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Merchant of Venice Play
The Merchant of Venice begins with Antonio's
friend Bassanio owing Antonio money. Unnable to pay
his debts, Bassanio asks Antonio for more money so he
may marry the wealthy and beautiful Portia and so pay
back his friend. Antonio has no money to spare but tells
Bassanio to use his good name to get a loan... Meanwhile,
Portia laments that she has yet to find her special
someone. She complains about her past suitors and her
late father's will which chooses her husband for her.
This will chooses Portia's husband by means of three
caskets, one gold, one silver and one lead. A suitor
must choose one of the three caskets, a picture of Portia
being contained in the correct casket. Losing means
never seeing Portia again. Though Portia did not like
any of her past suitors, she does remember Bassanio...
Bassanio gets his loan from a Jewish merchant named
Shylock. The price for not repaying is a pound of flesh
from Antonio, but Antonio is not worried. His ships
(and wealth) come back a month before the debt is due...
Jessica, ashamed of her father Shylock, plans to elope
with Lorenzo. Jessica disguised as a boy and with some
of her father's jewels and gold, will be waiting at
her house for Lorenzo... Shylock learns that Bassanio
will be having a masque (masked ball). Shylock tells
Jessica to stay at home and ignore the Christian revelries,
which Shylock despises.
The Moroccan Prince takes the three-casket challenge
for Portia, choosing the gold casket and losing. Lorenzo
and Jessica escape successfully from Shylock... Shylock
is furious at losing his daughter, his gold and his
precious jewels to a Christian and knowing Antonio was
partially involved, swears revenge... At Belmont, The
Prince of Arragon chooses the silver casket, going home
empty handed. Shylock makes it clear that he no longer
wants repayment of Bassanio's debt. He would prefer
his pound of flesh since he sees Antonio as the source
of all his miseries... Bassanio arrives to court Portia
who is reluctant never to see Bassanio again should
he fail the casket challenge. Bassanio chooses correctly.
Bassanio will marry Portia, Bassanio's friend Gratiano
planning to marry Nerissa, Portia's maid. Without money,
Antonio forfeits his debt to Shylock, standing to lose
a pound of his flesh and his life for helping Bassanio.
Portia offers to pay Bassanio's debt twelvefold... Antonio
pleads to Shylock to let him pay back Bassanio's debt
but Shylock wants Antonio's pound of flesh... Portia
and Nerissa leave for Venice to save Antonio, disguised
as men.
Portia, disguised as a man, defends Antonio, winning
his life, through the technicality defense that Shylock
can take a pound of flesh and no more, an impossible
task. Furthermore, she argues Shylock conspired to murder,
an offense punishable by asset confiscation and death.
A compromise is reached whereby Shylock must become
a Christian and give half his assets to Jessica when
he dies. Still disguised as men, Portia and Nerissa
trick Bassanio and Gratiano into giving them their wedding
rings. Portia and Nerissa arrive back in Belmont and
ask to see their husband's wedding rings... Much comedy
ensues as the two men attempt to make excuses... Portia
ends Bassanio's and Gratiano's suffering by explaining
their role in Venice. The two men are embarrassed that
they could not recognise their own wives...
Contents
Dramatis
Personæ
Act I
Scene I, Scene
II, Scene III
Act II
Scene I, Scene
II, Scene III, Scene
IV, Scene V, Scene
VI, Scene VII, Scene
VIII, Scene IX
Act III
Scene I, Scene
II, Scene III, Scene
IV
Act IV
Scene I,
Scene II
Act V
Scene I
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