Introduction:
“The Marchant of Venice” (1623) is a romantic tragi-comedy by William Shakespeare (1564 – 1616). In the trial scene, Antonio’s life has been saved by Portia’s disguising role in the court of Venice.
Trial scene in “The Marchant of Venice”
After scanning the trial scene of the play, we get some points which are discussed below:
Inferiority of Judaism
The trial scene helps to identify Shylock’s business. He is the culprit of society. He is a follower of Judaism. He is a usurer and symbol of Jew. When Bassanio takes a loan from Shylock with Antonio’s witness, Shylock gives a condition. The condition is the loan has to be paid in three months. Otherwise, a pound of flesh from Antonio’s body will be taken cut off. He takes this plan to take revenge on Antonio.
More Notes: The Marchant of Venice
Focusing on the law and justice of Venice
This scene of the play focuses on low and justice of Venice. When Antonio fails to pay Shylock’s loan in a fixed period, Shylock charges in court against Antonio by the power of the bond. Firstly, the Duke of Venice tells him to forgive Antonio. But he does not want to be unmoved from the bond. As a part of the law and justice, Duke charges Antonio in accordance with the bond of Shylock. The trial scene proves the logical administration of Venice.
Evidence of true friendship
The trial scene of the play is evidence of true friendship. Bassanio is a friend of Antonio. when as the guarantor of Bassanio’s 3000 ducats of loan Antonio has been arrested in the court of Venice. Bassanio comes to know it from the message of Salerio. He goes there with 6000 ducats from Portia to save the life of Antonio. In the court, Bassanio offers Shylock twice even ten times his loan but he does not take money. He wants flesh to harm Antonio. Finally, for his excess wanting, he brings havoc for himself with his own hand. Portia makes him fool with a superb trick. This scene makes the history of true friendship in the heart of the audience.
Female power
In trial scene, we get Portia as a male character in disguise. After sending Bassanio with money, she comes here with the name of Doctor Balthazar with her maid servant Nerissa. Firstly, she tells him to forgive Antonio and looks at the bond and urges thrice the amount of the loan. When he refuges again, Portia bids Antonio to prepare Shylock’s knife. She stops Shylock few moments ago of cutting flesh and informs him that the bond allows a pound of flesh. But the bond does not allow him any drop of Antonio’s blood. She says that:
“Therefore, prepare thee to cut off the flesh.
Shed thou no blood, nor cut thou less nor more…’’
Shylock does not able to take flesh without blood because this is impossible. He is found guilty of conspiring to commit murder against a citizen of Venice. Thus, female power is proved in the trial scene.
Superiority of Christianity:
In the trial scene, the superiority of Christianity has been shown by converting Shylock from Judaism to Christianity. At the end of the scene, the Duke gives half of the property of Shylock to Antonio, and another half to the state.
Conclusion:
In the trial scene, Shakespeare tries to show that excess of anything brings havoc. we can say that poetic justice has been shown in the trial scene. Somebody says that Shylock has been punished more than he deserved in the scene.
