The Merchant of Venice by William Shakespeare -- Act 5, Scene 1 -- Summary and Analysis

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Summary

Lorenzo and Jessica are at Belmont, telling a love story together, beginning with that of Troilus and Criseyde and ending with their own. Nerissa enters as Stephano and announces that Portia will be back during the night.

Lancelot enters and announces that Bassanio will also arrive during the night.

Portia and Nerissa arrive, and then Bassanio, Antonio and Gratiano arrive. Nerissa admonishes Gratiano for parting with her ring. Bassanio hears this and shrinks. Portia confronts him and promises to never bed him until she sees the ring. Portia gives him hell about the ring and he tries to defend himself.

Antonio whines that he is the cause of the quarrels.

Nerissa and Portia present their rings to their husbands and say that they got them when they slept with the doctor and his clerk the night before. Gratiano grows angry and Portia reveals the trick. Portia also brings Antonio the news of three of his ships having made it safely and richly to harbor. She tells Lorenzo and Jessica of Shylock's will.


Main events

  • Everyone returns to Belmont
  • Ring blowout and cleanup
  • Portia brings good news: some of Antonio's argosies are safe, and Shylock will leave money to Jessica and Lorenzo


Participating Characters

  • Lorenzo
  • Jessica
  • Stephano (Nerissa)


Analysis and Discussion

In this scene, there is much less action and progression of plot and more waxing poetic.


  • This exchange between Jessica and Lorenzo is full of hints about the less romantic aspects of their love: "slander her love" and "unthrift love". But in the following passage, is Jessica outright saying that Lorenzo's love isn't sincere?

JESSICA

In such a night
Did young Lorenzo swear he loved her well,
Stealing her soul with many vows of faith
And ne'er a true one. 19


  • The beginning of the speech could be love poetry: Sit, Jessica, and look at the beautiful sky. Instead of the sky inspiring love in Lorenzo, however, it makes him think of his body as a "muddy vesture of decay" which prevents him from hearing the song of the stars. Depressing. 

LORENZO

Sit, Jessica. Look how the floor of heaven
Is thick inlaid with patines of bright gold:

There's not the smallest orb which thou behold'st 60
But in his motion like an angel sings,
Still quiring to the young-eyed cherubins;
Such harmony is in immortal souls;
But whilst this muddy vesture of decay
Doth grossly close it in, we cannot hear it.


  • Lorenzo's speech about the power of music has perhaps a meta-theatrical layer about the paralyzing/calming power of theater or conversely about the power of orchestra music that accompanies plays

LORENZO

The reason is, your spirits are attentive: 70
For do but note a wild and wanton herd,
Or race of youthful and unhandled colts,
Fetching mad bounds, bellowing and neighing loud,
Which is the hot condition of their blood;
If they but hear perchance a trumpet sound,
Or any air of music touch their ears,
You shall perceive them make a mutual stand,
Their savage eyes turn'd to a modest gaze
By the sweet power of music: therefore the poet
Did feign that Orpheus drew trees, stones and floods;
Since nought so stockish, hard and full of rage,
But music for the time doth change his nature.

  • Shylock as Erebus?

LORENZO

The man that hath no music in himself,
Nor is not moved with concord of sweet sounds,
Is fit for treasons, stratagems and spoils;
The motions of his spirit are dull as night
And his affections dark as Erebus:
Let no such man be trusted. Mark the music.


  • This passage may refer to one of two things: a) Antonio and Portia's good deeds of lending/giving money to their friend/spouse that will certainly be forgotten in the grand scheme of things b) a meta-theatrical comment about outstanding few works of art shining in a world of poor quality art

PORTIA

That light we see is burning in my hall.
How far that little candle throws his beams!
So shines a good deed in a naughty world.

NERISSA

When the moon shone, we did not see the candle.

PORTIA

So doth the greater glory dim the less:
A substitute shines brightly as a king
Unto the king be by, and then his state
Empties itself, as doth an inland brook
Into the main of waters.


  • Relativity of good and bad (respect here meaning "perspective"). Again, could be a meta-literary reflection about the relative quality of art, or could be about the story – the benevolence and malevolence of Shylock and Antonio from their own points of view.

PORTIA

Nothing is good, I see, without respect: 


  • Nerissa echoes Portia like Solanio and Salarino echoed each other in the first act

PORTIA

Even so void is your false heart of truth.
By heaven, I will ne'er come in your bed
Until I see the ring.

NERISSA

Nor I in yours
Till I again see mine.



Table of Contents: The Merchant of Venice -- Summary and Analysis


The Merchant of Venice. Image source

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