Act 4, Scene 2 Summary

Portia tells Nerissa to bring the deed to Shylock's house and tells her how happy Lorenzo will be with what they have done. The women plan to return to Belmont when Gratiano arrives with the ring. Portia asks him to show Nerissa to Shylock's home, and Nerissa tells Portia that she will also try to get her ring from Gratiano. Portia imagines she will, and thinks how they will embarrass their husbands when they swear they gave the rings to men.

Act 4, Scene 2 Analysis

By getting the rings away from the men, Portia is again exhibiting her superior cunning and intellectual skills. The letting go of the ring again brings the relationship between Antonio and Bassanio to question, as it appears that Antonio feels he should be valued above any wife and Bassanio defers to that thought. Though Antonio's attitude toward...