Scribd Logo
Upload

Welcome to Scribd!

  • 28 views

    Merchant of Venice - The Court Scene

    Uploaded by

    krishnarenuyadav1985

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd

    Merchant of Venice - The Court Scene

    Uploaded by

    krishnarenuyadav1985
    28 views3 pages

    Copyright

    © © All Rights Reserved

    Available Formats

    DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd

    Did you find this document useful?

    Is this content inappropriate?

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as docx, pdf, or txt
    28 views3 pages

    Merchant of Venice - The Court Scene

    Uploaded by

    krishnarenuyadav1985

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as docx, pdf, or txt
    of 3

    Title: Merchant of Venice - The Court Scene

    Characters:

    ➢ Duke of Venice
    ➢ Antonio
    ➢ Shylock
    ➢ Portia
    ➢ Bassanio
    ➢ Gratiano
    ➢ Nerissa
    ➢ Salerio
    ➢ Solanio
    ➢ Lorenzo
    ➢ Jessica
    ➢ Balthasar (Portia's servant)
    ➢ Basset (Gratiano's servant)
    ➢ Stephano (Portia's servant)
    ➢ The Duke's Attendants
    ➢ Various Court Officials and Spectators

    [The scene opens in the courtroom of the Duke of Venice. The Duke is
    seated on the bench with Antonio and Bassanio standing before him.
    Shylock, a Jewish moneylender, also stands nearby. Various court officials
    and spectators fill the room.]

    Duke: (Addressing the court) Good morning, gentlefolk. We are gathered here
    today to hear the case brought before us by the esteemed merchant, Antonio,
    and the moneylender, Shylock. Let us proceed with fairness and justice.

    Antonio: (Nervously) Your Grace, I stand before you in distress. I owe a sum of
    money to Shylock, which I am unable to repay at this time.

    Shylock: (Stepping forward) Your Grace, I demand justice. Antonio has


    defaulted on his loan, and according to our agreement, I am entitled to a pound
    of his flesh.

    Duke: (Thoughtfully) This is a serious matter indeed. Antonio, do you deny the
    terms of this agreement?
    Antonio: (Desperate) No, my Lord. I am bound by the terms of the contract. But
    I beg for your mercy, as I am unable to fulfill this cruel bond.

    Duke: (Turning to Shylock) And you, Shylock, are you adamant in your
    demand for a pound of flesh?

    Shylock: (Coldly) I am within my rights, Your Grace. The bond is clear, and I
    seek only what is owed to me.

    Portia: (Entering the courtroom disguised as Balthasar) Your Grace, if I may be


    permitted to speak.

    Duke: (Surprised) Ah, Balthasar. What do you have to say in this matter?

    Portia: (Approaching Antonio) Don’t you think that the person standing here
    deserves some Mercy. Look at his condition. He is so weak and barely has
    some flesh on his body.

    Shylock : (In anger) : I repeat, I shall go as per the bond. And by our holy
    Sabbath , I have sworn to have my due.

    Portia : The quality of Mercy is not strained, It drops as gentle rain from
    Heaven , it is twice blessed ; it blesses him that gives Mercy and him that takes.

    Shylock :(in defiance) I crave for nothing but the law . I demand justice .

    Portia : Alright, I have come to offer a solution to this dispute. As a learned


    doctor of the law, I know that the bond must be upheld, but I also know that it
    must not cause any harm to a citizen of Venice.

    Duke: (Intrigued) A solution !!! Please, proceed with your proposal.

    Portia: (Addressing Shylock) Shylock, according to Venetian law, you are


    entitled to your bond of a pound of flesh. However, you must take only flesh
    and not a drop of blood, as specified in the bond.

    Shylock: (Confused) But how can I take flesh without drawing blood?

    Portia: (Sternly) That is not my concern. If you shed a drop of Christian blood
    in the process, your own life will be forfeit and your wealth confiscated.
    Shylock: (Taken aback) This is an impossible condition!

    Duke: (Approvingly) Nevertheless, it is a fair and just interpretation of the law.


    Shylock, you have heard the terms. Do you accept?

    Shylock: (Reluctantly) I have no choice but to accept.

    Duke: (Turning to Antonio) Antonio, you are saved from this perilous bond.
    Your debt to Shylock is forgiven.

    Antonio: (Gratefully) Thank you, Your Grace. I am forever in your debt.

    Duke: (Addressing the court) This matter is settled. Let us adjourn and celebrate
    this resolution.

    [The court disperses, and the characters exit the stage, leaving a sense of
    relief and justice.]

    End of Scene.

    You might also like