Plot summary of The Merchant of Venice
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.
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.