Scenes 3.1 and 3.2
Scene 3.1 – Venice
In Venice,
Salerio confides to Solanio that one of Antonio’s ships has been wrecked. Both
hope that he won’t have any more losses. Shylock enters. He reports that his
daughter has run away, and they taunt him – Salerio jokes that he knew the
tailor who made the wings she flew away with, and that there is more difference
between her and him than between black and white. Shylock tells them that he’s
heard about Antonio’s losses; they ask if he really means to take Antonio’s
flesh. He will, says Shylock, to feed his revenge. Further, Shylock says, for
scorning him for being a Jew – for treating him as less than human though he
too eats, gets sick, gets healed, and feels the seasons change as a Christian
does – and will also take revenge as a Christian does. Salerio and Solanio are
called away to see Antonio, and another Jew, Tubal, enters.
Tubal has been
searching for Shylock’s daughter and his money, but has had no luck. He has
only heard rumors of Jessica squandering all of Shylock’s money in Genoa – a
merchant showed him a ring with which Jessica bought a monkey. Shylock wishes
that his daughter were dead, and his money in her coffin. Tubal reports, though,
that Antonio has lost another ship, and that his creditors report that he
won’t be able to repay the loan. He instructs Tubal to find an officer to
arrest Antonio, and to meet him later at the synagogue.
Scene 3.2 – Belmont
Bassanio and
Portia enter the lottery room. Portia asks Bassanio to wait a couple of days
before choosing, because he will have to leave if he chooses wrongly, and she
does not want to lose him. She wishes that she could tell him which casket was
the right one, but realizes that she’s not allowed. Bassanio insists that
he’s ready to choose, tortured by the anxiety of not knowing whether he’ll
win her or not. Portia orders for music to be played while he is choosing. If he
loses the music will seem like a swan’s song; if he wins, a wedding march. She
watches him go towards the casket, describing him as like Hercules, when he
rescued a maiden from a sea monster to whom her father had sacrificed her.
While Bassanio
examines the caskets, a song is played – the lyrics imply that what looks best
to the eye may be what is most dangerous. Bassanio, looking at the golden
casket, responds to the song – he argues that beautiful ornament covers up
injustice in law and heresy in religion, and that men who are cowardly dress
bravely, and women who are naturally ugly dress themselves up as beautiful. For
those reasons, Bassanio rejects the golden casket. He turns down the silver one
too, for the same reason.
Bassanio
chooses the leaden casket for its silent humility. Speaking only to the
audience, Portia exclaims her joy. Bassanio opens the casket and finds
Portia’s picture. He describes the beauty of the picture, but notes that it is
not nearly as perfect as the real thing. He reads the attached scroll, which
commends him for not choosing what looks best, and permits him to kiss Portia.
Bassanio turns to her and asks if she, too, will approve of their marriage.
Portia says she does, and claims that she is humble and unschooled, and wishes
she were a thousand times better for Bassanio’s sake. She then gives him a
ring, telling him that, if he loses it, he will lose her love too. Bassanio
takes the ring, and promises never to take it off.
Nerissa and
Graziano congratulate the couple. Graziano remarks on what a wonderful wife
Bassanio has found, and Bassanio expresses his hope that he can find one as
good. Graziano says that he has – that he and Nerissa have sworn their love to
each other. Portia and Bassanio joyfully approve of the marriage.
Lorenzo,
Jessica, and Salerio then enter. Salerio gives Bassanio a letter from Antonio.
Portia asks why Bassanio looks so pale while reading it. He tells her the truth:
he is a poor man, and borrowed money to impress her, and the letter is from the
friend who lent it, the envelope torn open as his friend’s body will be.
Antonio’s ventures have all failed. Even if Antonio could get the money, says
Salerio, the deadline for repayment has passed, and Shylock insists on
Antonio’s flesh. Jessica says she’s heard her father say that he’d rather
have Antonio’s flesh than twenty times the sum he’s owed. Portia offers to
pay as much as she can to satisfy Shylock. Bassanio reads the letter aloud: it
announces that there is no hope for him, and he only wants to see Bassanio
before he dies. Bassanio takes leave for Venice, promising not to sleep until he
returns.
