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Summary of The
Merchant of Venice Act 4
Scene 1
 06 Dec, 2019

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Synopsis of Act 4 Scene 1 of

The Merchant of Venice by
William Shakespeare
The Merchant of Venice Act 4 (Scene 1) Plot
Summary with Word Meanings

The trial scene of The Merchant of Venice' is the

most famous and powerful scene of the play in the
whole of English dramas. This is the scene where
Shylock is to take his forfeiture from Antonio.
Antonio's friends and even the Duke beg him to
have mercy: Shylock says he will not grant mercy
for the simple reason that he hates Antonio. He
says Christians do what they wish with their slaves
because they have bought them, and so it is with
Antonio. Bassanio offers Shylock six thousand
ducats, double the actual amount, but Shylock
refuses saying that even if he were offered six times
the amount, he would still want the 'pound of flesh'.

Nerissa, dressed as the lawyer's clerk enters the

court and gives a letter to the Duke, which states
that since he is unwell he is sending Balthazar, a
learned lawyer, to prosecute the case instead of
him.

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Portia then enters the scene dressed as a lawyer.

Portia makes the very famous speech on mercy
here. She makes a very moving appeal to Shylock,
but he only wants his bond, he only wants justice.
After examining the bond Portia declares
authenticity of the bond and permits Shylock to cut a
pound of flesh from Antonio. As Shylock is about to
do so Portia orders him to keep a surgeon at hand,
but Shylock refuses because the bond stipulates no
such safeguard.

As Shylock is ready to cut into Antonio, Portia

reminds him that the bond stipulates only a pound of
flesh and not even a single drop of blood. Shylock is
stunned and he is now ready to take three times the
amount and let Antonio go. Portia refuses and tells
Shylock that he will get either his bond or nothing.
On the other hand, in cutting the pound of flesh if
even one drop of Antonio's blood spills, then all his
lands and goods will be confiscated by the state of
Venice, for harming a Venetian citizen. Portia then
tells him that as per the law of Venice he is
conspiring to kill a Venetian, therefore now his life
depends on the mercy of the duke. The same law
now demands him to give half of his property to the
person against whom he has conspired, i.e.
Antonio, and the remaining half would be
confiscated by the state of Venice. The duke shows
mercy by sparing Shylock's life and reduces his
penalty to a fine rather than taking half of his
property. The other half, which was to go to Antonio,
was kept in a trust to be given to Lorenzo and
Jessica, after Shylock's death. Shylock is also
asked to convert to Christianity, and give everything
in writing. Shylock feels completely defeated and
leaves the court under the pretext of feeling sick.

Now, as a token of gratitude, Bassanio offers some

money to the lawyer, which he (Portia) refuses.
Portia demands for the ring that Bassanio is wearing
but he refuses, calling the ring a trifle, saying that he
wouldn't like to dishonor the lawyer by giving him
such a lowly gift. Instead, he offers to find him the
most expensive gift in Venice. Portia is disheartened
at Bassanio not giving her the ring and leaves.
Antonio requests Bassanio to give the ring to the
lawyer, which Bassanio does; thus parting with the
ring, which Portia had given him saying that if he
would ever part with that ring, it would be the end of
their love. For the sake of his friend Antonio,
Bassanio gives the ring to the lawyer. Then they all
(Bassanio, Gratiano, Antonio) make plans to leave
for Belmont.

Word-Meanings

stony adversary - stone hearted rival,

inhuman wretch - a person without feelings,
Dram - a very small amount,
qualify - reduce,
stands obdurate - remains hard-hearted,
arm'd - prepared,
fashion of thy malice - mood of your cruelty,
exact'st - insist on having,
moiety of the principal - a part of the original sum,
pluck commiseration of – take out pity from,
brassy bosoms - hearts as hard as brass,
train'd to offices of tender courtesy - taught to
behave with gentleness,
possess'd - informed,
sabbath - the seventh day of the Jewish week
which was the holiest day,
carrion - rotten,
humour - mood,
ban'd - poisoned,
a gaping pig - a roasted pig's head with the mouth
open,
loathes - hates,
abide - tolerate,
lodg'd - deep-rooted,
a loosing suit - a legal case where one must lose
money,
current - course,
main flood - ocean tide,
bate- reduce,
use question with - ask,
ewe - mother sheep,
bleat - cry painfully,
fretten - blown,
beseech - beg,
abject and in slavish parts - for lowly and servile
tasks,
viands - food,
meetest – fittest,
whet - sharpen,
inexorable - relentless,
currish - like a cur,
fell - cruel,
unhallow'd - unsanctified,
dam - mother,
ravenous – hungry,
rail – rebuke,
offend'st - trouble,
importunity - earnest request,
impediment - hindrance,
impugn you - accuse you,
strain'd - forced,
place beneath - earth,
becomes - suits,
temporal - worldly,
seasons – moderates,
mitigate - reduce,
bears down - overcomes,
wrest - twist,
lay perjury upon - break a pledge,
exposition - understanding of the case,
hath full relation - entirely supports,
still her use - usually her custom,
lingering - slow passing,
penance - suffering,
commend - convey my compliments,
entreat – request,
stock of barabas - a Jew,
trifle - wasting time over trivialities,
tarry – wait,
no jot - not even a small quantity,
upright - honest,
urgest - demand,
soft – wait,
substance - weight,
division - fraction,
scruple - a weight unit,
question - to argue,
value of a cord - price of a rope,
state's charge - expense of the state.

Questions and Answers for Merchant of Venice

Act 4 Scene 1
Workbook Solutions for Merchant of Venice Act
4 Scene 1
Summary of Merchant of Venice for All Acts
and Scenes
Questions and Answers of Merchant of Venice-
All Acts and Scenes
Workbook Solutions for Merchant of Venice- All
Acts and Scenes
Short Summary of Merchant of Venice by
William Shakespeare

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