Act+Four

Act Four Part One Krystal B.

BASSANIO
 * Antonio, I am married to a wife,**
 * Which is as dear to me as life itself;**
 * But life itself, my wife, and all the world**
 * Are not with me esteemed above thy life.**
 * I would lose all, ay, sacrifice them all**
 * Here to this devil, to deliver you.** (Act Four Scene One, lines 280-285)

Response: In this passage, Bassanio tells Antonio how much he really loves his new wife Portia. But the surprising thing is what he says next, that he would give up his new wife and his life to Shylock it would dissolve the bond that was made because of himself. I find this to be very interesting because just the thought of loving a friend so much that you would give up your life and the person you love to help out a friend seems almost crazy to me. Yet that is the way Bassanio feels and that must mean that he loves Antonio (as a friend) a great deal.

PORTIA
 * You press me far, and therefore I will yield.**
 * Give me your gloves, I’ll wear them for your sake.**
 * And, for your love, I’ll take this ring from you.**
 * Do not draw back your hand; I’ll take no more,**
 * And you in love shall not deny me this.** (Act Four Scene One, lines 423-427)

Response: In this passage, Portia is still dressed up as a doctor of laws and that is still who Bassanio thinks she is. After Portia basically keeps Antonio from being killed Bassanio wants to repay her in any way he can and he insists upon doing so. So Portia decides as part of his thank you to take the ring that she gave him to represent their love and marriage. She notices his reaction to the thought and insists that he must give it to her. What I wonder when Portia does this is whether she is possibly testing Bassanio’s love for Antonio, or to see how much resistance he gives when she asks for the ring.

Salena B**.**
 * ACT FOUR SCENE TWO**


 * Portia:**
 * “Inquire the Jew’s house out; give him this deed**
 * And let him sign it. We’ll away tonight**
 * And be a day before our husbands home.**
 * This deed will be well welcome to Lorenzo.” (4.2. Lines 1-4)**

By Portia sacrificing her own money to help out a friend and her new husband, it shows that her character and heart are in the right place. She is considerate and willing to go the extra mile to help friends.


 * Gratiano:**
 * “Fair sir, you are well o’erta’en.**
 * My lord Bassanio upon more advice**
 * Hath sent you here this ring and doth entreat**
 * You company at dinner.” (4.2. Lines 5-8)**

Vocabulary: I’m happy to have caught up with you. Gratiano is inviting Portia and Nerissa to a dinner after giving her a ring from Bassanio. They are starting their lives as a family at their first dinner together. The ring is symbolic of their new love.

**Act 4 Scene 1** Isiah B.

**ANTONIO:** **“So please my lord the Duke and all the court** **To quit the fine for one half of his goods,** **I am content, so he will let me have** **The other half in use, to render it,** **Upon his death, unto the gentleman** **That lately stole his daughter.** **Two things provided more: that for his favor** **He presently become a Christian;** **The other, that he do record a gift** **Here in the court of all he dies possessed** **Unto his son Lorenzo and his daughter.” (4.1.378-388)**

In this excerpt, Antonio is saying to the judge that he does not want Shylock to forfeit all of his goods. He wants only half of it, and he wants the money to go to Lorenzo and Jessica, Shylock’s daughter. He also wants Shylock to become a Christian at once. Those were the two consequences for Shylock.

**SHYLOCK:** **“Nay, take my life and all! Pardon not that!** **You take my house when you do take the prop** **That doth sustain my house. You take my life** **When you do take the means whereby I live.” (4.1.372-375)**

Shylock is saying in these lines that he would rather have himself be killed than have all of his things taken. He says that when they take his house, they practically take his life also, so they should kill him too if they are going to take all of his goods anyways.

Grace H.
 * ACT 4 SCENCE 1**


 * Shylock: “So can I give no reason, nor I will not,**
 * More than a lodged hate and a certain loathing**
 * I beat Antonio, that I follow thus**
 * A losing suit against him. Are you answered?” (Act 4 Scene 1 Line 59-62)**

In this quote, Shylock is telling the court that he is unable to give a specific reason, or give an explanation as to why he has such a relentless hate towards Antonio. He goes on to say that he has the ability to tolerate him, but he is still going to pursue his lawsuit against him because it is the only way to satisfy his hatred and to get revenge.


 * Portia: “But mercy is above this sceptered sway;**
 * It is enthronéd in the hearts of kings;**
 * It is an attribute to God himself,**
 * And earthly power doth then show likest God’s**
 * When mercy seasons justice. Therefore, Jew,**
 * Though justice be thy plea, consider this:**
 * That in the course of justice none of us**
 * Should see salvation. We do pray for mercy,**
 * And that same prayer doth teach us all to render**
 * The deeds of mercy.” (Act 4 Scene 1 Line 191-200)**

In this quote, Portia is trying to convince Shylock to forgive the bond. She then argues that Shylock would be god-like to show mercy. Then, Portia tells Shylock that if he continues to seek his bond without mercy, the result could be devastating. It appears as if Portia is trying to offer an appeal, but her speech ends up being the final chance for Shylock to save himself before his legal arguments are crushed.

Chapter 4

Jesse H.


 * Antonio-**
 * “You may as well forbid the mountain pines**
 * To wag their high tops and to make no noise**
 * When they are fretten with the gusts of heaven;”(4.1 75-76)**

In this quote Antonio is telling Bassanio to not wast his breath to try to change Shylocks mind. He is on a dead set mission to have his pound of flesh and to deter him would be impossible.


 * Portia-**
 * “The quality of mercy is not strained.**
 * it droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven**
 * Upon the place beneath. It is twice blessed:**
 * It blesseth him that gives and him that takes.”(4.1 182-185)**

Portia is telling Shylock the reason why he should be merciful to Antonio is because mercy is no different if it came from a Jew or Christian. She says that mercy blesses the person who gives it as well as takes.