The
Merchant of Venice
Plot
summary:
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 Aragon 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 pressurizing
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 bequeaths 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.
