The Merchant of Venice Act 3 - Plot

The Merchant of Venice Act 3

Merchant Act 3 (binary/octet-stream)

• The Merchant of Venice - Act 1 - Plot
• The Merchant of Venice Act 2 - Plot
• The Merchant of Venice Acts 4 & 5 - Plot

Act 3 Scene 1

Salanio and Salarino are discussing Antonio's bad luck. One of his ships is confirmed sunk off the coast of England.  Shylock enters and chastises the two for their role in the disappearance of his daughter (and money). They scoff at the moneylender and mock his relationship with his daughter. In return, Shylock reminds them about Antonio's bond and the pound of flesh. Clearly, he too has heard of the drowned ship.  As they argue, Shylock delivers perhaps the most memorable lines from the play regarding the equality of Jews and Christians  - 'if you wrong us, do we not revenge?'. Shylock has been wronged, and he blames Antonio.  The friends leave for Antonio's as Tubal enters. He tells Shylock that Jessica is in Genoa. In other news, he informs Shylock of another shipwreck - Antonio's - near Tripoli. Shylock is pleased and prepares for his revenge. 

Shakespeare Merchant Of Venice (binary/octet-stream)

Act 3 Scene 2

In Belmont, Portia tries to persuade Bassanio to delay his choice of casket. She fears he will fail, but does not wish him to do so. She has fallen in love with him.  Bassanio rushes ahead to make his choice, confident of success. A song plays - 'Tell em where is fancy bred, in the heart or in the head?' - it asks, prompting Bassanio to reject the caskets of precious metal. He chooses correctly and Portia is overjoyed to be his wife. Nerissa and Gratiano profess their love too.  Lorenzo, Jessica and Salerio arrive with a letter from Antonio. The letter tells of the wrecked ships and how Shylock intends to take his forfeit. Bassanio agrees to marry Portia quickly, then travel to help his friend, who wishes only to see Bassanio before his death at the hands of Shylock. 

Merchant Act 2 S3 (binary/octet-stream)

Act 3 Scene 3

Antonio, still under arrest, tries to plead for mercy with Shylock. Upon his every entreaty, Shylock simply replies that he will 'have his bond.' Antonio tells Salarino that the reason Shylock hates him is because he had stepped in and paid so many debts of others who were beholding to the moneylender, thus cancelling foreclosure. This passage reverses pity for Shylock and shows Antonio as economically heroic. But the law is the law, and Antonio knows he must forfeit his life for the bond. 

Bond (binary/octet-stream)

Caption: : Not that type of Bond

Act 3 Scene 4

Belmont. Lorenzo explains the depth of Antonio and Bassanio's friendship to Portia. She tells Lorenzo to manage her estate while she and Nerissa travel to a nearby monastery. In secret, she sends a messenger to her cousin, Dr Bellario, asking for letters and garments for a subterfuge.  Portia explains to Nerissa that they will travel on the heels of their new husbands, disguised as young men. She is confident that she can help Bassanio and do so undetected.  The cross-dressing provides a comedic element to counter the serious nature of Antonio's predicament. 

Portia Cross Dressing (binary/octet-stream)

Act 3 Scene 5

Still at Belmont, we see Launcelot and Jessica. He mocks her, because of her father and her greater ancestory. Jessica reminds him that her marriage to Lorenzo makes her Christian. Joking, he laments the knock-on price to the bacon industry in the absence of kosher diners.  Lorenzo enters and playfully talks with Jessica about the merits of Portia and of their new life together. This scene does nothing to advance the plot and merely provides extra comic leverage as we head toward the climax of the play. Again, Shylock becomes a figure of disdain, even in the eyes of his daughter. 

Launcelot And Jessica (binary/octet-stream)