The Merchant of Venice

 

The Merchant of Venice is a play written in England between 1596 and 1598 and published in 1623. Belonging to the Renaissance literary period, it is generally classified as a comedy or tragicomedy, with elements of revenge tragedy. The story is set in Venice and the nearby country estate of Belmont. The climax occurs during the dramatic trial between Antonio, the merchant, and Shylock, the Jewish moneylender, who serves as the primary antagonist of the play.

Summary

Act I

Venice. A street

Antonio is sad, but he doesn't know why. His friends, Salarino and Salanio, suggest he's worried about his trading ships at sea. Antonio says that's not the reason; his wealth isn't all in one ship or one voyage. They joke that he must be in love, which he denies. Bassanio, Lorenzo, and Gratiano arrive. Salarino and Salanio leave. Gratiano teases Antonio for being so serious and gloomy. Once alone, Bassanio confesses to Antonio that he has wasted all his money and needs more to travel to Belmont to woo a rich and beautiful heiress named Portia. He compares his situation to shooting a second arrow to find the first one he lost. Antonio wants to help but has no cash because all his money is tied up in his ships. He tells Bassanio to use Antonio's good name to borrow money in Venice.

Belmont. A room in Portia’s house.

Portia is tired of her life. Her servant, Nerissa, says that having too much can be as bad as having too little. Portia explains her problem: she cannot choose her own husband. Her late father's will demands that suitors must choose between three caskets (chests) made of gold, silver, and lead. The one who chooses the correct casket wins her hand. If they choose wrong, they must leave and never marry anyone. Nerissa lists the current suitors: a immature Neapolitan prince, a gloomy German count, a wild French lord, a young English baron who doesn't speak her language, and a Scottish lord. Portia makes fun of each one's flaws. Nerissa reminds Portia of a brave and noble Venetian, Bassanio, who once visited. Portia remembers him fondly and agrees he was worthy of praise. A servant announces that the Prince of Morocco has arrived to try his luck.

Venice. A public place.

Bassanio approaches the Jewish moneylender, Shylock, for a loan of 3,000 ducats for three months, with Antonio guaranteeing the debt. Shylock, aside, reveals his hatred for Antonio because he is a Christian who lends money without interest, which hurts Shylock's business, and because Antonio has publicly insulted him for being a Jew. Shylock agrees to the loan but proposes a bizarre bond as a joke: if Antonio doesn't repay on time, Shylock can take a pound of Antonio's flesh. Antonio, confident his ships will return a month early, agrees to the dangerous bond. Bassanio is horrified, but Antonio assures him it will be fine.

Act II

Belmont. The casket test.

The Prince of Morocco chooses the gold casket, which bears the inscription "Who chooseth me shall gain what many men desire." Inside, he finds a skull and a scroll mocking his greedy choice. He leaves in defeat.

Venice. Various scenes.

Shylock’s servant, Launcelot Gobbo, decides to run away from Shylock to work for the kinder Bassanio. His old, nearly blind father arrives, and after some confusion, they get the job from Bassanio. Shylock’s daughter, Jessica, is ashamed of her father and his greed. She gives Launcelot a letter for her secret lover, Lorenzo. In it, she plans to disguise herself as a boy and run away from her father's house with Lorenzo, taking some of Shylock's money and jewels with her. Shylock leaves for dinner with Antonio (which he plans to attend out of hate, not friendship), sternly ordering Jessica to lock up the house and not watch the street masquerade that night. Lorenzo, with his friends, comes to Shylock's house. Jessica, dressed as a boy, throws down a chest of her father's money and jewels and runs away with Lorenzo.

Belmont. The casket test.

The Prince of Arragon chooses the silver casket, inscribed "Who chooseth me shall get as much as he deserves." Inside, he finds a picture of a fool and is mocked for his arrogance. He, too, leaves in failure.

Venice. A street.

Salarino and Salanio discuss the news: Jessica has eloped with Lorenzo, taking Shylock's money. Shylock is furious and is reported to have cried, "My daughter! O my ducats! O my daughter!" in the streets. They also hear a rumor that one of Antonio's ships has been wrecked. They worry for Antonio, knowing his bond with Shylock is now very dangerous.

Act III

Venice. A street.

Shylock is enraged about his daughter's betrayal and the money she stole. His friend Tubal gives him mixed news: he can't find Jessica, but he has heard that another of Antonio's ships is lost. Shylock is thrilled at Antonio's misfortune. Tubal also tells him Jessica spent a huge amount of Shylock's money in Genoa and even traded a turquoise ring (a keepsake from Shylock's dead wife) for a monkey. This news devastates Shylock. With Antonio's finances crumbling, Shylock vows to demand his pound of flesh.

Belmont. The casket test.

Bassanio arrives at Belmont. Portia begs him to wait before choosing a casket, fearing he will choose wrong and leave. Bassanio chooses. Rejecting the deceptive gold and silver, he picks the lead casket, which says "Who chooseth me must give and hazard all he hath." Inside, he finds Portia's portrait. He has won. Portia joyfully gives herself and all her wealth to Bassanio, along with a ring. She makes him swear never to lose it or give it away. Gratiano announces that he is in love with Nerissa and they also wish to marry. Everyone is happy. The joy is shattered when Lorenzo, Jessica, and a messenger, Salerio, arrive from Venice. Salerio brings a letter from Antonio. Antonio's letter says all his ships have been lost. He cannot repay the loan. Shylock is demanding his pound of flesh, and Antonio expects to die. He just wants to see Bassanio one last time. Portia immediately takes charge. She tells Bassanio to marry her immediately, take many times the amount owed (6,000 ducats, or even more), and go to Venice to save his friend. She will manage everything while he is gone.

Venice. A street.

Shylock has had Antonio arrested. He refuses to listen to any pleas for mercy, insisting on the strict terms of the law and his bond.

Belmont. Portia's plan.

Portia tells Lorenzo and Jessica to manage her house while she and Nerissa go to a monastery to pray until their husbands return. This is a lie. In secret, she sends her servant Balthasar to her cousin, a legal expert named Dr. Bellario, to get notes and clothes for a court case. She reveals her real plan to Nerissa: they will disguise themselves as young male lawyers and travel to Venice to represent Antonio in court themselves.

Act IV

Venice. The courtroom.

The Duke presides. He begs Shylock to be merciful, but Shylock refuses, demanding his legal right—a pound of Antonio's flesh. Bassanio offers to pay back much more than the original loan, but Shylock refuses. He wants revenge, not money. A young lawyer named "Balthasar" (Portia in disguise) arrives with a clerk (Nerissa). "Balthasar" is there to judge the case. Portia first gives a famous speech about the quality of mercy, but Shylock is unmoved. She rules that the law is on Shylock's side; he may have his pound of flesh.

As Shylock prepares to cut, Portia adds a crucial condition: the bond allows for a pound of flesh, but not a single drop of blood. If Shylock sheds any blood, or takes even a fraction more or less than exactly one pound, all his lands and goods will be confiscated by the state. Defeated, Shylock says he will just take the money instead. Portia says no; he refused the money in open court, so now he can only have the flesh under those impossible conditions.

Portia then adds that as an alien who conspired against a Venetian citizen's life, Shylock must forfeit half his wealth to the state and half to Antonio. His life is now at the Duke's mercy. The Duke spares Shylock's life. Antonio says the state can keep its half if Shylock gives the other half to Lorenzo and Jessica upon Shylock's death. He also demands that Shylock immediately convert to Christianity. Broken, Shylock agrees and leaves. As payment, the disguised Portia tricks Bassanio into giving her the ring she had made him swear to keep. Nerissa also tricks Gratiano into giving her his ring (her gift to him).

Act V

Belmont. The gardens at night.

Lorenzo and Jessica enjoy a peaceful night, comparing their love to famous literary couples. Portia and Nerissa return home just before their husbands do. When Bassanio and Gratiano arrive with Antonio, the women pretend to be angry that their husbands' rings are missing. They accuse the men of giving the rings to other women. The men try to explain they gave them to the "lawyer" and "clerk" who saved Antonio's life. After teasing them thoroughly, Portia and Nerissa reveal the truth: they were the lawyer and clerk. Portia also gives Antonio a letter showing that three of his ships have miraculously arrived safely after all. Nerissa gives Lorenzo the deed from Shylock, guaranteeing that he and Jessica will inherit all of Shylock's wealth. The play ends with happiness and reconciliation for everyone except Shylock.