Looking at the hate between the two characters, Antonio states “I hate him for he is a Christian”
Shylocks only concern was for money. Shylock agreed to lend a sum of money to Antonio. As part of the bond, Shylock insists that if his money is not given back in time, with the added interest, he would be entitled to perform his bond which stated that shylock could cut exactly one pound of flesh from Antonio’s body. This bond between Shylock and Antonio is the reason for the court scene in Act 4 Scene 1, the dramatic climax of the play. ...
Looking at the hate between the two characters, Antonio states “I hate him for he is a Christian”
Shylocks only concern was for money. Shylock agreed to lend a sum of money to Antonio. As part of the bond, Shylock insists that if his money is not given back in time, with the added interest, he would be entitled to perform his bond which stated that shylock could cut exactly one pound of flesh from Antonio’s body. This bond between Shylock and Antonio is the reason for the court scene in Act 4 Scene 1, the dramatic climax of the play. Although it is not the final scene of the “The Merchant of Venice” it is where all the sub-plots and main storyline are pulled together to create an explosive ending. The tension created between Shylock and Antonio is one of the reasons Act 4 Scene 1 is so dramatically effective. At the very beginning of this scene in the play directed by Trevor Nunn, Shylock is standing and Antonio is seated. This gives the impression that Shylock is the one on trial when in fact it is Antonio. As well as the tension caused from the trial between the two characters, Antonio’s greatest source of wealth, his ships are reported to have “Not come home” to be ‘sunk’ which at the end of the play end up to be discovered, this is one of the starting points for the dramatic tension in the scene because from now on you know that Antonio has no other means to pay the bond, the 3,000 ducats. This reason makes the audience sympathies with Antonio. Shylock is often perceived as inhuman however the following strong speech by shylock, in Act 3 Scene 1 makes the audience think again about his character.
“ Hath a Jew not eyes… if you prick us do we not bleed”
This speech is certainly a strong point for shylock and does make the scene dramatic because his power in this speech alters the Christians position in life with them being the dominant religion this is switched for the duration in this speech with shylock the Jew having power over the Christians. With very strong language, Shylock wishes that Jessica “Were dead at my foot”. Shylock is made to be a complex character with his many twists and turns. This wish for his daughter’s death does bring back a lot of the sympathy for shylock created by the strong and dominant speech from shylock previously. This makes the scene appear that shylock is willing to see his only daughter dead for the sake of a few ducats. As stated above, shylocks only concern was for the money and the constant repetition of his demands for his 3,000 ducats. This gives the viewer/reader a powerful impression of shylock as a character. Due to this powerful impression it is easy to see why Shylock is ‘doomed’ from the start of the trial even before it has begun. Portia, (Bathazar) disguised as the judge grills Shylock in the dukes court (the name of the court in which the trial is held). This is a case of Dramatic tension because you can see that shylock has been lulled into a false sense of security, shylock starts to believe that the judge believes him and is supporting him.
“Which is the Jew and which is the merchant?” this is what the judge asks in the court
Shylock states, “On what compulsion must I?”
The speech was very strong and stuck in the mind due to the strong language and emotive thoughts.
“You must prepare your bosom for his knife”
This statement reveals a different side to shylock, he is exited. (Above)
Portia makes an important discovery as shylock is taking his knife to Antonio’s ‘breast’. The audience are being ‘thrown’ around in many twists of emotions and situations, this is dramatically effective because you are left in the balance wondering what plan Portia has came up with. The bond states that not one drop of Christian blood may be spilt, this is the climax of the play, all of the power is removed from shylock and tension is placed on him. He starts to be broke down and lose his power because Portia has now turned on shylock. The sudden twist in power and in the audience’s belief on the consequences again throw the audience around increasing the dramatic tension because we are left unsure about the well being of both characters no matter if you sympathise with them. This play is clever in the fact that the dramatic tension is built up for Antonio at the start of the play and then reaches a climax when Antonio is told to “prepare his ‘breast’ for the knife” from that point the tension drops and then increases for shylock when he is denied the money about 3 times, he is told he cant walk out of court and then he is told he has to convert religion. Portia goes on to convict Shylock of attempted murder. Shylock now has been reduced to a wreck, which is a direct contrast to the powerful position he was placed in when Portia was supposedly on his side. For Shylock, this is the worst possible thing he could be made to do, as he is proud to be a Jew. Shylock is reduced to a far cry from his confident and vengeful image even further. When shylock was made to leave fellowship and peace is brought back to the play because the Christians are now dominating much like they are used to in everyday society of the period. Justice, sadness and comedy are successfully combined in “The merchant of Venice”. The play is a comedy but to a first time reader or viewer the play would not seem so, the ending of the play is an integral part to the structure of the play in terms of its comedy value with its dramatic twists and turns. Many aspects of the plot such as the discrimination and hate of Jews are still in place in today’s society. “The Merchant of Venice”, although I recognise that the text is open to multiple interpretations is a strong dramatic play: some interpretations can even directly contradict one another. This scene is made dramatically effective by the many twists and turns that Shakespeare delivers to the reader/viewer. Strong emotive language helps to strengthen the effectiveness of the scene, a powerful scene that is an important part in the whole play.