayer doth teach us all to renderThe deeds of mercy. I have spoke thus muchTo mitigate the justice of thy plea;Which if thou follow, this strict court of VeniceMust needs give sentence 'gainst the merchant there.

SHYLOCK My deeds upon my head! I crave the law,The penalty and forfeit of my bond.

PORTIA Is he not able to discharge the money?

BASSANIO Yes, here I tender it for him in the court;Yea, twice the sum: if that will not suffice,I will be bound to pay it ten times o'er,On forfeit of my hands, my head, my heart:If this will not suffice, it must appearThat malice bears down truth. And I beseech you,Wrest once the law to your authority:To do a great right, do a little wrong,And curb this cruel devil of his will.

PORTIA It must not be; there is no power in VeniceCan alter a decree established:'Twill be recorded for a precedent,And many an error by the same exampleWill rush into the state: it cannot be.

SHYLOCK A Daniel come to judgment! yea, a Daniel!O wise young judge, how I do honour thee!

PORTIA I pray you, let me look upon the bond.

SHYLOCK Here 'tis, most reverend doctor, here it is.

PORTIA Shylock, there's thrice thy money offer'd thee.

SHYLOCK An oath, an oath, I have an oath in heaven:Shall I lay perjury upon my soul?No, not for Venice.

PORTIA Why, this bond is forfeit;And lawfully by this the Jew may claimA pound of flesh, to be by him cut offNearest the merchant's heart. Be merciful:Take thrice thy money; bid me tear the bond.

SHYLOCK When it is paid according to the tenor.It doth appear you are a worthy judge;You know the law, your expositionHath been most sound: I charge you by the law,Whereof you are a well-deserving pillar,Proceed to judgment: by my soul I swearThere is no power in the tongue of manTo alter me: I stay here on my bond.

ANTONIO Most heartily I do beseech the courtTo give the judgment.

PORTIA Why then, thus it is:You must prepare your bosom for his knife.

SHYLOCK O noble judge! O excellent young man!

PORTIA For the intent and purpose of the lawHath full relation to the penalty,Which here appeareth due upon the bond.

SHYLOCK 'Tis very true: O wise and upright judge!How much more elder art thou than thy looks!

PORTIA Therefore lay bare your bosom.

SHYLOCK Ay, his breast:So says the bond: doth it not, noble judge?'Nearest his heart:' those are the very words.

PORTIA It is so. Are there balance here to weighThe flesh?

SHYLOCK I have them ready.

PORTIA Have by some surgeon, Shylock, on your charge,To stop his wounds, lest he do bleed to death.

SHYLOCK Is it so nominated in the bond?

PORTIA It is not so express'd: but what of that?'Twere good you do so much for charity.

SHYLOCK I cannot find it; 'tis not in the bond.

PORTIA You, merchant, have you any thing to say?

ANTONIO But little: I am arm'd and well prepared.Give me your hand, Bassanio: fare you well!Grieve not that I am fallen to this for you;For herein Fortune shows herself more kindThan is her custom: it is still her useTo let the wretched man outlive his wealth,To view with hollow eye and wrinkled browAn age of poverty; from which lingering penanceOf such misery doth she cut me off.Commend me to your honourable wife:Tell her the process of Antonio's end;Say how I loved you, speak me fair in death;And, when the tale is told, bid her be judgeWhether Bassanio had not once a love.Repent but you that you shall lose your friend,And he repents not that he pays your debt;For if the Jew do cut but deep enough,I'll pay it presently with all my heart.

BASSANIO Antonio, I am married to a wifeWhich is as dear to me as life itself;But life itself, my wife, and all the world,

Are not with me esteem'd above thy life:I would lose all, ay, sacrifice them allHere to this devil, to deliver you.

PORTIA Your wife would give you little thanks for that,If she were by, to hear you make the offer.

GRATIANO I have a wife, whom, I protest, I love:I would she were in heaven, so she couldEntreat some power to change this currish Jew.

NERISSA 'Tis well you offer it behind her back;The wish would make else an unquiet house.

SHYLOCK These be the Christian husbands. I have a daughter;Would any of the stock of BarrabasHad been her husband rather than a Christian!

Aside

We trifle time: I pray thee, pursue sentence.

PORTIA A pound of that same merchant's flesh is thine:The court awards it, and the law doth give it.

SHYLOCK Most rightful judge!

PORTIA And you must cut this flesh from off his breast:The law allows it, and the court awards it.

SHYLOCK Most learned judge! A sentence! Come, prepare!

PORTIA Tarry a little; there is something else.This bond doth give thee here no jot of blood;The words expressly are 'a pound of flesh:'Take then thy bond, take thou thy pound of flesh;But, in the cutting it, if thou dost shedOne drop of Christian blood, thy lands and goodsAre, by the laws of Venice, confiscateUnto the state of Venice.

GRATIANO O upright judge! Mark, Jew: O learned judge!

SHYLOCK Is that the law?

PORTIA Thyself shalt see the act:For, as thou urgest justice, be assuredThou shalt have justice, more than thou desirest.

GRATIANO O learned judge! Mark, Jew: a learned judge!

SHYLOCK I take this offer, then; pay the bond thriceAnd let the Christian go.

BASSANIO Here is the money.

PORTIA Soft!The Jew shall have all justice; soft! no haste:He shall have nothing but the penalty.

GRATIANO O Jew! an upright judge, a learned judge!

PORTIA Therefore prepare thee to cut off the flesh.Shed thou no blood, nor cut thou less nor moreBut just a pound of flesh: if thou cut'st moreOr less than a just pound, be it but so muchAs makes it light or heavy in the substance,Or the division of the twentieth partOf one poor scruple, nay, if the scale do turnBut in the estimation of a hair,Thou diest and all thy goods are confiscate.

GRATIANO A second Daniel, a Daniel, Jew!Now, infidel, I have you on the hip.

PORTIA Why doth the Jew pause? take thy forfeiture.

SHYLOCK

Give me my principal, and let me go.

BASSANIO I have it ready for thee; here it is.

PORTIA He hath refused it in the open court:He shall have merely justice and his bond.

GRATIANO A Daniel, still say I, a second Daniel!I thank thee, Jew, for teaching me that word.

SHYLOCK Shall I not have barely my principal?

PORTIA Thou shalt have nothing but the forfeiture,To be so taken at thy peril, Jew.

SHYLOCK Why, then the devil give him good of it!I'll stay no longer question.

PORTIA Tarry, Jew:The law hath yet another hold on you.It is enacted in the laws of Venice,If it be proved against an alienThat by direct or indirect attemptsHe seek the life of any citizen,The party 'gainst the which he doth contriveShall seize one half his goods; the other halfComes to the privy coffer of the state;And the offender's life lies in the mercyOf the duke only, 'gainst all other voice.In which predicament, I say, thou stand'st;For it appears, by manifest proceeding,That indirectly and directly tooThou hast contrived against the very lifeOf the defendant; and thou hast incurr'dThe danger formerly by me rehearsed.Down therefore and beg mercy of the duke.

GRATIANO Beg that thou mayst have leave to hang thyself:And yet, thy wealth being forfeit to the state,Thou hast not left the value of a cord;Therefore thou must be hang'd at the state's charge.

DUKE That thou shalt see the difference of our spirits,I pardon thee thy life before thou ask it:For half thy wealth, it is Antonio's;The other half comes to the general state,Which humbleness may drive unto a fine.

PORTIA Ay, for the state, not for Antonio.

SHYLOCK Nay, take my life and all; pardon not that:You take my house when you do take the propThat doth sustain my house; you take my lifeWhen you do take the means whereby I live.

PORTIA What mercy can you render him, Antonio?

GRATIANO A halter gratis; nothing else, for God's sake.

ANTONIO So please my lord the duke and all the courtTo quit the fine for one half of his goods,I am content; so he will let me haveThe other half in use, to render it,Upon his death, unto the gentlemanThat lately stole his daughter:Two things provided more, that, for this favour,He presently become a Christian;The other, that he do record a gift,Here in the court, of all he dies possess'd,Unto his son Lorenzo and his daughter.

DUKE He shall do this, or else I do recantThe pardon that I late pronounced here.

PORTIA Art thou contented, Jew? what dost thou say?

SHYLOCK I am content.

PORTIA Clerk, draw a deed of gift.

SHYLOCK I pray you, give me leave to go from hence;I am not well: send the deed after me,And I will sign it.

DUKE Get thee gone, but do it.

GRATIANO In christening shalt thou have two god-fathers:Had I been judge, thou shouldst have had ten more,To bring thee to the gallows, not the font.

Exit SHYLOCK

DUKE Sir, I entreat you home with me to dinner.

PORTIA I humbly do desire your grace of pardon:I must away this night toward Padua,And it is meet I presently set forth.

DUKE I am sorry that your leisure serves you not.Antonio, gratify this gentleman,For, in my mind, you are much bound to him.

Exeunt Duke and his train

BASSANIO Most worthy gentleman, I and my friendHave by your wisdom been this day acquittedOf grievous penalties; in lieu whereof,Three thousand ducats, due unto the Jew,We freely cope your courteous pains withal.

ANTONIO And stand indebted, over and above,In love and service to you evermore.

PORTIA He is well paid that is well satisfied;And I, delivering you, am satisfiedAnd therein do account myself well paid:My mind was never yet more mercenary.I pray you, know me when we meet again:I wish you well, and so I take my leave.

BASSANIO Dear sir, of force I must attempt you further:Take some remembrance of us, as a tribute,Not as a fee: grant me two things, I pray you,Not to deny me, and to pardon me.

PORTIA You press me far, and therefore I will yield.

To ANTONIO

Give me your gloves, I'll wear them for your sake;

To BASSANIO

And, for your love, I'll take this ring from you:Do not draw back your hand; I'll take no more;And you in love shall not deny me this.

BASSANIO This ring, good sir, alas, it is a trifle!I will not shame myself to give you this.

PORTIA I will have nothing else but only this;And now methinks I have a mind to it.

BASSANIO There's more depends on this than on the value.The dearest ring in Venice will I give you,And find it out by proclamation:Only for this, I pray you, pardon me.

PORTIA I see, sir, you are liberal in offersYou taught me first to beg; and now methinksYou teach me how a beggar should be answer'd.

BASSANIO Good sir, this ring was given me by my wife;And when she put it on, she made me vowThat I should neither sell nor give nor lose it.

PORTIA That 'scuse serves many men to save their gifts.An if your wife be not a mad-woman,And know how well I have deserved the ring,She would not hold out enemy for ever,For giving it to me. Well, peace be with you!

Exeunt Portia and Nerissa

ANTONIO My Lord Bassanio, let him have the ring:Let his deservings and my love withalBe valued against your wife's commandment.

BASSANIO Go, Gratiano, run and overtake him;Give him the ring, and bring him, if thou canst,Unto Antonio's house: away! make haste.

Exit Gratiano

Come, you and I will thither presently;And in the morning early will we bothFly toward Belmont: come, Antonio.

Exeunt

SCENE II. The same. A street.

Enter PORTIA and NERISSA PORTIA Inquire the Jew's house out, give him this deedAnd let him sign it: we'll away to-nightAnd be a day before our husbands home:This deed will be well welcome to Lorenzo.

Enter GRATIANO

GRATIANO Fair sir, you are well o'erta'enMy Lord Bassanio upon more adviceHath sent you here this ring, and doth entreatYour company at dinner.

PORTIA That cannot be:His ring I do accept most thankfully:And so, I pray you, tell him: furthermore,I pray you, show my youth old Shylock's house.

GRATIANO That will I do.

NERISSA Sir, I would speak with you.

Aside to PORTIA

I'll see if I can get my husband's ring,Which I did make him swear to keep for ever.

PORTIA [Aside to NERISSA] Thou mayst, I warrant.We shall have old swearingThat they did give the rings away to men;But we'll outface them, and outswear them too.

Aloud

Away! make haste: thou knowist where I will tarry.

NERISSA Come, good sir, will you show me to this house?

Exeunt

Brief Summary Chapter Summaries Act 1, Scene 1 Act 1, Scene 2 Act 1, Scene 3 Act 2, Scene 1 Act 2, Scene 2 Act 2, Scene 3 Act 2, Scene 4 Act 2, Scene 5 Act 2, Scene 6 Act 2, Scene 7 Act 2, Scene 8 Act 2, Scene 9 Act 3, Scene 1 Act 3, Scene 2 Act 3, Scene 3 Act 3, Scene 4 Act 3, Scene 5 Act 4, Scene 1 Act 4, Scene 2 Act 5, Scene 1

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The Merchant of Venice Act 4, Scene 1 Summary

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 begins the trial by showing how impartial he is: he immediately says he's sorry for Antonio and that Shylock is an "inhuman wretch, uncapable [sic] of pity, void and empty from any dram of mercy."

Wow, so much for a fair trial. Antonio shrugs this off as no big deal – he knows everyone has done what they can, and he's prepared to face Shylock's fury head on, patiently suffering at the hand of Shylock's rage.

Shylock is called into court, where the Duke addresses him first. The Duke says that he and the whole world are certain that Shylock has only let things get this dangerous out of malice. They're all sure that at the last minute Shylock will go back on his cruelty and renege on wanting a pound of Antonio's flesh.

They even expect his mercy will extend to forgiving some portion of the debt, especially as Shylock knows of the crippling losses Antonio just faced at sea, losses that would destroy any man. Even a Turk or a Tartar, known for their lack of manners, would be moved to pity facing Antonio and his bad circumstances.

Shylock is advised that he should have a gentle answer. Shylock speaks for himself at court, rather than having a lawyer. He says he's sworn by the Jewish holy Sabbath that he'll get

what he's owed for Antonio's forfeiture of the bond. Further, if the city should fail to enforce Antonio's oath, their charter and their freedom will be called into question.

Shylock simply states that he doesn't actually have to answer why he'd rather have a pound of Antonio's flesh than the 3,000 ducats. Other men have all sorts of preferences – some don't like roasted pig, some urinate when they hear bagpipes. (He says this – we're not kidding.)

Just as those men are swayed by their inexplicable passions, Shylock should be allowed to inflict his cruelty against Antonio because he d--n well pleases it – no need explaining it to the rest of the world. He adds that he can't give a reason, nor will he, about why he will show no mercy to Antonio. All he can offer is that he loathes the man, and that this should be reason enough to want what Shylock is rightfully owed in the first place.

Bassanio pipes up and says this doesn't excuse how cruel Shylock is being – do all men kill what they hate? Shylock retorts that a man would only be driven to kill something because he hated it. (En garde!) The two bicker until Antonio cuts them off. It's clear to him that arguing with Shylock is, as he says, as useful as asking the wolf why it ate the lamb and made the mommy sheep cry.

Antonio claims nothing is harder than the Jewish heart, which nothing can soften. He'd rather they finish all this pleading and hurry up to the trial's conclusion, so he can be judged and Shylock can get what he wants.

The Duke tries to chide Shylock, asking how he can expect mercy when offers none. Actually, Shylock points out, he hasn't done any wrong. He then brilliantly flips the script. He points out that there are lots of slave owners in the crowd. He notes that if the Duke demanded of those men that they free their slaves and allow them to live peacefully and in equality with their former masters, the men would revolt.

The justification for their rebellion would be that "The slaves are ours." Just like them, Shylock has bought and paid for Antonio's pound of flesh – Antonio even agreed to it (which is a notch above slavery, he seems to be saying). If the law is worth anything, they will uphold it for Shylock the same way they would protect slave owners.

The Duke responds to Shylock's arguments with the retort, "Maybe we should all go home now, unless Doctor Bellario, who is the real guy who can settle this, shows up." (Note: "Doctor" seems in this play to be a general term for a learned man, so this guy is probably some sort of lawyer, not a medical professional. Given the terms of the bond agreement, though, one of those probably wouldn't hurt to have around.)

Conveniently, a messenger has arrived with news from Bellario at Padua. Meanwhile, Bassanio and Antonio aren't paying much attention, as they're having their own private pity party. Bassanio

promises he'd sooner give up his blood and bones than have Antonio lose a drop of blood on his behalf. Antonio counters that he himself is the weakest link, so he's the one who should die. Bassanio would be most useful not by being

self-sacrificing but by writing Antonio's epitaph.

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As Shylock and Graziano argue over whether Shylock is the soul of a murderous wolf reincarnated, the Duke gets around to reading the freshly-delivered message. The letter is from Doctor Bellario and says he is sick, but he's sending this young man in his stead. The boy (who is actually Portia) has been briefed on the situation and is prepared to act based on Doctor Bellario's opinion and his own learning.

Gasp! Portia enters and is introduced to the court as "the learned doctor Balthazar." She's all business and immediately asks Antonio if

he admits to his oath with Shylock. Antonio does, and Portia immediately concludes "Then the Jew must be merciful." Her reasoning is that mercy is an attribute of God himself, and earthly justice should try to mirror what God would do rather than simply what the law would.

Portia argues that if legal justice, or justice as the court would provide, was all that mankind followed, everyone would go to hell, because mercy is necessary for salvation. She adds that as we all pray for heavenly mercy, we must be willing to be merciful ourselves here on earth. Her hope in making this argument, she says, is to soften Shylock's plea for justice, strictly interpreted.

Shylock's retort is that he isn't asking for mercy – especially not from a Christian God, he seems to implicitly add. He reiterates that he's here to see justice served according to the law, no more and no less.

Portia asks whether Antonio can just pay off the debt, and Bassanio immediately offers to pay twice what's owed. In fact, Bassanio is willing to pay ten times the debt, offering his own life up as the guarantee. Bassanio declares that if this is not enough, it will prove that Shylock is more motivated by malice than righteousness.

Finally Bassanio appeals to the Duke, asking him to – just this once – take the law into his own hands and help Antonio. It would mean a little twisting of the rules, but it would have a good impact. Portia, however – as "the learned Balthazar" – pipes up here that bending the rules simply isn't an option; it would set a bad precedent.

After looking over Shylock's bond, Portia declares that he has every legal right to what's owed to him because of Antonio's forfeit. Still, she again asks Shylock to be merciful, and suggests he might forget the whole bond by accepting three times what he's owed.

Shylock compliments Portia for her knowledge of the law, but again states that no man will move him. He will have his due according to the law. Antonio too is tired of all this talk and would rather just get the whole d--ned thing over with. Portia tells Antonio to bare his chest and be prepared to go under the knife for Shylock.

They then go over the logistics. Shylock has scales ready to weigh the flesh. (This guy was obviously not joking.) Also, he's going to take the flesh from near Antonio's heart, as was apparently stipulated in the bond. (This is the first time we're hearing this.) Portia asks Shylock if he has a surgeon ready nearby to stop the wounds so Antonio doesn't bleed to death, but Shylock notes that this wasn't part of the agreement.

Antonio and Bassanio then hold hands and share tearful goodbyes. Antonio tells Bassanio not to be sad that he's dying on his behalf. He tells Bassanio instead to be stoked that Fortune, usually a cruel wench, has allowed Antonio to die mercifully rather than live like a poor person.

Antonio tells Bassanio to tell his new wife Portia the story of his death – then Portia can then judge whether someone didn't once love Bassanio. In other words, Antonio loves Bassanio, and his wife really needs to know that.

Antonio then instructs Bassanio only to be sad that he's losing a friend. Antonio himself does not regret paying Bassanio's debt to Shylock with his life, so Bassanio shouldn't either.

Bassanio then points out that his wife is as dear to him as his life, but even his wife, his life, and the world put together are not worth more to him than Antonio. (Aw!)

Portia, in disguise, wryly comments that if Bassanio's wife were around to hear this, she wouldn't be stoked (which she is not!). Then Graziano offers up his wife, too, adding that he wishes she were dead and in heaven so she could plead with God to change Shylock's mind.

Nerissa, Graziano's wife disguised as Balthazar's attendant, also wryly states that if Graziano's wife were around to hear this, there'd be no peace in his household. Shylock adds that this is the way with Christian husbands, and he laments that a Christian, not a Jew, took his own daughter. (And his money, but who's counting?)

Finally they're done talking about the merits of marrying Christians, and Portia is back to getting Antonio cut for Shylock. She lays out again the stipulations of the bond: the law gives up a pound of Antonio's flesh, and the law allows Shylock to cut it from Antonio's breast.

As Shylock is nearly salivating over the prospect of some Antonio flesh, Portia suddenly halts the process. She says the bond allows for a pound of flesh, but not for the shedding of blood. If Shylock takes a drop of Christian blood from Antonio, then the law of Venice states that Venice can confiscate his land and goods. Shylock's all, "What?! Is that really the law?" and Portia points out that since Shylock was so keen on following the letter of the law, he's got to follow all of the law, including the law of Venice on assaulting Christians.

Hearing this, Shylock quickly backpedals; he'd rather just take three times the bond money and be on his merry way without making Antonio into fish-bait. But Portia insists this is no longer an option – he wanted the law, and now he'll get the law. He can still have exactly a pound of Antonio's flesh, but if he sheds any blood OR if he takes more than one exact pound, then he dies and all his worldly goods will go to the state.

Shylock, caught, asks only for the principal of the debt, the 3,000 ducats, hoping for the whole affair to just be over with. Though Bassanio offers it up, Portia cuts him off again. Shylock has already refused the offer in court, and he will receive only the law, just as he asked for. Portia insists that Shylock no longer has any right to anything but the forfeiture of Antonio's flesh, which he can take at his own peril.

Shylock is beat, and he knows it, so he says he won't stick around to hear any more of the case. Again Portia stops him, as the law has more to say about the trial. She brings up another law of Venice, which says that if a foreign national has sought the life of a Venetian, either directly or indirectly, then the would-be victim gets half of his stuff, and the other half will go to the state, while the fate of the would-be murderer is in the hands of the Duke. Things being as they are, it's clear that Shylock sought the life of Antonio, a Venetian, and the state and Antonio can confiscate his stuff. All Shylock has left to do is beg the Duke to spare his life.

Graziano, always helpful, says it would be nice if Shylock could beg for permission to hang himself, but with his estate gone, he couldn't afford any rope and he'd have to get the state to buy it for him. The Duke, who has apparently gone through more sensitivity training than Graziano, cuts in and pardons Shylock's life before Shylock even asks him to. The Duke declares that half of Shylock's wealth now belongs to Antonio, and the state will be merciful and only charge Shylock a fine instead of taking the other half of his wealth.

Shylock speaks for the first time and says if they take away his means of living, they may as well take his life. Portia asks Antonio what mercy he can offer Shylock.

All right, so there's some scholarly debate over what Antonio actually offers. Essentially he says he's OK with the state deciding that Shylock doesn't need to pay them their half of the fine. As for his half, he'd like to have it "in use," which might mean "preserved in trust" or used as a source of income. Either way, when Shylock dies, that money should go to Lorenzo, the Christian man who recently "stole" and married Shylock's daughter Jessica.

Antonio has two more conditions: Shylock needs to convert to Christianity, and he needs to put in the court record that when he dies, Jessica and Lorenzo will inherit everything he leaves behind.

The Duke likes all of Antonio's conditions. (Because forced religious conversion is always a good idea, right?) He says that if Shylock doesn't accept them, he will recant his pardon on Shylock's life. Shylock, who is clearly getting the shaft left and right, has no choice left, so announces that he is content. Portia tries to get the clerk to write up the deed of gift to Jessica and Lorenzo, but Shylock is, understandably, not feeling well. He asks them to let him get the hell out of the court and to send the deed after him to sign.

The Duke invites the disguised Portia to have dinner with him, but she diplomatically defers. She says she really has to be getting back to Padua.

Bassanio then approaches Portia and offers her the 3,000 ducats they had tried to give Shylock earlier. Antonio adds that he'll love "Balthazar" forever and ever. Portia/Balthazar basically says, "Thanks, but no thanks. I did a good job, and that's enough for me." Still, she teases that the men will recognize her when they meet again.

Bassanio presses that she really should take something, and also pardon him for being so persistent. Portia/Balthazar relents and asks for Antonio's gloves, which she says she'll wear for his sake.

From Bassanio she wants his ring (which is actually hers). Bassanio hesitates, saying there's more to this ring than its monetary value. He offers to get Balthazar the most expensive ring in Venice if he can only keep this one. But Portia/Balthazar insists, especially because he insisted so much initially.

Bassanio then explains that his wife gave him the ring, and to give it away would be to break faith with her, as she made him promise never to give it away, sell it or lose it. Portia responds sharply – she says this is a common excuse for men who don't want to give away their stuff. She then says if Bassanio's wife is not a "mad woman," she'll understand that Balthazar did Bassanio a great service and therefore deserved the ring.

Also, Portia-in-disguise counsels, his wife can't be mad at him forever. Then Portia says, in essence, "OK, never mind." And she leaves.

Antonio chastises Bassanio after Portia/Balthazar and his attendant leave. He tells Bassanio to give up the ring. It's what Balthazar deserves, and Antonio's love should be worth more than Portia's bossy demands.

Bassanio wimps out and gives in. He gives Graziano the ring and instructs him to run after Balthazar, give him the ring, and try to get him to come to Antonio's house for dinner. Having done this, Bassanio says he'll hang for the night with Antonio (as he promised Portia he would not do) and then they'll both head to Belmont in the morning.

Original Text Modern Translation

Scene I

[Venice]

Enter the Duke, the Magnificoes, Antonio, Bassanio, and Gratiano, [Salerio, and others]

DUKE: What, is Antonio here?

DUKE: What, is Antonio here?

ANTONIO: Ready, so please your grace.

ANTONIO: Ready, if it pleases your Grace.

DUKE: I am sorry for thee; thou art come to answer A stony adversary, an inhuman wretch Uncapable of pity, void and empty(5) From any dram of mercy.

DUKE: I am sorry for you; you are here to answerA rock-like opponent, an inhuman wretch,Incapable of pity, void and emptyOf any ounce of mercy.

ANTONIO: I have heard Your grace hath ta'en great pains to qualify His rigorous course; but since he stands obdurate, And that no lawful means can carry me(10) Out of his envy's reach, I do oppose My patience to his fury; and am arm'd To suffer, with a quietness of spirit, The very tyranny and rage of his.

ANTONIO: I have heardYour Grace has taken great pains to modifyHis stubborn course; but since he stands solid,And that no lawful means can carry meOut of his envy's reach, I confrontHis fury with my patience, and I am readyTo suffer the very tyranny and rage of hisWith a quiet spirit.

DUKE: Go one, and call the Jew into the court.(15)

DUKE: Go, one of you, and call the Jew into the court.

SALERIO: He is ready at the door: he comes, my lord.

SALERIO: He is ready at the door; he comes, my lord.

Enter Shylock

DUKE: Make room, and let him stand before our face. Shylock, the world thinks, and I think so too, That thou but lead'st this fashion of thy malice

DUKE: Make room, and let him stand before us.Shylock, the world thinks, and I think so too,That you only carry this kind of malice


To the last hour of act; and then, 'tis thought(20) Thou'lt show thy mercy and remorse, more strange Than is thy strange apparent cruelty: And where thou now exact'st the penalty, (Which is a pound of this poor merchant's flesh,) Thou wilt not only loose the forfeiture,(25) But, touch'd with human gentleness and love, Forgive a moiety of the principal; Glancing an eye of pity on his losses, That have of late so huddled on his back, Enough to press a royal merchant down,(30) And pluck commiseration of his state From brassy bosoms, and rough hearts of flint, From stubborn Turks and Tartars, never train'd To offices of tender courtesy. We all expect a gentle answer, Jew.(35)

To the very last hour of action; and then, it’s thought,You'll show your mercy and remorse, more strangelyThan your strange apparent cruelty is;And where you now exact the penalty,—Which is a pound of this poor merchant's flesh,—You will not only loose the default,But, touched with human gentleness and love,Forgive half of the borrowed amount,Glancing with an eye of pity on his losses,That have been so heaped on his back lately,Enough to press a royal merchant down,And get sympathy for his stateFrom brassy bosoms and rough hearts of stone,From stubborn Turks and Tartars, never trainedTo uses of tender courtesy.We all expect a gentle answer, Jew.

SHYLOCK: I have possess'd your grace of what I purpose; And by our holy Sabbath have I sworn, To have the due and forfeit of my bond: If you deny it, let the danger light Upon your charter, and your city's freedom.(40) You'll ask me, why I rather choose to have A weight of carrion flesh, than to receive Three thousand ducats: I'll not answer that: But, say, it is my humour. is it answer'd? What, if my house be troubled with a rat(45) And I be pleas'd to give ten thousand ducats To have it ban'd? What, are you answer'd yet? Some men there are love not a gaping pig; Some, that are mad if they behold a cat; And others, when the bagpipe sings i' the nose,(50) Cannot contain their urine: for affection, Master of passion, sways it to the mood Of what it likes, or loathes. Now, for your answer. As there is no firm reason to be render'd, Why he, cannot abide a gaping pig;(55) Why he, a harmless necessary cat; Why he, a woollen bagpipe,—but of force Must yield to such inevitable shame, As to offend himself, being offended; So can I give no reason, nor I will not,(60) More than a lodged hate, and a certain loathing, I bear Antonio, that I follow thus A losing suit against him. Are you answer'd?

SHYLOCK: I have told your Grace of what I purpose,And, by our holy Sabbath, I have swornTo have the due and penalty of my promise to pay.If you deny it, let the danger lightOn your city charter and your city's freedom.You ask me why I would rather choose to haveA weight of dead flesh than to receiveThree thousand dollars. I won’t answer that,Only to say I feel like it: have I answered you?What if a rat troubles my house,And I am happy to give ten thousand dollarsTo have it captured? What, aren’t you answered yet?There are some men that don’t love a dead pig;Some that are crazy if they see a cat;And others, when they hear the song of the bagpipe,Cannot hold their urine, because sympathy,Mistress of passion, persuades passion to the moodOf what it likes or hates. Now, for your answer:As there is no firm reason to be given,Why he can’t stand a dead pig;Why he is afraid of a harmless, necessary cat;Why he wets himself when he hears a wailing bagpipe,Only that he must yield by force to such inevitable shameAs to offend, himself being offended;So I can give no reason, nor will I,More than I bear Antonio a deep-rooted hateAnd a certain intense dislike, that I followA losing suit against him like this. Are you answered?

BASSANIO: This is no answer, thou unfeeling man, To excuse the current of thy cruelty.(65)

BASSANIO: This is no answer, you unfeeling man,To excuse the flowing of your cruelty.

SHYLOCK: I am not bound to please thee with my answers.

SHYLOCK: I am not required to please you with my answer.

BASSANIO: Do all men kill the things they do not love?

BASSANIO: Do all men kill the things they don’t love?

SHYLOCK: Hates any man the thing he would not kill?

SHYLOCK: Does any man hate the thing he wouldn’t kill?

BASSANIO: Every offence is not a hate at first.

BASSANIO: Every wrong is not a hate at first.

SHYLOCK: What, wouldst thou have a serpent sting thee twice?(70)

SHYLOCK: What! Would you have a serpent sting you twice?

ANTONIO: I pray you, think you question with the Jew, You may as well go stand upon the beach, And bid the main flood bate his usual height; You may as well use question with the wolf, Why he hath made the ewe bleat for the lamb;(75) You may as well forbid the mountain pines To wag their high tops, and to make no noise When they are fretten with the gusts of heaven; You may as well do anything most hard, As seek to soften that (than which what's harder?)(80)

ANTONIO: Please, if you think you question the Jew:You may as well go stand on the beach,And ask the main ocean to decrease his usual height;You may as well use questions with the wolf,Why he has made the mother sheep cry for the lamb;You may as well forbid the mountain pinesTo wag their high tops and to make no noiseWhen they are blown by the gusts of wind from the sky;You may as well do anything almost as hardAs to seek to soften that—than what's harder?—


His Jewish heart.—therefore, I do beseech you, Make no more offers, use no farther means, But, with all brief and plain conveniency, Let me have judgment and the Jew his will.

His Jewish heart: so, I beg you,Make no more offers, use no farther means,But with all brief and plain convenience.Let me have judgment, and let the Jew have his default.

BASSANIO: For thy three thousand ducats here is six.(85)

BASSANIO: For your three thousand dollars, here are six.

SHYLOCK: 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.

SHYLOCK: If every dollar in six thousand dollarsWere in six parts, and every part a dollar,I would not take them; I want my promise to pay.

DUKE: How shalt thou hope for mercy, rendering none?

DUKE: How shall you hope for mercy, giving none?

SHYLOCK: What judgment shall I dread, doing no wrong?(90) 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 parts, Because you bought them.—shall I say to you Let them be free, marry them to your heirs?(95) Why sweat they under burthens? 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,(100) Is dearly bought; 'tis 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?

SHYLOCK: What judgment shall I dread, if I have done no wrong?You have many purchased slaves among you,Which, like your asses and your dogs and mules,You use in low and in slavish ways,Because you bought them; shall I say to you“Let them be free, damn them to your heirs?”Why do they sweat under burdens? Let their bedsBe made as soft as yours, and let their palatesBe seasoned with such rich meats? You will answer“The slaves are ours.” So I answer you:The pound of flesh which I demand of himIs dearly bought; it’s mine, and I will have it.If you deny me, damn your law!There is no backbone in the laws of Venice.I stand for judgment: answer; shall I have it?

DUKE: Upon my power, I may dismiss this court,(105) Unless Bellario, a learned doctor, Whom I have sent for to determine this, Come here to-day.

DUKE: I may dismiss this court by my power,Unless Bellario, a learned doctor,Whom I have sent for to determine this,Comes here today.

SALERIO: My lord, here stays without, A messenger with letters from the doctor,(110) New come from Padua.

SALERIO: My lord, There is a messenger waiting outsideWith letters from the doctor,Just now arrived from Padua.

DUKE: Bring us the letters. Call the messenger.

DUKE: Bring us the letters; call the messenger.

BASSANIO: Good cheer, Antonio! What, man! courage yet! The Jew shall have my flesh, blood, bones, and all, Ere thou shalt lose for me one drop of blood.(115)

BASSANIO: Cheer up, Antonio! What, man, have courage still!The Jew shall have my flesh, blood, bones, and everything,Before you shall lose one drop of blood for me.

ANTONIO: I am a tainted wether of the flock, Meetest for death; the weakest kind of fruit Drops earliest to the ground, and so let me: You cannot better be employ'd, Bassanio, Than to live still, and write mine epitaph.(120)

ANTONIO: I am a poisoned, castrated ram of the flock,Most ready for death; the weakest kind of fruitDrops first to the ground, and so let me.You cannot be better employed, Bassanio,Than to live on, and write my epitaph.

Enter Nerissa [disguised].

DUKE: Came you, from Padua, from Bellario?

DUKE: Did you come from Padua, from Bellario?

NERISSA: From both, my lord: Bellario greets your grace.

NERISSA: From both, my lord. Bellario send greetings to your Grace.

BASSANIO: Why dost thou whet thy knife so earnestly?

BASSANIO: Why do you sharpen your knife so earnestly?

SHYLOCK: To cut the forfeiture from that bankrupt there.

SHYLOCK: To cut the default from that bankrupt there.

GRATIANO: Not on thy sole, but on thy soul, harsh Jew,(125) Thou mak'st thy knife keen; but no metal can, No, not the hangman's axe, bear half the keenness Of thy sharp envy. Can no prayers pierce thee?

GRATIANO: You make your knife sharp, not on the sole of your shoe,But on your soul, harsh Jew, but no metal can,No, not the hangman's axe, be sharpened to half the sharpnessOf your sharp hate. Can any prayers get through to you?


SHYLOCK: No, none that thou hast wit enough to make.

SHYLOCK: No, none that you have sense enough to make.

GRATIANO: O, be thou damn'd, inexecrable dog!(130) And for thy life let justice be accus'd. Thou almost mak'st me waver in my faith, To hold opinion with Pythagoras, That souls of animals infuse themselves Into the trunks of men: thy currish spirit(135) Govern'd a wolf, who, hang'd for human slaughter, Even from the gallows did his fell soul fleet, And, whilst thou lay'st in thy unhallow'd dam, Infus'd itself in thee; for thy desires Are wolvish, bloody, sterved, and ravenous.(140)

GRATIANO: Oh, damn you, stubborn dog!And, for your life, let justice be blamed.You almost make me change my mind,About agreeing with PythagorasThat the souls of animals send themselvesInto the bodies of men. Your dog-like spiritThat must have been ruled by a wolfHanged for killing a human, his evil soulFalling quickly even from the gallows,And, while you lay in your unholy mother,Sent itself into you, because your desiresAre wolfish, bloody, starved, and hungry.

SHYLOCK: Till thou canst rail the seal from off my bond, Thou but offend'st thy lungs to speak so loud: Repair thy wit, good youth; or it will fall To cureless ruin.—I stand here for law.

SHYLOCK: Until you can scream the seal from off my promise to pay,You only insult your lungs to speak so loud;Fix your brain, good youth, or it will fallTo cureless ruin. I stand here for law.

DUKE: This letter from Bellario doth commend(145) A young and learned doctor to our court:— Where is he?

DUKE: This letter from Bellario recommendsA young and learned doctor to our court.Where is he?

NERISSA: He attendeth here hard by, To know your answer, whether you'll admit him.

NERISSA: He waits very nearby,To know your answer, whether you'll admit him.

DUKE: With all my heart:—Some three or four of you(150) Go give him courteous conduct to this place.— Meantime, the court shall hear Bellario's letter.

DUKE: With all my heart: some three or four of youGo, give him courteous conduct to this place.In the meantime, the court shall hear Bellario's letter.

CLERK: Your grace shall understand, that at the receipt of your letter, I am very sick: but in the instant that your messenger came, in loving visitation was with me a young doctor of Rome; his name(155) is Balthasar: I acquainted him with the cause in controversy between the Jew and Antonio the merchant: we turned o'er many books together: he is furnished with my opinion; which, bettered with his own learning (the greatness whereof I cannot enough commend), comes with him, at my importunity, to fill up your(160) grace's request in my stead. I beseech you, let his lack of years be no impediment to let him lack a reverend estimation; for I never knew so young a body with so old a head. I leave him to your gracious acceptance, whose trial shall better publish his commendation.(165)

CLERK: “Your Grace shall understand that, at the receiptof your letter, I am very sick; but, just as yourmessenger came, a young doctor from Rome was visiting withme; his name is Balthazar. I acquainted him with the causeof the controversy between the Jew and Antonio the merchant; welooked over many books together; he is furnished with my opinionwhich, made better with his own learning,—the greatness of which Icannot recommend enough,—comes to fulfill your Grace's requestin my place because of my illness. Please don’t let his youth be animpediment to giving him the utmost respect,because I never knew so young a body with so old a head. I leave himto your gracious acceptance, whose testing shall better prove his abilities.”

Enter Portia, [disguised] Balthasar.

DUKE: You hear the learn'd Bellario, what he writes: And here, I take it, is the doctor come.— Give me your hand. Come you from old Bellario?

DUKE: You hear what the learned Bellario has written;And here, I take it, is the doctor coming.Give me your hand; do you come from old Bellario?

PORTIA: I did, my lord.

PORTIA: I did, my lord.

DUKE: You are welcome: take your place.(170) Are you acquainted with the difference

DUKE: You are welcome; take your place.Are you acquainted with the difference of opinion


That holds this present question in the court? That is the present question before the court?

PORTIA: I am informed thoroughly of the cause. Which is the merchant here, and which the Jew?

PORTIA: I am thoroughly informed about the case.Which is the merchant here, and which the Jew?

DUKE: Antonio and old Shylock, both stand forth.(175)

DUKE: Antonio and old Shylock, both come forward.

PORTIA: Is your name Shylock?

PORTIA: Is your name Shylock?

SHYLOCK: Shylock is my name.

SHYLOCK: Shylock is my name.

PORTIA: Of a strange nature is the suit you follow; Yet in such rule, that the Venetian law Cannot impugn you as you do proceed.—(180) You stand within his danger, do you not?

PORTIA: You pursue a suit of a strange nature,Still, in such rule of law, that the Venetian lawCannot fight against you as you proceed.

You stand in his danger, don’t you?

ANTONIO: Ay, so he says.

ANTONIO: Yes, so he says.

PORTIA: Do you confess the bond?

PORTIA: Do you confess the promise to pay?

ANTONIO: I do.

ANTONIO: I do.

PORTIA: Then must the Jew be merciful.(185)

PORTIA: Then must the Jew be merciful.

SHYLOCK: On what compulsion must I? tell me that.

SHYLOCK: On what compulsion must I? Tell me that.

PORTIA: The quality of mercy is not strain'd, It droppeth, as the gentle rain from heaven Upon the place beneath: it is twice bless'd; It blesseth him that gives, and him that takes:(190) 'Tis mightiest in the mightiest; it becomes The throned monarch better than his crown; His sceptre shows the force of temporal power, The attribute to awe and majesty, Wherein doth sit the dread and fear of kings;(195) But mercy is above this sceptred sway, It is enthroned in the hearts of kings, It is an attribute to God himself; And earthly power doth then show likest God's When mercy seasons justice. Therefore, Jew,(200) Though justice be thy plea, consider this— That in the course of justice, none of us Should see salvation: we do pray for mercy; And that same prayer, doth teach us all to render The deeds of mercy. I have spoke thus much,(205) To mitigate the justice of thy plea, Which if thou follow, this strict court of Venice Must needs give sentence 'gainst the merchant there.

PORTIA: The quality of mercy is not restricted;It drops as the gentle rain from heavenOn the place beneath the clouds. It is twice blessed:It blesses him that gives mercy and him that takes mercy.It’s most powerful in the most powerful people; it suitsThe throned king better than his crown;His royal wand shows the force of earthly power,The quality to amaze and rule,Where the dread and fear of kings sits;But mercy is above the wave of this wand,It sits on a throne in the hearts of kings,It is a quality of God himself;And earthly power then shows itself like God'sWhen mercy goes with justice. So, Jew,Though justice is your plea, consider this,That if we all got justice, none of usWould see salvation; we pray for mercy,And that same prayer teaches us all to doThe deeds of mercy. I have spoken this muchTo soften the justice of your plea,Which if you follow, this strict court of VeniceMust give a ruling against the merchant there.

SHYLOCK: My deeds upon my head! I crave the law, The penalty and forfeit of my bond.(210)

SHYLOCK: My deeds on my head! I want the law,The penalty, and penalty of my promise to pay.

PORTIA: Is he not able to discharge the money?

PORTIA: Is he unable to repay the money?

BASSANIO: Yes, here I tender it for him in the court; Yea, twice the sum: if that will not suffice, I will be bound to pay it ten times o'er, On forfeit of my hands, my head, my heart:(215) If this will not suffice, it must appear That malice bears down truth. And I beseech you, Wrest once the law to your authority: To do a great right, do a little wrong; And curb this cruel devil of his will.(220)

BASSANIO: Yes; here I brought it for him into the court;Yes, twice the sum; if that is not enough,I’ll swear to pay it ten times overOn penalty of the loss of my hands, my head, my heart;If this is not enough, it must seemThat evil wins over truth. And, I beg you,Twist the law once to your authority;To do a great right, do a little wrong,And deprive this cruel devil of his will.

PORTIA: PORTIA:


It must not be; there is no power in Venice Can alter a decree established: 'Twill be recorded for a precedent, And many an error, by the same example Will rush into the state: it cannot be.(225)

It must not be; there is no power in Venice thatCan change an established law;It will set a precedent,And many errors by the same exampleWill rush into the state. It cannot be.

SHYLOCK: A Daniel come to judgment! yea, a Daniel! O wise young judge, how I do honour thee!

SHYLOCK: A prophet from the Bible come to judgment! Yes, a prophet!Oh, wise young judge, how I honor you!

PORTIA: I pray you, let me look upon the bond.

PORTIA: Please, let me look on the promise to pay.

SHYLOCK: Here, 'tis, most reverend doctor, here it is.

SHYLOCK: Here it’s, most reverend doctor; here it is.

PORTIA: Shylock, there's thrice thy money offer'd thee.(230)

PORTIA: Shylock, there's three times your money offered to you.

SHYLOCK: An oath, an oath, I have an oath in heaven: Shall I lay perjury upon my soul? No, not for Venice.

SHYLOCK: An oath, an oath! I have an oath in heaven.Shall I lay perjury on my soul?No, not for Venice.

PORTIA: Why, this bond is forfeit; And lawfully by this the Jew may claim(235) A pound of flesh, to be by him cut off Nearest the merchant's heart.—Be merciful; Take thrice thy money; bid me tear the bond.

PORTIA: Why, this promise to pay is penalty;And lawfully the Jew may claimA pound of flesh by this, to be by him cut offNearest the merchant's heart. Be merciful.Take three times your money; ask me to tear up the promise to pay.

SHYLOCK: When it is paid according to the tenor. It doth appear you are a worthy judge;(240) You know the law, your exposition Hath been most sound; I charge you by the law, Whereof you are a well-deserving pillar, Proceed to judgment: by my soul I swear There is no power in the tongue of man(245) To alter me: I stay here on my bond.

SHYLOCK: When it is paid according to the terms.It appears you are a worthy judge;You know the law; your explanationHas been most sound; I charge you by the law,Of which you are a well-deserving upholder,Proceed to judgment. By my soul, I swearThere is no power in the voice of manTo change my mind. I wait here on my promise to pay.

ANTONIO: Most heartily I do beseech the court To give the judgment.

ANTONIO: Most heartily I beg the courtTo give the judgment.

PORTIA: Why then, thus it is: You must prepare your bosom for his knife.(250)

PORTIA: Why then, it is like this:You must prepare your chest for his knife.

SHYLOCK: O noble judge! O excellent young man!

SHYLOCK: Oh, noble judge! Oh, excellent young man!

PORTIA: For the intent and purpose of the law, Hath full relation to the penalty, Which here appeareth due upon the bond;—

PORTIA: Because the intent and purpose of the lawHas full relation to the penalty,Which appeared here due on the promise to pay.

SHYLOCK: 'Tis very true: O wise and upright judge!(255) How much more elder art thou than thy looks!

SHYLOCK: It’s very true. Oh, wise and upright judge,How much more older are you than your looks!

PORTIA: Therefore lay bare your bosom.

PORTIA: So, bare your chest.

SHYLOCK: Ay, his breast: So says the bond;—doth it not, noble judge? Nearest his heart, those are the very words.(260)

SHYLOCK: Yes, “his breast:”So says the promise to pay:—does it not, noble judge?—“Nearest his heart:” those are the very words.

PORTIA: It is so. Are there balance here to weigh The flesh?

PORTIA: It is true. Are there scales here to weighThe flesh?

SHYLOCK: I have them ready.

SHYLOCK: I have them ready.

PORTIA: Have by some surgeon, Shylock, on your charge, To stop his wounds, lest he do bleed to death.(265)

PORTIA: Have some surgeon nearby, Shylock, on your responsibility,To stop his wounds, so that he won’t bleed to death.


SHYLOCK: Is it so nominated in the bond?

SHYLOCK: Is it so stated in the promise to pay?

PORTIA: It is not so express'd, but what of that? 'Twere good you do so much for charity.

PORTIA: It is not expressly stated; but so what?It would be good for you to do so much for charity.

SHYLOCK: I cannot find it; 'tis not in the bond.

SHYLOCK: I cannot find it; it’s not in the promise to pay.

PORTIA: Come, merchant, have you any thing to say?(270)

PORTIA: You, merchant, have you anything to say?

ANTONIO: But little; I am arm'd, and well prepar'd.— Give me your hand, Bassannio: fare you well! Grieve not that I am fallen to this for you; For herein Fortune shows herself more kind Than is her custom: it is still her use,(275) To let the wretched man out-live his wealth, To view with hollow eye, and wrinkled brow, An age of poverty; from which lingering penance Of such misery doth she cut me off. Commend me to your honourable wife:(280) Tell her the process of Antonio's end, Say, how I lov'd you, speak me fair in death; And, when the tale is told, bid her be judge Whether Bassanio had not once a love. Repent not you that you shall lose your friend,(285) And he repents not that he pays your debt; For, if the Jew do cut but deep enough, I'll pay it instantly with all my heart.

ANTONIO: Only little: I am ready and well prepared.Give me your hand, Bassanio: goodbye!Don’t grieve that I am doing this for you,Because here Fortune shows herself more kindThan is her habit: it is still her habitTo let the wretched man outlive his wealth,To view an age of poverty with hollow eye and wrinkled brow;She cuts me off from the lingering repentanceOf such misery.Commend me to your honorable wife:Tell her the story of Antonio's end;Say how I loved you; speak fairly about me in death;And, when the tale is told, ask her to be the judge ofWhether Bassanio didn’t once have a love.Only be sorry that you shall lose your friend,And he is not sorry that he pays your debt;Because if the Jew only cuts deep enough,I'll pay it instantly with all my heart.

BASSANIO: Antonio, I am married to a wife, Which is as dear to me as life itself;(290) But life itself, my wife, and all the world Are not with me esteem'd above thy life; I would lose all, ay, sacrifice them all Here to this devil, to deliver you.

BASSANIO: Antonio, I am married to a wifeWho is as dear to me as life itself;But life itself, my wife, and all the world,Are not worth more to me than your life;I would lose everything, yes, sacrifice them allHere to this devil, to save you.

PORTIA: Your wife would give you little thanks for that,(295) If she were by, to hear you make the offer.

PORTIA: Your wife would give you little thanks for that,If she were here to listen to such an offer.

GRATIANO: I have a wife, whom I protest I love; I would she were in heaven, so she could Entreat some power to change this currish Jew.

GRATIANO: I have a wife whom, I protest, I love;I wish she were in heaven, so she couldBeg some power to change this currish Jew.

NERISSA: 'Tis well you offer it behind her back;(300) The wish would make else an unquiet house.

NERISSA: It’s well you offer it behind her back;The wish would other make a noisy house.

SHYLOCK: These be the Christian husbands: I have a daughter; Would any of the stock of Barrabas Had been her husband rather, than a Christian!(305) We trifle time; I pray thee pursue sentence.

SHYLOCK: These are the Christian husbands! I have a daughter;Would any of the stock of Barabbas the ThiefHad been her husband, rather than a Christian!We are wasting time; Please, enforce sentence.

PORTIA: A pound of that same merchant's flesh is thine; The court awards it, and the law doth give it.

PORTIA: A pound of that same merchant's flesh is yours.The court awards it and the law gives it.

SHYLOCK: Most rightful judge!

SHYLOCK: Most rightful judge!

PORTIA: And you must cut this flesh from off his breast;(310) The law allows it, and the court awards it.

PORTIA: And you must cut this flesh from off his breast.The law allows it and the court awards it.

SHYLOCK: Most learned judge!—A sentence! come, prepare!

SHYLOCK: Most learned judge! A sentence! Come, get ready.

PORTIA: Tarry a little;—there is something else.— This bond doth give thee here no jot of blood; The words expressly are, a pound of flesh:(315)

PORTIA: Wait a minute; there is something else.This promise to pay does not give you here a jot of blood;


Take then thy bond, take thou thy pound of flesh; But, in the cutting it, if thou dost shed One drop of Christian blood, thy lands and goods Are, by the laws of Venice, confiscate Unto the state of Venice.(320)

The words expressly are “a pound of flesh:”Then take your promise to pay, take your pound of flesh;But, in the cutting it, if you shedOne drop of Christian blood, your lands and goodsAre, by the laws of Venice, seizedBy the state of Venice.

GRATIANO: O upright judge!—Mark, Jew;—O learned judge!

GRATIANO: Oh, upright judge! Mark, Jew: Oh, learned judge!

SHYLOCK: Is that the law?

SHYLOCK: Is that the law?

PORTIA: Thyself shalt see the act: For, as thou urgest justice, be assur'd(325) Thou shalt have justice, more than thou desirest.

PORTIA: You yourself shall see the law;Because, as you insist on justice, be assuredYou shall have justice, more than you desire.

GRATIANO: O learned judge!—Mark, Jew;—a learned judge!

GRATIANO: Oh, learned judge! Mark, Jew: a learned judge!

SHYLOCK: I take this offer then,—pay the bond thrice And let the Christian go.

SHYLOCK: I take this offer then: pay the promise to pay three times,And let the Christian go.

BASSANIO: Here is the money.(330)

BASSANIO: Here is the money.

PORTIA: Soft;— The Jew shall have all justice;—soft;—no haste;— He shall have nothing but the penalty.

PORTIA: Wait!The Jew shall have all justice; wait! Don’t hurry:—He shall have nothing but the penalty.

GRATIANO: O Jew! an upright judge, a learned judge!

GRATIANO: Oh, Jew! an upright judge, a learned judge!

PORTIA: Therefore prepare thee to cut off the flesh.(335) Shed thou no blood; nor cut thou less, nor more, But just a pound of flesh: if thou tak'st more, Or less, than a just pound,—be it but so much As makes it light, or heavy, in the substance, Or the division of the twentieth part(340) Of one poor scruple,—nay, if the scale do turn But in the estimation of a hair,— Thou diest and all thy goods are confiscate.

PORTIA: So, get ready to cut off the flesh.Don’t shed any blood; or cut less nor more,Exactly just a pound of flesh: if you take more,Or less, than a just pound, whether it is only so muchThat makes it light or heavy in the substance,Or the division of the twentieth partOf one poor scruple; no, if the scale turnsOnly by a hair,You die, and all your goods are seized.

GRATIANO: A second Daniel, a Daniel, Jew! Now, infidel, I have thee on the hip.(345)

GRATIANO: A second Daniel, a Daniel, Jew!Now, infidel, I have you at a disadvantage.

PORTIA: Why doth the Jew pause? take thy forfeiture.

PORTIA: Why does the Jew wait? Take your penalty.

SHYLOCK: Give me my principal, and let me go.

SHYLOCK: Give me my principal, and let me go.

BASSANIO: I have it ready for thee; here it is.

BASSANIO: I have it ready for you; here it is.

PORTIA: He hath refus'd it in the open court; He shall have merely justice and his bond.(350)

PORTIA: He has refused it in the open court;He shall merely have justice, and his promise to pay.

GRATIANO: A Daniel, still say I; a second Daniel!— I thank thee, Jew, for teaching me that word.

GRATIANO: A Daniel still say I; a second Daniel!I thank you, Jew, for teaching me that word.

SHYLOCK: Shall I not have barely my principal?

SHYLOCK: Shall I not have just my principal?

PORTIA: Thou shalt have nothing but the forfeiture, To be so taken at thy peril, Jew.(355)

PORTIA: You shall have nothing but the penaltyTo be so taken at your own risk, Jew.

SHYLOCK: Why, then the devil give him good of it! I'll stay no longer question.

SHYLOCK: Why, then the devil give him good of it!I'll wait no longer.

PORTIA: Tarry, Jew; The law hath yet another hold on you.

PORTIA: Wait, Jew. The law has yet another hold on you.It is enacted in the laws of Venice,


It is enacted in the laws of Venice,—(360) If it be proved against an alien That by direct or indirect attempts He seek the life of any citizen, The party 'gainst the which he doth contrive, Shall seize one half his goods; the other half(365) Comes to the privy coffer of the state; And the offender's life lies in the mercy Of the duke only, 'gainst all other voice. In which predicament, I say, thou stand'st: For it appears by manifest proceeding,(370) That, indirectly, and directly too, Thou hast contriv'd against the very life Of the defendant; and thou hast incurr'd The danger formerly by me rehears'd. Down, therefore, and beg mercy of the duke.(375)

That, if it is proved against an alienThat by direct or indirect attemptsHe seek the life of any citizen,The party against whom he schemesShall seize one half his goods; the other halfComes to the public treasury of the state;And the offender's life lies at the mercyOf the Duke only, above all others.In which predicament, I say, you stand;Because it appears by this obvious proceedingThat indirectly, and directly too,You have schemed against the very lifeOf the defendant; and you have incurredThe danger that I just read to you.So, kneel down, and beg mercy of the Duke.

GRATIANO: Beg that thou mayst have leave to hang thyself: And yet, thy wealth being forfeit to the state, Thou hast not left the value of a cord; Therefore thou must be hang'd at the state's charge.

GRATIANO: Beg that you may have permission to hang yourself;And still, your wealth being the penalty to pay the state,You haven’t got the value of a string left;So you must be hanged at the state's expense.

DUKE: That thou shalt see the difference of our spirits,(380) I pardon thee thy life before thou ask it: For half thy wealth, it is Antonio's; The other half comes to the general state, Which humbleness may drive unto a fine.

DUKE: So that you shall see the difference between our beliefs,I give you your life before you ask for it.Because half your wealth is Antonio's,The other half comes to the general treasury,Which your humbleness may bring to an end.

PORTIA: Ay, for the state; not for Antonio.(385)

PORTIA: Yes, for the state; not for Antonio.

SHYLOCK: Nay, take my life and all; pardon not that: 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.

SHYLOCK: No, take my life and everything, don’t pardon that:You take my house when you take the propThat holds my house up; you take my lifeWhen you take the means by which I live.

PORTIA: What mercy can you render him, Antonio?(390)

PORTIA: What mercy can you give him, Antonio?

GRATIANO: A halter gratis; nothing else, for God's sake!

GRATIANO: A free rope with a nooses; nothing else, for God's sake!

ANTONIO: So please my lord the duke, and all the court To quit the fine for one half of his goods; I am content, so he will let me have The other half in use, to render it,(395) Upon his death, unto the gentleman That lately stole his daughter; Two things provided more,—that for this favour, He presently become a Christian; The other, that he do record a gift,(400) Here in the court, of all he dies possess'd, Unto his son Lorenzo and his daughter.

ANTONIO: So if it pleases my lord, the Duke, and all the courtTo set the fine for one half of his goods,I am content, as long as he will let me haveThe other half to use, to give it,On his death, to the gentlemanThat lately stole his daughter:Two things more, that, for this favor,He presently becomes a Christian;The other, that he records a gift,Here in the court, of everything he has when he diesTo his son, Lorenzo, and his daughter.

DUKE: He shall do this; or else I do recant The pardon that I late pronounced here.

DUKE: He shall do this, or else I take backThe pardon that I just pronounced here.

PORTIA: Art thou contented, Jew? what dost thou say?(405)

PORTIA: Are you content, Jew? What do you say?

SHYLOCK: I am content.

SHYLOCK: I am content.

PORTIA: Clerk, draw a deed of gift.

PORTIA: Clerk, draw up a deed of gift.

SHYLOCK: I pray you give me leave to go from hence: I am not well; send the deed after me, And I will sign it.(410)

SHYLOCK: Please, let me go from here;I am not well; send the deed after meAnd I’ll sign it.

DUKE: Get thee gone, but do it.

DUKE: Go, but do it.

GRATIANO: GRATIANO:


In christening, shalt thou have two god-fathers; Had I been judge, thou shouldst have had ten more, To bring thee to the gallows, not the font.

In your christening, you shall have two godfathers;If I had been the judge, you should have had ten more,To bring you to the gallows, not to the baptismal font.

Exit [Shylock]

DUKE: Sir, I entreat you home with me to dinner.(415)

DUKE: Sir, I beg you to come home with me to dinner.

PORTIA: I humbly do desire your grace of pardon. I must away this night toward Padua, And it is meet I presently set forth.

PORTIA: I humbly desire your Grace’s pardon;I must go away tonight toward Padua,And it is proper that I leave right away.

DUKE: I am sorry that your leisure serves you not. Antonio, gratify this gentleman,(420) For, in my mind, you are much bound to him.

DUKE: I am sorry that you cannot stay.Antonio, thank this gentleman,Because, in my opinion, you owe him a lot.

Exit Duke and his train.

BASSANIO: Most worthy gentleman, I, and my friend, Have by your wisdom been this day acquitted Of grievous penalties; in lieu whereof, Three thousand ducats, due unto the Jew,(425) We freely cope your courteous pains withal.

BASSANIO: Most worthy gentleman, my friend and IHave been acquitted todayOf grievous penalties by your wisdom; instead ofThree thousand dollars, due to the Jew,We will freely pay for your courteous pains.

ANTONIO: And stand indebted, over and above, In love and service to you evermore.

ANTONIO: And stand indebted, over and above,In love and service to you forever.

PORTIA: He is well paid that is well satisfied: And I, delivering you, am satisfied,(430) And therein do account myself well paid; My mind was never yet more mercenary. I pray you, know me, when we meet again; I wish you well, and so I take my leave.

PORTIA: He is well paid that is well satisfied;And I am satisfied in delivering you,And therefore, I consider myself well paid:My mind never wanted anything else in payment.Please, recognize me when we meet again:I wish you well, and so I say goodbye.

BASSANIO: Dear sir, of force I must attempt you further;(435) Take some remembrance of us, as a tribute, Not as fee: grant me two things, I pray you, Not to deny me, and to pardon me.

BASSANIO: Dear sir, I must attempt to pay you more forcefully;Take some remembrance of us, as a tribute,Not as fee. Grant me two things, please:Don’t say no to me and pardon me.

PORTIA: You press me far, and therefore I will yield. [To Antonio] Give me your gloves, I'll wear them for(440) your sake; [To Bassanio] And, for your love, I'll take this ring from you:— Do not draw back your hand; I'll take no more; And you in love shall not deny me this.(445)

PORTIA: You push me far, and so I’ll give in.

Give me your gloves; I'll wear them for your sake.

And, for your friendship, I'll take this ring from you.Don’t draw back your hand; I'll take no more;And you shall not deny me this in friendship.

BASSANIO: This ring, good sir?—alas, it is a trifle: I will not shame myself to give you this.

BASSANIO: This ring, good sir? Alas, it is a trifle;I won’t embarrass myself to give you this.

PORTIA: I will have nothing else but only this; And now, methinks, I have a mind to it.

PORTIA: I’ll have nothing else except this only;And now, I think, I have a mind to have it.

BASSANIO: There's more depends on this than on the value.(450) The dearest ring in Venice will I give you, And find it out by proclamation; Only for this I pray you pardon me.

BASSANIO: There's more that depends on this ring than its value.I will give you the most expensive in Venice,And find out where it is by proclamation:Only for this ring, please, excuse me.

PORTIA: I see, sir, you are liberal in offers: You taught me first to beg; and now, methinks,(455) You teach me how a beggar should be answer'd.

PORTIA: I see, sir, you are free in making offers;You taught me to beg first, and now I thinkYou teach me how to answer a beggar.

BASSANIO: Good sir, this ring was given me by my wife; And, when she put it on, she made me vow That I should neither sell, nor give, nor lose it.

BASSANIO: Good sir, this ring was given me by my wife;And, when she put it on, she made me vowThat I should not sell, or give, or lose it.

PORTIA: PORTIA:


That 'scuse serves many men to save their gifts.(460) An if your wife be not a mad woman, And know how well I have deserv'd the ring, She would not hold out enemy for ever, For giving it to me. Well, peace be with you!

That’s the excuse many men use to save their gifts.And, if your wife is not a madwoman,And knows how much I have deserved this ring,She would not hold out in being your enemy foreverFor giving it to me. Well, goodbye!

Exeunt [Portia and Nerissa]

ANTONIO: My Lord Bassanio, let him have the ring,(465) Let his deservings, and my love withal, Be valued 'gainst your wife's commandment.

ANTONIO: My Lord Bassanio, let him have the ring:Let what he deserves, and with my friendship,Be measured against your wife's commandment.

BASSANIO: Go, Gratiano, run and overtake him; Give him the ring; and bring him, if thou canst, Unto Antonio's house:—away! make haste.(470)

Exit Gratiano.

Come, you and I will thither presently; And in the morning early will we both Fly toward Belmont: come, Antonio.

BASSANIO: Go, Gratiano, run and catch him;Give him the ring, and bring him, if you can,To Antonio's house. Away! Hurry up.

Come, you and I’ll will leave presently;And early in the morning, we will bothFly toward Belmont. Come, Antonio.

Exeunt.

Character sketch of Shylock:

How to Play Shylock

Shylock is a Jewish moneylender, father to Jessica, enemy to Antonio, and one of the most complex characters of The Merchant of Venice – and arguably of all of Shakespeare's work.Over the years, theater and film productions of the play have portrayed Shylock in various ways. As literary critic Ann Barton points out in The Riverside Shakespeare, "Shylock has sometimes been presented as the devil incarnate, sometimes as a comic villain gabbling absurdly about ducats and daughters. He has also been sentimentalized as a wronged and suffering father nobler by far than the people who triumph over him."

In other productions, Shylock is portrayed as a justifiably angry man: he is hated by the Venetians; despised for his religion, culture, and occupation; betrayed by his daughter; and ultimately undone by the very city in which he lives. You could argue that Shylock's hatred and desire for vengeance is a natural result of his circumstances. In the 2004 film adaptation of Merchant, Al Pacino's famous portrayal of Shylock is sympathetic and emphasizes his victimization and humanity.

Materialistic Shylock?

Throughout the play, Shylock's attitude toward money and human relationships undergoes some scrutiny. When we hear about Shylock's response to Jessica's elopement, it seems like he's more worried about the gold Jessica stole than the fact that his daughter is gone. Solanio tells us that Shylock screamed "'My daughter! O my ducats! O my daughter! / Fled with a Christian! O my Christian ducats!" (2.8.2). Hmm. Sure sounds like Shylock is more concerned about his money than his daughter, right?

But, later, when we actually see Shylock talking to Tubal about Jessica's elopement, it seems like Shylock isn't as materialistic as Solanio makes him out to be. Check out Shylock's response to the news that Jessica traded an important family heirloom:

Out upon her! Thou torturest me, Tubal: it was myturquoise; I had it of Leah when I was a bachelor:I would not have given it for a wilderness of monkeys. (3.1.14)

The turquoise ring Jessica discarded is important to Shylock because it was a gift from his dead wife, not because it's worth a lot of money. So here, we can see that Shylock isn't exactly the money-grubbing villain he's been made out to be.

Shylock's Opinions on Jews and Christians

Shylock's pained response to Jessica's actions reveal that he is deeply human, a point that he makes at a pivotal moment in the play, when Salerio and Solanio taunt him with Jessica's elopement:

Hath not a Jew eyes? hath not a Jew hands, organs,dimensions, senses, affections, passions? fed withthe same food, hurt with the same weapons, subjectto the same diseases, healed by the same means,

warmed and cooled by the same winter and summer, asa Christian is? If you prick us, do we not bleed?if you tickle us, do we not laugh? if you poisonus, do we not die? and if you wrong us, shall we notrevenge? If we are like you in the rest, we willresemble you in that. If a Jew wrong a Christian,what is his humility? Revenge. If a Christianwrong a Jew, what should his sufferance be byChristian example? Why, revenge. The villany youteach me, I will execute, and it shall go hard but Iwill better the instruction. (3.1.6)

Here Shylock insists on the fact that Jews and Christians share a common humanity. He also exposes the hypocrisy of the Christian characters who are always talking about love and mercy but then go out of their way to alienate Shylock because he is Jewish and different.

Yet as powerful as this speech is, elsewhere in the play Shylock tends to emphasize the differences between Jews and Christians. When Bassanio invites him to dinner, Shylock mutters "I will buy with you, sell with you, talk with you, walk with you, and so following, but I will not eat with you, drink with you, nor pray with you" (1.3.8). Is Shylock just being hateful, or is his disdain justifiable? We know Shylock has been abused in the past (he's been trash-talked, spit upon, called a dog, and worse), and it seems like there's not a scene that goes by in which some character isn't hurling anti-Semitic insults.

It's Complicated

Even though we can see that Shylock is a victim of bigotry, he often makes it hard for us to pity him entirely. Shylock is often rude and base in his interactions. He's abrupt with his daughter and mean to his servant, and his house is described as a "hell" on more than one occasion. Plus, he wants Antonio dead and doggedly pursues his "bond" (a pound of Antonio's flesh) when the Christian merchant is unable to pay back his loan. (Read more about this in "Symbols.")

Even if critics can't agree on how to interpret Shylock, one thing is certain: the man is an outsider who is alienated from just about everyone – even his own daughter, who can't wait to run away. By the end of the dramatic courtroom scene, Shylock is a broken man – he's humiliated in court, stripped of much of his wealth, and forced to convert to Christianity. How are we supposed to read this? Are we meant to sympathize with Shylock? Are we supposed to think that his forced conversion is a good thing? What do you think?

Characters

Antonio – a merchant of Venice

Bassanio – Antonio's friend, in love with Portia; suitor likewise to her

Gratiano, Solanio, Salarino, Salerio – friends of Antonio and Bassanio

Lorenzo – friend of Antonio and Bassanio, in love with Jessica

Portia – a rich heiress

Nerissa – Portia's waiting maid- in love with Gratiano

Balthazar – Portia's servant, who Portia later disguises herself as

Stephano – Nerissa's disguise as Balthazar's law clerk.

Shylock – a rich Jew, moneylender, father of Jessica

Tubal – a Jew; Shylock's friend

Jessica – daughter of Shylock, in love with Lorenzo

Launcelot Gobbo – a foolish man in the service of Shylock

Old Gobbo – father of Launcelot

Leonardo – servant to Bassanio

Duke of Venice – Venetian authority who presides over the case of Shylock's bond

Prince of Morocco – suitor to Portia

Prince of Arragon – suitor to Portia

Magnificoes of Venice, officers of the Court of Justice, Gaoler, servants to Portia, and other Attendants

Character sketch of Bassanio:

Summary: A detailed and in-depth character sketch of Bassanio from William Shakespeare's "Merchant of Venice."

Bassanio is one of the most important characters of the play. He is Antonio's best friend, and later marries Portia after winning the casket test.

One of the most positive aspects about him is that he is the least racial prejudiced character in the play because he never curses Shylock for being a Jew and does not abuse him like his best-friend Antonio does. Even during Antonio's trial he does not curse Shylock. One incident in which he shows racial prejudice is during his speech which is given during his choice of casket. He says "Veiling an Indian beauty; in a word, the seeming truth which cunning times put on to entrap the wisest."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shylock

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portia_(Merchant_of_Venice)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antonio_(Merchant_of_Venice)

He is also very simple-minded and kind-hearted. His simplicity is proven when when Shylock is trapping Antonio in his bond. He is so simpleminded that he could not look through...

Portia

Character Analysis

Before we even meet Portia, we hear about how desirable she is: "In Belmont is a lady richly left, / And she is fair" (1.2.4). Translation: Portia is rich AND hot, which makes her the most eligible bachelorette in Belmont.

The heiress to her dead father's fortune, Portia's wealth makes her a meal ticket in the eyes of Bassanio, who sees Portia as the answer to all his financial woes – if he can marry her that is. As Bassanio points out, he's not the only guy who'd like to land the heiress: "Nor is the wide world ignorant of her worth, / For the four winds blow in from every coast / Renowned suitors" (1.2.4) willing to risk everything for a chance to marry Portia.

Gee, it sounds like Portia's got a perfect life, right? Not so fast.

Not only is every potential suitor out to get his hands on Portia's wealth, but Portia doesn't even get to choose her husband, because her (dead) dad set up a little contest ("lottery") involving three caskets to ensure his little princess married the "right" man. (If you need to brush up on the casket contest, go to "Symbols," but then come right back.) It turns out that Portia's dad knew how attractive Portia would be as a rich, single girl, so he did what any wealthy 16th century Shakespearean father would and made sure his only daughter would marry the man of his choosing.

P.S. We've seen some pretty controlling fathers in Shakespeare's plays (Polonius and Baptista, we're talking about you) but this takes the cake, given that Portia's dad manipulates his daughter's marriage frombeyond the grave.

As you can imagine, Portia is not happy about this at all and says as much to her BFF, Nerissa:

O me, the word 'choose!' I mayneither choose whom I would nor refuse whom Idislike; so is the will of a living daughter curbedby the will of a dead father. Is it not hard,Nerissa, that I cannot choose one nor refuse none? (1.2.3)

Notice the repetition of the word "choose" in this passage? Portia's point is pretty clear – as "a living daughter curbed by the will of a dead father," she's still not independent of her dad's control – even if the guy's dead, Portia is still expected to obey his wishes.

But the thing to know about Portia is that she's not just a pretty face with a big bank account and a desire to obey her dead dad. As the play develops and we see Portia in action, it becomes pretty clear that our girl is both smart and cunning. Of course, you'll be wanting some evidence for this claim, so here it is.

1. Portia and the casket contest

Portia clearly wants to marry Bassanio. Yes, we realize this is an unfortunate choice given that Bassanio a) wants Portia's money and b) seems to value his bromance with Antonio more than his relationship with her. When Bassanio shows up to try his luck at the casket lottery, Portia has her band of personal musicians play a little tune (full of not so subtle hints) that helps Bassanio make the right choice (3.2.1). You can read more about this music business in "Symbols."

2. Portia saves Antonio's life and her marriage

You remember how Portia cross-dresses as a lawyer and saves Antonio's life during the big trial scene, right? This means she not only was clever enough to save her man's BFF, but she also made it so that both men owe her big-time. The next time Bassanio and Antonio are thinking about spending the weekend playing Xbox together, they'll probably feel so guilty that Bassanio will decide to hang out with his wife in Belmont instead.

3. The ring trick

We saved the best evidence for last. After Bassanio snags Portia by winning the casket contest, Portia gives him a ring and makes him promise to never, ever part with it (3.2.7). Being Bassanio, he parts with the ring when Portia (disguised as Balthazar the lawyer) says something like, "Hey Bassanio, since I just saved your friend's life, how about you give me that ring you're wearing" (4.1). Why does Portia do this? Because she knows that Bassanio will give up her ring, with all it symbolizes, as a gesture of thanks to the "man" who saved his beloved Antonio's life. (She knows exactly where Bassanio's loyalties are, and they're not with her.) When Portia later confronts Bassanio about losing her ring, he knows he's busted and feels guilty about betraying her. Like we said, Bassanio will think twice now about blowing off Portia to hang with Antonio.

So Portia is limited by her circumstances as a woman and has to obey her dad and navigate relationships with men (like Bassanio) who want her for her money. But she manages to play by society's rules (mostly) while having a lot of fun twisting said rules to her own advantage. In the end, Portia outsmarts everyone and winds up on top.

Character Analysis Antonio

Although the plot turns on Antonio's predicament, his character is not sharply drawn. He is a rich man, and a comfortable man, and a

popular man, but still he suffers from an inner sadness. One obvious, dramatic reason for Antonio's quiet melancholy is simply that

Shakespeare cannot give Antonio too much to do or say without taking away valuable dialogue time from his major characters.

Therefore, Shakespeare makes Antonio a quiet, dignified figure.

One of Antonio's most distinguishing characteristics is his generosity. He is more than happy to offer his good credit standing so that

Bassanio can go to Belmont in the latest fashions in order to court Portia. And one of the reasons why Shylock hates Antonio so intensely

is that Antonio has received Shylock's borrowers by lending them money at the last minute to pay off Shylock; and Antonio never charges

interest. He is only too happy to help his friends, but he would never stoop to accepting more than the original amount in return.

Antonio's generosity is boundless, and for Bassanio, he is willing to go to the full length of friendship, even if it means that he himself

may suffer for it.

Antonio is an honorable man. When he realizes that Shylock is within his lawful rights, Antonio is ready to fulfill the bargain he entered

into to help Bassanio. "The Duke cannot deny the course of the law," he says. And later, he adds that he is "arm'd / To suffer, with a

quietness of spirit . . . For if the Jew do cut but deep enough, / I'll pay it presently with all my heart."

Antonio's courage and goodness are finally rewarded; at the end of the play, when the three pairs of lovers are reunited and happiness

abounds at Belmont, Portia delivers a letter to Antonio in which he learns that the remainder of his ships has returned home safely to

port.

Merchant of Venies

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Transcript of Merchant of Venies