show the interdependence of the bond story and casket story in the drama 'The merchant of Venice' (750 words or higher).
Answers
Answer:
The bond plot is introduced at the play's beginning. Bassanio needs money to compete as a suitor for the beautiful Portia but doesn't have it. He requests a loan from his good friend Antonio, a wealthy merchant, but Antonio doesn't have any actual money in his possession (all of his money is tied to financial ventures), so he offers to visit the usurer where he guarantees the bond with a "pound of flesh." (Act I, Scene I)
Antonio does not have the ready cash that Bassanio needs but asks him to seek a loan in Venice by using his name as guarantee. He is a person of good standing and assures Bassanio that he will also seek a loan. Bassanio soon encounters Shylock, the Jewish moneylender, who is prepared to extend him a loan of 3 000 ducats should Antonio sign as surety to the bond.
Bassanio is successful in choosing the right casket and wins Portia's hand. He does, however, receive an unsettling message from Antonio in which he states that he has been imprisoned for forfeiting on the bond. He had suffered a number of mishaps with his ships and could not settle the debt. The vengeful Shylock has been insistent that he should have his pound of flesh.
Bassanio is utterly distraught. Portia notices his distress and after discovering the reason for this, offers to help. She urges Bassanio to rush to his friend's aid immediately after their marriage and offers to repay the debt many times over. She formulates a plan to further assist the traumatized Antonio by going to Venice disguised as a doctor of law with Nerissa as her assistant. It is in this manner that the two plots achieve a confluence.
The link between the two stories arises as a result of the relationship that Bassanio has with characters in the two plot streams. The association is created when Bassanio, who is out of pocket, approaches his friend and confidante, Antonio, a wealthy Christian merchant, for financial assistance so that he may woo the beautiful Portia, a wealthy heiress from Belmont. Bassanio wishes to stand an equal chance against a number of other suitors, who come from privileged backgrounds and the money will give him such an opportunity.
Bassanio takes the money and goes off to try his luck in winning Portia's hand in a lottery, in which a suitor should choose the right casket from three, that her deceased father had concocted. It is through these actions that an association between the two stories is created.
It is important to note that Antonio and Shylock despise each other. Antonio believes that Shylock is committing a grave sin by lending out money and profiting from the interest he charges. Shylock hates Antonio for having severely criticized him openly and humiliating him by spitting on his gaber dine, kicking him and calling him a dog. He seeks revenge against the Christian.
Bassanio is successful in choosing the right casket and wins Portia's hand. He does, however, receive an unsettling message from Antonio in which he states that he has been imprisoned for forfeiting on the bond. He had suffered a number of mishaps with his ships and could not settle the debt.
Bassanio is utterly distraught. Portia notices his distress and after discovering the reason for this, offers to help. She urges Bassanio to rush to his friend's aid immediately after their marriage and offers to repay the debt many times over. She formulates a plan to further assist the traumatized Antonio by going to Venice disguised as a doctor of law with Nerissa as her assistant. It is in this manner that the two plots achieve a confluence.
The bond plot is related to the casket plot through the characters Bassanio and Antonio. At the beginning of the play, Bassanio asks his friend Antonio for funds to support his efforts to woo the beautiful (and fabulously wealthy) Portia of Belmont. In order to win Portia's love, Bassanio will need to choose the correct casket from a group of three. To secure money for his friend, Antonio obtains a loan and draws up a bond agreement with the moneylender Shylock. In short, Antonio takes out a loan and signs a bond to help his friend Bassanio court Portia by solving the casket riddle, and so the two Venetians act as the bridge between the play's two major plots. Of course, one of the remarkable aspects of the play is the stark difference between these two related storylines: while the Belmont casket narrative is solidly comedic, the bond storyline is decidedly more sinister, as it involves underlying tensions between the Christian and Jewish communities, along with the famous pound of flesh.
Answer:
The bond narrative is introduced at the opening of the play. Bassanio needs money to compete as a suitor for the lovely Portia, but he lacks it. He asks his wealthy merchant friend Antonio for a loan, but Antonio doesn't have any actual money (all of his money is related to financial projects), so he offers to visit the usurer and guarantee the bond with a "pound of flesh."
Explanation:
Antonio does not have the cash on hand that Bassanio requires, so he begs him to obtain a loan in Venice using his name as collateral. He is a trustworthy individual who assures Bassanio that he will also seek a loan. Bassanio soon meets Shylock, the Jewish moneylender, who offers him a loan of 3 000 ducats in exchange for Antonio signing as guarantee on the bond.
Bassanio is succeeds in selecting the appropriate casket and thereby wins Portia's hand. He does, however, receive an unpleasant letter from Antonio, who informs him that he has been imprisoned for failing to pay the bond. He had a string of disasters with his ships and was unable to repay the debt. Shylock, the spiteful character, has been defeated.
Bassanio is completely distressed. Portia senses his discomfort and, after understanding the cause, offers to assist. She pushes Bassanio to hurry to his friend's help as soon as their marriage is consummated and offers to repay the debt many times over. She devises a strategy to help the devastated Antonio further by coming to Venice disguised as a doctor of law, with Nerissa as her assistant. The two plots eventually intersect in this manner.
The relationship that Bassanio has with characters in both plot streams serves as the link between the two stories. When Bassanio, who is short on funds, contacts his friend and confidante, Antonio, a wealthy Christian trader, for financial aid so that he can court the lovely Portia, a wealthy heiress from Belmont. Bassanio wishes to compete on an equal footing with a number of other suitors from rich families, and the money will provide him with that opportunity.
Bassanio accepts the money and departs to try his luck in winning Portia's hand in a lottery in which a suitor must select the correct casket from three that her deceased father devised. These behaviours result in the formation of an association between the two stories.
It's worth noting that Antonio and Shylock dislike one other. Shylock, Antonio believes, is committing a grievous evil by lending money and benefitting from the interest he charges. Shylock despises Antonio for publicly criticising him and humiliating him by spitting on his gaber net, kicking him, and calling him a dog. He seeks vengeance on the Christian.
Bassanio is succeeds in selecting the appropriate casket and thereby wins Portia's hand. He does, however, receive an unpleasant letter from Antonio, who informs him that he has been imprisoned for failing to pay the bond. He had a string of disasters with his ships and was unable to repay the debt.
Bassanio is completely distressed. Portia senses his discomfort and, after understanding the cause, offers to assist. She pushes Bassanio to hurry to his friend's help as soon as their marriage is consummated and offers to repay the debt many times over. She devises a strategy to help the devastated Antonio further by coming to Venice disguised as a doctor of law, with Nerissa as her assistant. The two plots are linked in this way.
Of course, one of the play's most striking features is the stark contrast between these two interconnected storylines: while the Belmont casket narrative is solidly comedic, the bond storyline is decidedly sinister, involving underlying tensions between the Christian and Jewish communities, as well as the famous pound of flesh.
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