“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, it is the finale of the “The Merchant of Venice” where all the perplexing 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 , Shylock is standing and Antonio is seated. This gives the impression that Shylock is the one on trial when in fact it is Antonio.
“To suffer with a quietness of spirit”
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“Poor merchants flesh”, Strong emotive language is used to emphasise this point. As well as the stress caused from the trial, Antonio’s greatest source of wealth, his ships are reported to have “Not come home” to be sunk, causing him a great deal of anxiety and meaning that he is not being able to pay the bond in time. These reasons make the audiences sympathies with Antonio. Often in the play, Shylock is perceived as inhuman however, in Act 3 Scene 1, the powerful and emotive speech –
“ Hath a Jew not eyes… if you prick us do we not bleed”
Shylock’s complex character Stresses the humanity that lies beneath. Seventeen lines after this plea, he is ranting and raving over the theft of his money by his only daughter, Jessica. With very strong language, Shylock wishes that Jessica “Were dead at my foot” This wish for his daughter’s death revokes much of the sympathy created by the former plea for the recognition of his humanity. Shakespeare yet again paints a picture of a malignant, murderous Jew – who in this instance – is willing to see his only daughter dead for the sake of a few ducats. This greed for money is recognised by his repetition of his demands for his bond to be followed and the constant reminder of how much he has lent Antonio – three thousand ducats. This gives the reader a powerful impression of who and what the character of Shylock is as a person. With these thoughts in the audience’s heads, it is easy to see why Shylock is doomed from the start of the trial even before it has begun. “The Merchant of Venice” is a comedy play so we know that the play is set to include a harmonious ending. Portia, disguised as a young man (Bathazar) cross-examines Shylock in court. Dramatic tension is induced when Lulling him into a false sense of security, she allows him to believe she is on his side. Shylock is absolutely determined to have his bond. Bassanio asks Shylock-
“Why dost thou whet thy knife so earnestly?”
Shylock replies –
“To cut the forfeiture from that bankrupt there”
By this point Shylock is sharpening his knife. Yet the crowd in the court are expecting to see blood.
When Portia enters the Dukes court, she asks-
“Which is the Jew and which is the merchant?”
Shylock states, “On what compulsion must I?”
Absolutely no mercy whatsoever will be shown by shylock. This is an extremely powerful speech. Portia creates the impression she is agreeing with Shylock.
“You must prepare your bosom for his knife”
This statement reveals a different side to shylock, he is exited. (Above)
As shylock is taking his knife to Antonio’s ‘breast’ Portia makes an important discovery. 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 and it is here that the dramatic turning point of the play occurs. Images of scales and measuring units appear in the mind during this section of the scene, this picture of scales ties in with the reoccurring theme of justice. Portia not only frees Antonio at this point but also convicts Shylock of attempted murder. Shylock cannot go through with the bond and is forced to give up his fortune and to convert from Jewry to Christianity. 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. Shylock is being forced to convert his religion. 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. The scene is coming to and end as shylock leaves the dukes court, when he does 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. Justice, sadness and comedy are successfully combined in “The merchant of Venice” Many aspects of the plot such as the discrimination of Jews are still in place in today’s society. The play is a comedy but to a first time reader or viewer of the play it 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. “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.
