The Merchant of Venice

Act 1 Scene 2, 13 – 29

In this excerpt, Portia reveals to Nerissa as well as the audience the nature of her
conflicting situation. She is fully aware of her wisdom and the ability to discern
right from wrong, and yet is bound by her late father’s wish and unable to follow
her own sound advice. She laments the fact that she is not to choose a husband by
her own liking and is supposed to accept all potential candidates. Her reasoning on
the circumstances is informed and rational which further emphasizes her wisdom,
knowledge and level-headedness.

Act I Scene III 107-130

Shylock’s addressing to Antonio serves as a significant point in the play as it

presents the audience with a different point of view. Upon reading his monologue
we become aware that Antonio has been treating Shylock in an unfavorable
manner, insulting and belittling his profession, his religion and way of life. Now
that Antonio seeks financial help in Shylock, he is reminded of his behavior and
Shylock hesitates whether to lend money to the person who treated him as an
animal.

Act III scene 1 55-76

This is the most important speech that Shylock delivers during the play as it
reveals a number of underlying problems of that period and can easily be related to
issues concerning the world today. In his monologue, Shylock explains the
reasoning behind his demands for revenge, by giving examples of the insults and
wrongdoings and the loss of friends and the gain of enemies that he had to endure
simply because he is a Jew. He speaks openly about the discrimination, focusing
on the fact that he is also a human being with the same characteristics and feelings
as the Christian people which makes him equal in his thirst for revenge for he has
only witnessed revenge at the hands of the Christian people. In his words, his
behavior is just a reflection of their behavior, but as a ‘student’ he will outdo his
‘teachers’.

Act III scene IV 60 – 78

In this scene Portia plots her disguise in order to fool the men at the trial. She is
assured that their disguise as men will remain uncovered and leave them enough
time and space to execute her perfectly planned scheme. She is self-confident and
sufficiently brave to interfere into the men’s world of business, convinced that her
education and wisdom will surpass that of the men in Venice.

Act IV scene 1 184-205

During the trial, Portia gives an eloquent speech on the nature and importance of
mercy in an attempt to dissuade Shylock from his revenge. She uses carefully
crafted metaphors to present the gentleness and nobleness of giving and receiving
mercy as it is the ultimate power, superior to the power of kings which is only
temporal. As mercy is an attribute to God himself, Portia pleads to Shylock to
reconsider his demands as revenge will not bring peace and salvation. However, an
act of mercy might serve as a lesson to others to bestow it themselves in the future.