Trial Scene of Merchant of Venice by Shakespeare, Trial Scene Short Summary

 

INTRODUCTION

According to Freytag, a good drama is one in which all five stages (exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, resolution) of plot are duly presented.

The Trial Scene presented in Act IV, Scene 1 is the longest scene in William Shakespeare’s play ‘The Merchant of Venice’. It brings the climax of the play where good is rewarded and evil gets punished. Although the trial scene is mainly about the punishment and saving of Antonio but there is a fight between Portia and Shylock. The trial scene presents the conflict between life and death, love and hate, mercy and justice, tragedy and comedy.

SHYLOCK – AN ANTAGONIST:

It is through the trial scene that Shakespeare has projected the villainous character of Shylock. Here, Shylock comes out as a cruel, merciless and blood-thirsty antagonist.

·      Shylock enters the court with a scale in one hand and a knife in the other hand to cut off one pound flesh from Antonio’s body.

·      Bassanio is ready to pay twice or thrice of the money borrowed by Antonio from Shylock.

·      The duke of the court is sympathetic to Antonio and wishes that Shylock forgives him from taking the flesh of Antonio.

·      However, Shylock is not interested at this and he wants to only take flesh from Antonio’s body. He is not interested to listening anything about mercy and he wants revenge of all the insults he suffered from Antonio and every other Christian in Venice. He declares:

“If every ducat in six thousand ducats

Were in six parts and every part a ducat,

I would not draw them,

I would have my bond!”

PORTIA – A HEROINE:

The trial scene projects Portia as the heroine of the play. This scene brings out her qualities like punctuality and intelligence.

·      Portia enter the court room in disguise of a lawyer, she supports Shylock’s claim that Shylock has all the rights to take pound of flesh from Antonio’s body.

·      Shylock is happy to hear this and praises her.

·      However, Portia asks Shylock to cut off one pound of flesh only and not less or not more than one pound and also he has to cut off a pound of flesh without shedding a drop of blood.

·      She further says that if Shylock shed one drop of blood, he would be punished for attempting a murder of a Christian.

·      Realizing the complexity of law, Shylock instantly asked for the money but now it is too late. Portia asks the court to punish Shylock for his revengeful plans.

·      According to the law of Venice, if any foreigner intends to kill any Venetian, he would be put into death. His penalty amounts to death sentence. To avoid the capital sentence, he would have to be converted into a Christian. At the end, Shylock loses his property and saves his life by consenting to be a Christian.

THEMATIC IMPORTANCE:

The trial scene brings the theme of justice, revenge, mercy, love, marriage and friendship to the forefront. It reveals the true meaning of mercy, love and friendship.

DRAMATIC IMPORTANCE:

Dramatically the trial scene is very important in the play. Had there been no trial scene, the play would have turned into a tragedy instead of a comedy.

MORAL LESSON:

The trial scene of the play reminds us the moral lesson of showing mercy and not be cruel. Our prayer to God teaches us to be merciful. If we do not show mercy, our fortune may turn into misfortune anytime.

 Watch a video lecture on Title of the Play 'Merchant of Venice'.