Act Five, Scene One
- Why do Lorenzo and Jessica remind each of the stories of classical lovers?
- What are Portia’s feelings as she approaches the house?
- What is the first argument to break out?
- How do Gratiano and Bassanio try to justify parting with the rings, are they successful?
- Was Bassanio right to give away the ring, give reasons for your thinking.
- What effect do these arguments have on Antonio?
- Portia and Nerissa have the rings. What does this prove to Antonio, Gratiano and each a Bassanio?
- How do Antonio, Lorenzo and Jessica benefit from news that Portia brings?
- To show that, even though their stories may have some parallels they are not like them, and that they unlike the other couples, they will have a happy ending.
- She is happy to be home after a job well done.
- Nerissa notices that Gratiano’s ring is no longer on his finger.
- They say it was to repay the judge and his clerk for a job well done and for saving Antonio's life, and of course their argument doesn't work.
- Bassanio had no right to give away the ring, he had sworn to only to take off the ring when he no longer loves Portia. It was stupid of him to do that, he shouldn’t have even considered doing that, giving the ring away to anyone under any circumstance.
- Antonio feels terrible because he is the cause for the arguments and is willing to put his life on the line again for their happiness.
- They prove that they were the doctor and the clerk, and in a way they prove their loyalty to their husbands, their cunningness and their intelligence.
- Portia revealed that Antonio’s ships have not sunk and they are in port and Lorenzo and Jessica will receive all of Shylock’s money and land once he dies.
