This act, which contains one very long scene and one very short scene, is mainly concerned with the themes of justice and mercy as Antonio and Shylock go to court to resolve their dispute. The Trial Scene (Act 4, Scene 1) is full of tension and suspense as Portia, disguised as a lawyer named ‘Balthasar’, pleads with Shylock to show mercy. When all her efforts to persuade Shylock fail, there is a faint glimmer of hope as Portia finds a compelling legal loophole (flaw or glitch in the legal case) with which to challenge Shylock’s case.
