Discuss the importance of the Trial Scene in 'The Merchant of

Discuss the importance of the Trial Scene in ‘The Merchant of Venice’.

Describe the Trial Scene in ‘The Merchant of Venice’ and bring out its significance.

Write an essay on the most appealing scene in ‘The Merchant of Venice’.

Ans.

The play, ‘The Merchant of Venice‘ is a manifestation of William Shakespeare’s dramatic genius. He handles four different stories simultaneously and out of seeming chaos of too many stories creates a work of dramatic art. Of the four stories, the Bond Story is the main.

Antonio is a rich Christian Merchant of Venice. He is very kind and generous. Bassanio is his dearest friend. Bassanio belong to an aristocratic family of Venice and has squandered his wealth through lavish and indiscreet spending. He has realized his foolish and has planned to repair the loss through marriage to a rich and beautiful lady Portia, a very young, wise virtuous, exquisitely beautiful and rich maiden of Belmont is in his mind. He approaches his friend Antonio to ask for a loan. But Antonio does not have the required amount or resources to raise that sum. He directs Bassanio to arrange for a loan from some body on Antonio’s surety. Bassanio approaches a rich Jewish money lender, Shylock. He asks for three thousand ducats for three months on Antonio’s surety. Shylock nurses a grievance against Antonio because he abuses. kicks and humiliates Shylock publicly and spits on his garments. But he agrees to lend the amount because he desires, he pretends, Antonio’s friendship. he asks Antonio to, playfully, sign a bond with the condition that if he is unable to repay the amount in three months, Shylock will have the right to cut off a pound of flesh from any part of Antonio’s body. Antonio in his eagerness and anxiety to help his friend agrees to sign such a bond despite Bassanio’s objection. Bassanio proceeds to Belmont and succeeds in winning Portia’s hand. But when Portia and Bassanio are waking to realize the reality and are beginning to feel joy Salerio, accompanied by Jessica and Lorenzo reaches Belmont and gives the news of Antonio’s impending disaster. Portia immediately realizes the gravity of situation from the expression on Bassanio’s face. Bassanio tells her everything. Portia hurriedly marries Bassanio in order to give him legal right over her property. She gives him enough gold to repay the loan twenty times over and sends Bassanio to Venice to help Antonio. Consequent upon his inability to repay the loan in time Shylock has Antonio in his vice grip and all efforts, requests and offers of many several times the actual sum fail to persuade Shylock form proceeding to claim a pound of Antonio’s flesh. An inferno of hate and vengeance-personal, religious and professional-is blazing inside Shylock and he is adamant on getting justice according to his bond.

In the Court of Venice presided over by the duke, Antonio and Shylock are present. The duke once again requests Shylock to show mercy and accept twice the sum he has lent But Shylock is adamant on his bond.

Portia and Nerissa disguised as lawyer and his clerk appear in the court with an eminent Jurist of Padua’s letter to the duke. The duke permits them. Portia appeals for mercy for Antonio and fails to persuade the Jew. She them admits Shylock’s claim and makes the Jew jubilant. But as Shylock prepares to cut a pound of Antonio’s flesh, she restrains him saying that Shylock can cut a pound of flesh – neither more nor less – and that too without shedding a drop of blood because the bond does not give him any blood. Shylock is caught in his own trap. Portia relentlessly applied one provision of law after another and vanquishes Shylock completely. Half of his wealth is to go to Antonio and the other half to the state of Venice and his life is put at the mercy of the duke. Antonio suggests that he is prepared to keep his half of Shylock’s wealth as a trust to be passed on to Lorenzo and Jessica provided he turns a Christian. The other half will be returned to him if he does not practice the money lending profession. Heart broken Shylock agrees to all these conditions as he is dazed by the sheer brilliance of Portia’s wit and wisdom. Shylock is reduced to wretchedness and is a pathetic figure overwhelmed by grief, shame and loss.

The trial scene is the culmination of the Bond Story and climax of the play. The two stalwarts are face to face and are at their best but Portia emerges with flying colours. It was her resourcefulness which saved Antonio’s life at a time when all seemed lost.

This scene completely unfolds the character of Portia, Shylock and Antonio. Antonio is as usual sad and gloomy, passive and unenterprising, resigned to his fate.

The sight of dazed Shylock, in a matter of moments is catapulted from success to utter failure. The tragic gloom and pathos of the scene are really very thick and keen.

The trial Scene sows the seeds of the next Act (the final V Act with only one scene) to resolve the unresolved mysteries and to make the play a truly romantic comedy.

The trial Scene is a tribute to Shakespeare’s dramatic genius.