In literature the worddenouementrefers to the part of the story that occurs after the conflict has been resolved and ties up any loose ends or answers any questions that the readers or audience may still have. The word actually comes from the French, dénouement, and literally means untying. The knots or complications are untied, the questions are answered. Although the main conflict is now at an end, the play still has two questions to answer. (1) How will Bassanio and Graziano explain the loss of their rings? And, on a more serious note, (2) what will become of the melancholy Antonio? InMerchant of Venice, the entire fifth act is the denouement.
Back in Belmont the young lovers, Jessica and Lorenzo, are taking care of Portia’s house while she is away. Lorenzo comments on the beauty of the moon; and he, speaking nonsensically as young lovers often do, claims that such a bright and lovely moon must have also shined over lovers who are mentioned in the tales of the past. Lorenzo and Jessica then engage in a comic dialogue that involves mythologicallovers: