Act III – Scene I
1. At the start of the scene, Salanio and Salarino are talking to each
other about the rumour which has spread around about one of
Antonio’s ship wrecked in the narrow sea-channel, Goodwins.
2. They say Antonio would be ruined by the bond he signed with
Shylock, and hope it is the last of Antonio’s losses, and Shylock
comes in the scene.
3. He tells both of them about his daughter Jessica, who had ran
away, and Salanio tells him how she was all ready and old
enough to run.
4. After distinguishing Shylock and Jessica from each other, he asks
about the news of Antonio’s rumoured shipwreck, to which
Shylock widely criticizes Antonio as a spendthrift, beggar and
warns that he would have his bond fulfilled lest Antonio can pay
for it.
5. Salarino says he would surely not take Antonio’s flesh, for what
use could the flesh be for Shylock, to which Shylock says that he
would use it for bait for fish, and it would fulfil his revenge, and
then gives a speech on how he, as a Jew, was harassed by
Antonio and how Jews are also human.
6. After this, a servant enters to escort Salanio and Salarino, and
takes them to Antonio, and Tubal enters the scene.
7. Shylock enquires about his daughter, to which Tubal says he has
news of her but no information of her location.
8. Shylock griefs about his loss of wealth and ducats, and says he
would rather see his daughter in the grave with his money.
9. Tubal comforts Shylock and tells him how Antonio is also
suffering from bad luck, as one of his merchant ship wrecked
while coming from Tripoli.
10. Tubal announces various information, like how Antonio is
surely to be bankrupt and how Jessica spent eighty ducats in
Genoa and traded a ring for a monkey, after which Antonio tells
Tubal to arrange a lawyer for the bond which he would surely
get, and kill Antonio.
Act III – Scene II
1. At the start of the scene, Bassanio, Portia, Gratiano and their
followers are present in a room in Portia’s house in Belmont. Portia
tells Bassanio to delay before making his choices so that she can
spend some more time with him, lest he chose the wrong casket. She
says she totally belongs to him, but her father’s wish kept them
apart.
2. Bassanio says he is tormented by the wait and wished to choose the
casket right away. Portia introduces him to the casket choices, and
says to play some music.
3. Bassanio describes the gold casket as only an outer appearance
hiding the real truth inside. He uses various examples to justify
himself. He then moves on to the silver casket.
4. He also discards the silver casket, calling it an “ordinary slave”, which
passes from man to man. He chooses the lead casket, on which he
says the daring words written on it move him strongly.
5. Portia thanks the Gods, and Bassanio opens the leaden casket to find
Portia’s portrait, which he praises a lot.
6. He asks permission to Portia for marriage, and Portia happily says she
is now his.
7. Both have a conversation of love, and Nerissa and Gratiano
congratulates them, and Gratiano expresses his wish to marry
Nerissa, and after which their marriage if also fixed along with that of
Bassanio and Portia. Portia gives a ring to Bassanio, a token of love,
and asks him to never part with it.
8. Lorenzo and Jessica, along with Salario enter the scene and Salario
hands over a letter which Antonio sent for Bassanio.
9. Bassanio reads the letter and turns pale, and tells how unpleasant the
letter is, and tells all about the bond Antonio signed, and how
Antonio is now bankrupt and will die if the amount is not paid before
the date, and asks Salerio a bunch of questions, to which he talks of
the Jew’s want for the bond.
10. Portia inquires of the matter, and says to take 12 times the bond
amount, save such a good friend, and come back with him. She then
asks him to read the letter, after which Bassanio leaves immediately
for Venice and promises to return soon.
