This scene is known as the trial scene and is the most important scene of the play. The balance of power shifts throughout this scene and it is a scene that you should be able to direct for exam paper questions.
The scene begins with the duke apologising to Antonio for the situation that he finds himself in. It is clear that the duke is on Antonio’s side but is bound by the law governing bonds and loans. He also describes Shylock as, “an inhuman wretch uncapable of pity, void and empty from any dram of mercy.”
(If directing the scene, you could have Shylock (When he enters) on one side of the stage, isolated and alone, but with a smug expression, highlighting that everything is going his way but that Antonio is surrounded by his supporters. This contrast would be a useful visual to the audience.)
Antonio has accepted his fate and Shylock enters the scene and is ordered by the duke to stand before him, as he once again pleads for Antonio’s life. Shylock responds by telling the duke that if he is denied his bond, it will have serious consequences for the city. “If you deny it, let the danger light upon your charter and your city’s freedom.” He also tells the audience that he has no reason for demanding his bond except that he hates Antonio. “So can I give no reason, nor will I not, more than a lodged hate and a certain loathing I bear Antonio.”
Bassanio then criticises Shylock and engages in a debate with him, before Antonio tells him that it is pointless and that he needs to remember that he is arguing with a Jew. He uses a series of metaphors to explain the pointlessness of trying to argue with Shylock. “You may as well question with the wolf, Why he hath made the ewe bleat for the lamb.” He also describes Shylock as having a ‘Jewish heart,’ which makes him incapable of mercy. Antonio says that he does not want to argue you any further. “Let me have judgement and the Jew his will.” Think about the imagery of Shylock as a wolf and Antonio as the lamb. Also think about the racist/stereotypical language that is used to describe Shylock and think about how this type of treatment would have impacted on Shylock’s character.
Bassanio then offers Shylock six thousand ducats, but Shylock refuses, saying, “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.” This shows that no amount of money in the world will stop him taking his pound of flesh.
Bassanio tells Antonio that he will sacrifice himself before he allows Antonio to die. “The Jew shall have my flesh, blood, bones and all Ere thou shalt lose for me one drop of blood.
Nerissa enters dressed as a lawyer’s clerk with a letter from Bellario who was to preside over the hearing. While the duke is reading the letter, Shylock is busy sharpening his knife on stage. (This would be a good prop to use on stage and you could also add sound effects to heighten the tension, with the sharpening of the knife symbolising what is to come for Antonio.)
The Duke reads out the letter from Bellario, which says that he is sick and that he is sending a young doctor, named Balthasar who he recommends is allowed to oversee the trial. (This is Portia disguised as Balthasar)
Portia gives a famous speech, in which she argues that mercy is something that benefits everyone. She begins with the famous line, “The quality of mercy is not strained,” meaning that it cannot be forced, but instead must come naturally. She pleads with Shylock to show mercy, saying, “We do pray for mercy, And that same prayer doth teach us all to render the deeds of mercy.” Shylock is unmoved and says, “I crave the law, The penalty and forfeit of my bond.”
Bassanio asks Portia/Balthasar to bend the law in this case but she says that this is not possible. “There is no power in Venice Can alter a decree established.” Shylock is delighted with this judgement and compliments Portia saying, “O wise young judge, how I do honour thee.” (In terms of stage positioning, you could have Portia in the middle of the stage in an elevated position, highlighting her power. Shylock alone on one side and Antonio and his supporters on the other side, highlighting the adversarial nature of what is happening.)
Portia then tells Shylock that there is nine thousand ducats being offered but again he refuses. Portia tells the court that this means that the bond is forfeit and has the right to a pound of flesh. She again pleads with him to be merciful and take the money, but Shylock replies, “There is no power in the tongue of man to alter me.” Portia tells Antonio to prepare his bosom, as Shylock jumps for joy (You could have a gasp from the characters when she says this to highlight the tension)
Shylock is very smug at this point in the play, as Portia seems to be on his side and it appears that Antonio is going to die. Portia asks if there are weighing scales to measure the flesh and Shylock says that he has them ready. (This would be another very good prop to use and you could also use sound effects as it is being wheeled in, to highlight the scales coming onto the stage.)
Portia asks Shylock is he has a surgeon on hand to stop Antonio bleeding to death, to which he responds, “Is it so nominated in the bond?” This is a very important quote as it highlights how Shylock wants to kill Antonio. He is not willing to have a doctor present, as it was not in the bond.
In Antonio’s final words, he asks for Bassanio’s hand and tells him not to be sorry for his role in the bond and to commend him to his new wife. He tells Bassanio to speak fondly of him and he ends by saying that if the cut is deep enough, he will die instantly. Bassanio responds by saying that he would sacrifice everything, including his wife to save his friend. Dramatic Irony is at play here as he is unaware that Portia is in the courtroom and he has just said that he would sacrifice her to save Antonio. Gratiano makes the same pledge and he too, is unaware that Nerissa is in the courtroom.
Just as Shylock is about to cut his pound of flesh, Portia asks him to ‘tarry a little,’ which means to slow down. She has discovered a legal loophole and tells the court that, “this bond doth give thee here no jot of blood.” She then goes on to say, “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.” This means that if Shylock spills one drop of blood, he will lose everything. It is impossible to cut flesh without spilling blood so Shylock is now in an impossible situation.
The tables have now turned and the smug expression of Shylock’s is replaced with confusion, as he says, “is that the law?” Gratiano echoes the earlier thoughts of Shylock and is now praising Portia for her judgement. Shylock, knowing that he can’t cut off the flesh without dropping blood, says, “Pay the bond thrice and let the Christian go.” He now wants the money, but as Bassanio goes to hand it over, Portia tells him that he can’t have the money, he can only have his bond. She also tells him that if he cuts less or more than a pound of flesh, he will lose everything that he owns. Shylock then asks for his three thousand ducats back and he will leave, but again Portia refuses. “He hath refused it in the open court. He shall have merely justice and his bond.”
Shylock, who by now has been stunned into silence. (If directing, you could have a noticeable change in posture and facial expressions to highlight this) He now wants to leave with nothing, but Portia, not content with just saving Antonio’s life has found another piece of law that she is going to use against Shylock. She tells him that if it is found that an ‘alien,’ tries to seek the life of any citizen that the state has the right to seize half his goods. Note how Shylock is considered an alien or foreigner simply because of his Jewish heritage. He must also beg mercy from the duke. There is a clever contrast between the beginning of the scene when the duke was begging Shylock for mercy and now Shylock is looking for mercy from the duke. The duke shows mercy to Shylock and tells him that he must give half his fortune to Antonio.
Antonio says that he will also show mercy to Shylock. He asks the Duke to cancel Shylock’s fine and that he will give his half of his fortune to Jessica and Lorenzo. He also says that Shylock must give all his fortune to his daughter and he must also convert to Christianity. (If directing, Shylock would be almost on his knees at this point and very different to the smug villain at the beginning of the scene.) Also, is this mercy?
Shylock has no option but to accept the terms and says, “I am content.” He wants to leave immediately as he has been out-maneuvered and embarrassed by Portia. Think about how he would walk off stage, would you use sound effects? Do you feel sorry for him?
Before the scene ends, Bassanio and Antonio thanking Portia for everything that she has done. They ask her to take something as a token of their appreciation and Portia asks Bassanio for the ring on this finger. (Remember what she told Bassanio when she gave it to him) Bassanio is clearly conflicted and does not want to give the ring away. He tells her that he cannot give the ring away but as Portia leaves, Antonio tells Bassanio that he must give her the ring and Bassanio, knowing what Antonio has done for him agrees. He sends Gratiano after Portia and Nerissa with the ring. They then agree to go to Belmont immediately.
Questions:
- How do you know that the Duke is on Antonio’s side at the start of the scene?
- What does Bassanio offer Shylock?
- What metaphors does Antonio use to describe how pointless it is appealing to Shylock?
- What does Portia say at the beginning of the trial about the bond? How does Shylock react to this?
- Why do you think that Portia sides with Shylock early in the trial?
- How does Shylock react to the notion of a doctor being present to save Antonio’s life? What does this reveal?
- Describe the legal loophole that Portia has found.
- What does Portia do when Shylock says he wants to take the money?
- Do you think Shylock’s punishment is fair? Explain the punishment and your view on it.
- Imagine you are the director, explain what you would do to heighten the tension in the scene. Think about stage positioning, facial expressions, costumes, sound effects, lighting) Back up your decisions with reference to the scene. Quotes!
key Quotes
“an inhuman wretch uncapable of pity, void and empty from any dram of mercy.” The Duke on Shylock
If you deny it, let the danger light upon your charter and your city’s freedom.” Shylock
“So can I give no reason, nor will I not, more than a lodged hate and a certain loathing I bear Antonio.” Shylock
“You may as well question with the wolf, Why he hath made the ewe bleat for the lamb.” Shylock on Antonio
“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
“The Jew shall have my flesh, blood, bones and all Ere thou shalt lose for me one drop of blood.” Bassanio
“There is no power in the tongue of man to alter me.” Shylock
Is it so nominated in the bond?” Shylock on the possibility of a doctor
“this bond doth give thee here no jot of blood.” Portia
“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.” Portia