The Merchant of Venice - What is the climax?


    According to the 5-act play structure, the climax or turning point of the play should have happened in the third act. Did it happen? If so, what was it and what central conflict was addressed? If not, discuss the central conflict that has not yet been resolved.
    My group acted out and discussed the third act together, and I think we can all agree a lot happened in this act. First off, Bassanio picks the right chest, (with Portia’s help) and wins her hand in marriage. But shortly after, he has to leave for a little bit and Portia says she going to join a coven until he returns, (she is actually going to dress like a man and find some people with Nerissa). Another big thing that happened in this act is Shylock’s daughter Jessica, runs away with her lover and takes a bunch of Shylock’s money and possessions with her. One of the things she took was her mother’s ring, (which Shylock later finds out she traded for a monkey). Something else that happened is the rumors about Antonio’s ships sinking are becoming more and more worrisome to him as it looks as if they could be true. He backs out of paying the loan to Shylock, and so they go to court so that Shylock can take the pound of flesh that he wants from Antonio.
    I think the central conflict is the Antonio and Shylock’s dispute. Throughout the first 2 acts this was clearly a conflict. These two characters do not get along with each other, and they also had mutual friends. Shylock said he would get a pound of flesh from Antonio if he didn't pay the loan. Once the rumor that Antonio’s ships were sinking had come about, he backed out of paying the loan. In doing so, they had to go to court to resolve this, which will be talked more about in the later acts.

Comments

  1. Kim HarrisonFebruary 9, 2017 at 7:58 AM

    All of these things did happen in Act 3, except for Portia and Nerissa joining a "coven" (a group of witches). They actually claimed they were going to a monastery.

    From your post, however, I am not sure what you think the central conflict is or whether you think the turning point of that conflict happened in Act 3. Also, I am kind of confused about how you posted this while you were in class.

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