Bassanio thanks Balthasar (Portia) for saving his friend’s life and offers him/her anything in return. When Portia replies that she will have his ring, Bassanio is hesitant as it was given to him by his wife with strict instruction to never let it leave his finger. Portia is insistent and Bassanio reluctantly gives her the ring.
Commentary
In this scene we see a completely new dimension to Portia’s character. In previous scenes she has been a fairytale character in the unreal world of Belmont. Now, in Venice, disguised as a man, she is able to reveal characteristics that would not have been accepted from a woman within the male-dominated society of Venice.
As the legal expert, it is Portia who will render the actual decision on the case and therefore determine the fates of both Antonio and Shylock. This absolute power is appropriate for her character as she alone has the strength to wield it. None of the men seem a match for Shylock. Graziano shouts anti-Semitic curses; Bassanio pleads uselessly while Antonio seems to have given up all hope and is preparing for his fate.
However, this absolute power of Portia’s to decside on the two men’s fate may present a problem for a modern day audience. Portia is introduced as a young lawyer who is meant to be an unbiased legal authority sent to settle the case fairly. Yet in reality she is married to the defendant’s best friend, appearing in disguise under a false name. This therefore seems unfair on Shylock who hasn’t got one impartial person at the hearing and is therefore doomed to fail. But if the courtroom is not just then the play is not just and so ceases to be a comedy.
However, despite bending the rules of the court, Portia’s decision is legally accurate. Shylock also made the bond under false pretences – making it easier for the audience to see him as a villain. Therefore Portia’s actions can be seen to restore justice rather than pervert it.
Throughout this scene, Portia demonstrates her cunning and intelligence. She first appeals to Shylock’s mercy. This is a key speech in the scene,
‘The quantity of mercy is not strain’d
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Must needs give sentence ‘gainst the merchant
There’
(Lines 180-202)
In this speech, Portia presents the Christian perspective that mercy is not only a part of justice, but it is it’s main aspect because God shows mercy in his justice. Justice without mercy therefore becomes tyranny because in goes against God’s nature.
She reminds Shylock at the end of this speech that no one deserves salvation and therefore would never receive it without God’s mercy. Because we expect to receive mercy we should demonstrate t to others. Shylock ignores all of this stating,
‘I crave the law,
The penalty and the forfeit of my bond’
Portia keeps up the tension in the play by not revealing the way out for Antonio until the moment before Shylock cuts into his flesh. She allows Shylock to approach Antonio with his knife with surprising lack of emotion to the audience who at this point still are unaware of the flaw in the bond that will save Antonio’s life. This adds to the tension in the scene.
Portia humanely asks Shylock to ‘have… some surgeon… to stop his wounds’ but again Shylock insists on following the law to is exact letter, replying, ‘Is it so nominated in the bond? I cannot find it.’ Portia is cleverly leading Shylock into a trap which he has prepared for himself with his reply to her plea for mercy.
With Portia’s final announcement that the law allows ‘not a jot of blood’, Shylock’s case is lost and he can do nothing but to say,
‘Is that the law?’
Shylock then attempts to backtrack, accepting Bassanio’s offer of money. Portia ensures that Shylock will get nothing when she reveals that Shylock has attempted to take the life of a Venetian and in Venetian law this is a severely punishable offence. He is to have his riches confiscated and his life lies in the hands of the Duke.
The Duke shows mercy and spares Shylock’s life. Antonio says that he will allow Shylock to keep half of his riches if he converts to Christianity. This marks the defeat of Shylock.
In this scene, Portia not only releases Antonio from the bond but effectively strips Shylock of both his religion and his livelihood, leaving him unable to inflict or even threaten further damage. This fulfils Shakespeare’s criteria of a comedy in that the villain must be defeated. This would not have been difficult to accept by a Shakespearean audience who would have most likely met Shylock’s demise with a similar reaction to Graziano’s cruel, ecstatic glee. They would not have been troubled by Shylock’s forced conversion to Christianity.
However, it is more difficult for a modern day audience to rejoice in Portia’s success. Ultimately, Shylock’s pursuit for the exact letter of the law regardless of mercy or compassion, ultimately undoes him. Yet although the court’s verdict is consistent with Shylock’s crimes, it follows the same rigid and severe reading of the law as Shylock. Before giving Shylock his punishment the Duke says to him that he hoped that Shylock would,
‘see the difference of our spirit.’
But the spirit of the Venetian proves as vindictive as the Jews. Shylock looses everything in the course of the play except for his life and a modern audience cannot help but feel sorry for him.
