courtroom dramascene is longer and far more riveting. In this scene Portia presents one of Shakespeare’s greatest and most compelling speeches – a speech on the quality of mercy.
After the serious courtroom scene, the play ends with a gentle prank played by the women upon their husbands. But after having their laugh, the women reveal their jest. And, like a goodcomedyshould, all ends happily for all of the major characters in the play (excluding, of course, the villain Shylock).