Merchant of Venice summary
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A young Venetian, Bassanio, needs a loan of three thousand ducats so that he can woo Portia, a wealthy Venetian heiress. He approaches his friend Antonio, a merchant. Antonio is short of money because all his wealth is invested in his fleet, which is currently at sea. He goes to a Jewish money lender, Shylock, who hates Antonio because of Antonio’s anti-semitic behaviour towards him.
Shylock nevertheless agrees to make the short-term loan, but, in a moment of dark humour, he makes a condition – the loan must be repaid in three months or Shylock will exact a pound of flesh from Antonio. Antonio agrees, confident that his ships will return in time.
Because of the terms of Portia’s father’s will, all suitors must choose from among three caskets, one of which contains a portrait of her. If he chooses that he may marry Portia, but if doesn’t he must vow never to marry or court another woman. The Princes of Morocco and Arragon fail the test and are rejected. As Bassanio prepares to travel to Belmont for the test, his friend Lorenzo elopes with Shylock’s daughter, Jessica. Bassanio chooses the lead casket, which contains her picture, and Portia happily agrees to marry him immediately.
Meanwhile, two of Antonio’s ships have been wrecked and Antonio’s creditors are pressurising him for repayment. Word comes to Bassanio about Antonio’s predicament, and he hurries back to Venice, leaving Portia behind. Portia follows him, accompanied by her maid, Nerissa. They are disguised as a male lawyer and his clerk. When Bassanio arrives the date for the repayment to Shylock has passed and Shylock is demanding his pound of flesh. Even when Bassanio offers much more than the amount in repayment, Shylock, now infuriated by the loss of his daughter, is intent on seeking revenge on the Christians. The Duke refuses to intervene.
Portia arrives in her disguise to defend Antonio. Given the authority of judgment by the Duke, Portia decides that Shylock can have the pound of flesh as long as he doesn’t draw blood, as it is against the law to shed a Christian’s blood. Since it is obvious that to draw a pound of flesh would kill Antonio, Shylock is denied his suit. Moreover, for conspiring to murder a Venetian citizen, Portia orders that he should forfeit all his wealth. Half is to go to Venice, and half to Antonio.
Antonio gives his half back to Shylock on the condition that Shylock bequeath it to his disinherited daughter, Jessica. Shylock must also convert to Christianity. A broken Shylock accepts. News arrives that Antonio’s remaining ships have returned safely. With the exception of Shylock, all celebrate a happy ending to the affair.
The Merchant of Venice is a play written by William Shakespeare, a well-known playwright, poet, and actor. The play portrays Antonio, an anti-Semitic merchant who financially aids his dear friend Bassanio so that he may have a chance to win Portia, his ladylove. Shylock, a Jewish moneylender, faces discrimination and ruthless insults from Antonio's end. He bears these unjust and hurtful insults, as sufferance was the badge of his tribe. His daughter, Jessica, betrayed him as he controlled her and was oppressive, even to their servant Launcelot, who further on in the play went to Bassanio for his service. Jessica fell in love and eloped with Antonio's Christian friend Lorenzo, and Shylock's aversion to Christians, the robbery of his ducats and riches by his daughter, make it unacceptable for him, and possibly the worst betrayal in the play. He roams the street screaming for his ducats and daughter, but to no avail.
Antonio's ships containing his merchandise are at sea, so Antonio and Bassanio turn to Shylok for assistance. Shylock embraces this prospect to take his revenge on Antonio. He offers a deal in which three thousand ducats must be repaid in three months, and if not, he has the liberty to take a pound of flesh from any part of Antonio's body. Antonio agrees to this bond for the sake of his dear friend's happiness. Bassanio goes to Belmont and wins Portia as a wife, but Antonio on the other end loses all of his ships and must now pay back the bond at the expense of his flesh. Antonio consistently pleads for clemency, but Shylock refuses. Antonio wishes to see his dear friend one last time before his death.
Bassanio immediately leaves Belmont to visit Antonio. Portia devises a plan to help Antonio, and Nerissa, Gratanio's new love, and Portia's servant help her in this task.
Portia visits her cousin, Dr. Bellario a legal expert, and also assigns Balthazar, her trustworthy servant, to inform him initially. Disguised as a young man and a law expert, Portia makes her way to court. Portia also endeavors to make Shylock show mercy but to no avail. Bassanio offers twice the payment, but Shylock refuses. She then permits Shylock to do as his bond says. Just before Shylock conducts his repayment, Portia says that not a single drop of blood should be shed, as that is not established in the bond. She says that he is plotting against the life of a citizen of Venice, which is a crime. He is forced to give half his estate to the state and half to Antonio. He is also forced to convert to Christianity and give all his riches to his daughter after his demise. He takes his leave. The story ends with everyone excluding Shylock celebrating their fortune and contentment.