Act Five -- Merchant of Venice

In Act 5 of The Merchant of Venice, Portia, Nerissa, Bassanio, Antonio, and Gratiano all return from the trial in Venice. When the men reveal to Portia and Nerissa that they gave away their rings, without knowing they had given the rings to a disguised Portia and Nerissa, the two women act outraged since they had made their husbands swear to never give away their rings. After messing with their husbands for a little longer, Portia and Nerissa reveal that they had disguised themselves as men and they were the lawyer and the clerk who had saved Antonio's life. I really liked that Portia and Nerissa revealed to their husbands that they had disguised themselves and proven to be strong women, and I also like how they used this information to their advantage. Portia and Nerissa gained some serious respect from Bassanio and Gratiano after revealing their positions in the trial, while also gaining more control in their marriage. I am also happy that the play ended on a high note, with Lorenzo becoming Shylock's heir, all of the couples (Lorenzo and Jessica, Bassanio and Portia, and Gratiano and Nerissa) ending happily and in love, and that even Antonio got his happy ending with a few of his ships out at sea actually being safe.