Merchant+of+Venice

= =  The Merchant of Venice by William Shakespeare Plot Summary ....... Bassanio is madly in love with the fair Portia, a wealthy heiress. He must have her. However, he is broke so Bassanio asks his friend Antonio for money to woo and win delightful Portia. Three thousand ducats will do the trick. Antonio, a wealthy merchant of Venice, is willing to do anything for Bassanio, his most excellent friend. But because most of Antonio's money is tied up in overseas schemes, he does not have enough cash on hand to make a loan. Nonetheless, because ships he owns will soon arrive laden with merchandise, he agrees to borrow the money for Bassanio. On a street in Venice, Bassanio encounters a Jewish moneylender, Shylock, and asks him for the money, telling him Antonio will guarantee repayment at the end of three months. ....... Shylock has suffered frequent ridicule from Antonio and other Christian Venetians. They despise him not only because he charges exorbitant interest rates but also because he is a Jew. Nevertheless, Shylock agrees to lend Bassanio the money. However, if Antonio does not repay the loan in three months, he must forfeit a pound of flesh. Antonio signs a contract binding him to this agreement, confident that his ships will arrive in time with merchandise to repay the loan. Shylock, of course, secretly hopes Antonio will default on the loan so that he can cut away the pound of flesh (certain death) as revenge against his Christian enemy. .......   Bassanio, now with money and wooing rights, leaves for Portia's home, Belmont, near Venice. Although Portia loves Bassanio, she promised her late father that she would marry the man who chooses the correct of three caskets: one gold, one silver and one lead. The correct casket is the one containing a portrait of her. Suitors from around the world have been calling and choosing. So far, no one has picked the right casket. ....... Meanwhile, Shylock's daughter Jessica has eloped with Bassanio's friend Lorenzo, taking with her a goodly portion of Shylock's jewels and gold. When Bassanio arrives at Belmont with his friend Gratiano, Portia's heart soars. To help him choose the right casket, she has a song sung that gives him a clue, and he picks the correct casket, the lead one. Portia then vows to marry Bassanio and presents him a ring, telling him never to lose it or give it away. But Bassanio and Portia aren't the only happily united lovers; for Gratiano, who has had an eye for Portia's servant Nerissa, successfully woos her. As the couples rejoice at their good fortune, Lorenzo and Jessica arrive with a messenger who gives Bassanio a letter from Antonio. Bassanio welcomes the new arrivals, then opens the letter and reads terrible news: Antonio's ships have been wrecked; he cannot repay the loan. ....... In Act III, Scene II, Jessica warns that Antonio will be held to Shylock's condition, saying, ''I have heard him swear /. . . that he would rather have Antonio's flesh / than twenty times the value of the sum / that he did owe him'' (Lines 291-295). Portia then offers a vast sum of gold to satisfy the debt. After she and Bassanio are married, Bassanio leaves for Venice to pay off Shylock. Portia says she will remain behind at Belmont. However, Portia, who has brains as well as beauty. She has a scheme of her own to save Antonio, and she and Nerissa disguise themselves as men and follow Bassanio to Venice. ....... At the Venetian court of justice before the Duke of Venice, the duke asks Shylock to show mercy by giving up his claim for a pound of flesh. Shylock refuses. Bassanio then offers Shylock more than he is owed, but Shylock continues to insist on exacting a pound of flesh. Nerissa, dressed like a law clerk, arrives and introduces the disguised Portia as Bellario, a learned doctor of law. Portia then goes to work on Antonio's behalf, first trying to soften the hard-hearted Shylock. Portia says, ........ It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven ........ Upon the place beneath: it is twice blest; ........ It blesseth him that gives and him that takes: ........ 'Tis mightiest in the mightiest: it becomes ........ The throned monarch better than his crown; ........ His sceptre shows the force of temporal power, ........ The attribute to awe and majesty, ........ Wherein doth sit the dread and fear of kings; <span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: #fff2f2; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold">........ <span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold">But mercy is above this sceptred sway; <span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: #fff2f2; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold">........ <span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold">It is enthroned in the hearts of kings, <span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: #fff2f2; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold">........ <span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold">It is an attribute to God himself; <span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: #fff2f2; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold">........ <span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold">And earthly power doth then show likest God's   <span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: #fff2f2; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold">........ <span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold">When mercy seasons justice. (Lines 190-203) || But Shylock is in no mood to be merciful, saying, ''. . . I crave the law / the penalty and forfeit of my bond'' (Lines 212-213). Portia then suggests he settle for triple the amount owed him. Shylock refuses; he wants only his pound of flesh. When Portia tells Antonio he will have to bear his chest for Shylock's knife, all seems lost. Shylock, overjoyed, hails Portia (Bellario) as Most rightful judge! (Line 311). ....... The clever Portia then warns Shylock that when he cuts away the pound of flesh, he must take only flesh, not blood; for the signed agreement calls only for a pound of flesh and nothing else. ........ But, in the cutting it, if thou dost shed ........ One drop of Christian blood, thy lands and goods ........ Are, by the laws of Venice, confiscate ........ Unto the state of Venice. (Lines 318-322)  || .   Shylock, outwitted, then says he will settle for money. ....... But he not only does not get a single ducat, he must forfeit half his property for conspiring to kill Antonio. What's more, he must become a Christian and, upon his death, bequeath his property to Jessica and Lorenzo. Shylock, stunned and broken, agrees to the settlement. Leaving the court, he says, I am not well (Line 461). When Portia (still in disguise) refuses payment from Bassanio, he insists she accept a remembrance. To his dismay, she takes the ring she told him never to give up. Later, when Portia (no longer in disguise) welcomes Bassanio, Gratiano, and Antonio back to Belmont, she pretends to scold Bassanio after Gratiano tells her that Bassanio gave his ring–the one Portia told him never to give up–to Antonio's attorney, the doctor of law. Then she gives another ring to Antonio. When he recognizes it as the ring he gave to the attorney, he realizes it was Portia who saved Antonio in the court of justice. Everyone lives happily ever after–except Shylock. For the whole play Click on this... http://shakespeare.mit.edu/merchant/full.html Easy summary of The Merchant of Venice As the play opens, we meet Antonio, a Venetian merchant. Antonio agrees to give his best friend Bassanio the money he needs to travel to Belmont, where Bassanio hopes to woo and marry the clever and beautiful Portia. Antonio has no cash, so he goes to Shylock, a Jewish moneylender. Antonio accepts a bargain from Shylock in exchange for the money: Shylock will charge no interest, but if he is not paid back on time, Antonio will forfeit, literally, "a pound of flesh."
 * <span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold"> The quality of mercy is not strain'd,
 * Take then thy bond, take thou thy pound of flesh;

In Belmont, Portia meets a series of suitors. Her father's will stipulates that she must marry any man who chooses correctly from among three "caskets" (gold, silver, and lead cases), finding the one containing her portrait. The Prince of Morocco and the Prince of Aragon both fail. Bassanio wisely chooses the lead casket. But just as the couple are united, news arrives that Antonio's ships have been lost at sea; he will not be able to repay Shylock on time. Meanwhile, Shylock, devastated and angry that his daughter Jessica has run off to marry Lorenzo, a Christian friend of Antonio and Bassanio, demands his due: a pound of Antonio's flesh. Portia offers to repay the loan three times over but is refused. Portia and her maid Nerissa devise a plan to help save Antonio and travel to Venice disguised as men.

Shylock's case against Antonio is brought to trial, presided over by the Duke of Venice. The Duke and Bassanio urge Shylock to accept repayment of the loan and release Antonio from the grim penalty. Shylock refuses, demanding "justice." A young legal expert, Balthazar (Portia in disguise), arrives with his "clerk" (Nerissa) to help settle the matter. She confirms that Shylock is entitled to "a pound of flesh," but pleads with Shylock to place "mercy" above "justice" and spare Antonio. When he still refuses, Portia reminds Shylock that, according to the law, if he sheds any of Antonio's blood while taking his flesh he will be arrested. Shylock relents and agrees to accept repayment of the loan, but Portia now argues that he should not only be denied his money but that he faces a penalty of death for plotting to take the life of a Christian. Sparing Shylock's life, the court takes half his wealth and requires him to convert to Christianity.

Portia, still disguised, demands that Bassanio thank her by giving her his ring, a gift from Portia that he had promised never to remove. Bassanio hands over the ring. His friend Gratiano gives up Nerissa's ring. Back in Belmont, Portia and Nerissa accuse their men of having given their rings to other women. Portia finally reveals the truth. She and Bassanio are reunited just as news arrives that Antonio's ships have been saved. Draw a picture (or download them) of the two main settings, Venice and Belmont. Indicate the key events on each picture, using a different colour for each plot.
 * The caskets
 * The pound of flesh
 * The rings

The big test of whether you now understand Shakespeare's language comes now - What was Shylock saying about the difference between a Christian and a Jew in this speech?

<span style="COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">SALANIO <span style="COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">Why I am sure, if he forfeit thou wilt not take his flesh: what's that good for? <span style="COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"> <span style="COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"> <span style="COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">SHYLOCK To bait fish withall; If it will feed nothing else, <span style="COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">it will feed my revenge. <span style="COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">He hath disgraced me, and <span style="COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"> <span style="COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">hindered me half a million; <span style="COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">laughed at my losses, <span style="COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">scorned my nation, <span style="COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">thwarted my <span style="COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"> bargains, <span style="COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">cooled my friends, <span style="COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">heated mine <span style="COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"> enemies; <span style="COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">and what's his reason? <span style="COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">I am a Jew. <span style="COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">Hath <span style="COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"> not a Jew eyes? <span style="COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">hath not a Jew hands, organs, <span style="COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"> <span style="COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">dimensions, senses, affections, passions? <span style="COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">fed with <span style="COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"> the same food, <span style="COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">hurt with the same weapons, <span style="COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">subject <span style="COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"> to the same diseases, <span style="COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">healed by the same means, <span style="COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"> <span style="COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">warmed and cooled by the same winter and summer, as <span style="COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"> a Christian is? <span style="COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">If you prick us, do we not bleed? <span style="COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"> <span style="COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"> if you tickle us, do we not laugh? <span style="COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"> if you poison <span style="COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"> us, do we not die? <span style="COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">and if you wrong us, shall we not <span style="COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"> revenge? <span style="COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">If we are like you in the rest, <span style="COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">we will <span style="COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"> resemble you in that. <span style="COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"> If a Jew wrong a Christian, <span style="COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"> <span style="COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">what is his humility? <span style="COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">Revenge. <span style="COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"> If a Christian <span style="COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"> wrong a Jew, <span style="COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">what should his sufferance be by <span style="COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"> Christian example? <span style="COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">Why, revenge. <span style="COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">The villany you <span style="COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"> teach me, <span style="COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"> I will execute, and it shall go hard <span style="COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"> but I <span style="COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"> will better the instruction. <span style="COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">