Act five
Over the course of the play, a lot of heavy and unhappy things have happened. The scene with Shylock being defeated in court could be extremely tragic, depending on the rendition. I feel like Act 5 is a reminder to laugh. Portia and Nerissa are giving their new husbands a hard time, saying they got the rings back by sleeping with the clerk and lawyer, gently reproving them for parting with the gifts, but in the end, everyone's happy. It also gives the guys an opportunity to find out how awesome and dedicated their wives are that they took care of the situation with the bond. It's just a matter of tying up the loose ends, probably with music playing in the background. I think it's necessary to tell how things worked out and have a last happy, idyllic moment, since we're dealing with a comedy.
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"playful" fun
I agree, but gosh that's a rough way to mess with your new husband! You gave away my ring?! Well I slept with the guy that you gave it to. That would be so confusing to hear. But I guess it does show a somewhat "playful" side of Portia... a slightly sadistic playful side, but yeah. I think in a weird way it does show that they love them anyway.
-Renee Ward
Silly husbands.
I agree with Erin. Pretty clever of those ladies to take the rings and play with their husbands minds a bit. But I don't think it was sadistic. During the trial, Bassanio says Antonio is more important that his loving wife and his own life. Graziano comments about his wife being dead to be able to change the Jew. Wouldn't you want to get back at them and make them squirm for those comments? I would have. Besides, they wouldn't have diguised themselves and gone to court if they didn't love their husbands.
Megan Baeth-Brison
Agreed!
I would do the same thing! They aren't really doing it to be mean, they know their husbands were trying to make a valid point, but it's still like "Gee, thanks guys." You know?
*Tina
what about
the comments Portia makes on the importance of oaths? She has just come from a trial where she spent her efforts undermining the oath made by Shylock and Antonio and then she comes home and harps on the importance of the husbands holding to the oaths they made their wives. Does this mean personal oaths are more binding and important than commercial contracts? Does it mean Portia is just in it for herself, willing to say and do one thing in one situation and another thing in a similar situation when the outcome is what matters most? Bradley
Personal versus contractual oaths
I think it's valid to say that Portia's just in it for herself-- "if you break a promise to someone else, I don't care, but if you break a promise to me, you better be ready for consequences!" On the other hand, the trial emphasized the importance of human interpretation of the law and the way we depend on other people to make justice work for the best (or not, as the case may be). Maybe contracts we make to other people should be valued more highly than contracts to the law, even if the punishment is less severe.
Erin Kay Schulz