Comment on the leadership by Portia in Act 4 . How does it prepare the audience for the final act? ( Merchant of Venice)
Answers
Answer:
Act IV, Scene One. Antonio is brought before the Duke and the magnificoes of Venice to stand trial for failing to pay off his obligation to Shylock. The Duke is upset about the penalty, a pound of Antonio's flesh, but cannot find any lawful way of freeing Antonio from his bond.
Answer: In this Act, Portia is seen to "outface" and "outswear" men. In Shakespearean romantic comedies, women emerge more shrewd and witty than men. Portia overshadows all the men in the scene with her words and deeds. She has followed every instruction of Dr. Bellario to become and perfect lawyer to help her husband's friend Antonio. In Scene I we see that she is portrayed as an intelligent and resourceful lady having a good knowledge of legal issues. The romantic heroine of the Caskets story becomes the judicial saviour of Antonio, and the shrewd Shylock is made humble. She emerges as a dutiful wife as she rescues her husband's friend. She is an example of beauty with brains.
In Scene II of Act IV we see that both the rings, of Bassanio and Gratiano, are lost by them to the lawyer and his clerk without them knowing that the lawyer is Portia and the clerk is Nerissa. This sets up a confusion in the next act when Bassanio and Gratiano would return to Belmont. The "Ring Episode" acts as a relief after the intense "Trial Scene". Hence, Act IV prepares us for the final act.