The Merchant of Venice - Play Summary
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- Опубліковано 15 кві 2021
- Visit us at www.gradesaver.com/merchant-o... to read the full video transcript and our study guide for this classic play, which includes a full list of characters, themes, and much more.
The Merchant of Venice, by Shakespeare, opens with Antonio, a Christian merchant, in a depressed state. His friends try to cheer him up, suggesting that perhaps he’s worried about his ships at sea. Then, Antonio’s dear friend Bassanio, an aristocrat who has lost all of his money, comes to ask Antonio for a monetary loan, so that he, Bassanio, can travel to Belmont to woo a wealthy heiress named Portia.
Antonio and Bassanio clearly have a deep and loving friendship. While Antonio cannot give Bassanio the money directly, he offers to use his good credit to get a loan for his friend. Bassanio finds Shylock, a Jewish moneylender, and convinces him to give a loan of three thousand ducats. In a rather unusual twist, Shylock agrees not to charge the Christian men interest, but instead makes a strange proposal: If Antonio cannot pay back the money, Antonio will give Shylock a pound of his own flesh. Antonio accepts the terms of the contract, or “bond.”
Meanwhile, in Belmont, Portia is melancholy. Her father, now dead, decreed that all of Portia’s suitors must partake in a test. The suitors are presented with three caskets: one of gold, one of silver, and one of lead. One contains a portrait of Portia within it; the suitor to choose this casket will have permission to marry her. First, the Prince of Morocco comes to woo Portia and picks the gold casket; inside he finds a skull, symbolizing the way gold hides corruption. The next suitor, the Prince of Aragon, selects the silver casket which bears an inscription stating that it will “give a man what he deserves.” Inside is a picture of an idiot.
Back in Venice, Shylock’s daughter, Jessica has made a plan to run away with a Christian man, Lorenzo. They plan to escape one night when Shylock will be out. Shylock instructs Jessica to lock the house well as there will be masquers and music in the street that night. Once he leaves, Lorenzo arrives with two friends, standing below Jessica’s upstairs window. She appears dressed as a boy, tosses a chest of ducats down to them, and then runs away with them.
When Shylock discovers that his daughter has run away with his ducats, his devastation overwhelms him. Meanwhile, there are rumors that many of Antonio's ships have sunk or been lost at sea. Shylock begins to revel in the idea that he will exact his pound of flesh from Antonio, in revenge for the many insults Antonio has dealt him throughout the years.
Meanwhile, Bassanio has arrived in Belmont with his friend Graziano. Portia remembers Bassanio as the dashing soldier with whom she fell in love several years earlier. Bassanio selects the lead casket and finds Portia’s picture inside. After Portia gives him a ring to seal their engagement, Graziano informs them that he and Portia’s maid, Nerissa, wish to be married as well.
Bassanio receives a letter from Antonio stating he cannot repay Shylock and must forfeit a pound of flesh. Portia tells Bassanio to take six thousand ducats-twice the original amount owed-and return to Venice where he can pay Shylock and cancel the contract. After Bassanio and Graziano have left, unbeknownst to them, Nerissa and Portia depart for Venice disguised as men. Jessica and Lorenzo will watch over Belmont while they are gone.
Back in Venice, in a court of justice, the Duke pleads with Shylock to forgive the contract and let Antonio go free. Shylock refuses, even when Bassanio offers the higher payment. The court then waits for a doctor of the law to arrive. Nerissa enters the court and hands the Duke a letter stating a Doctor Bellario has sent an educated young doctor in his place.
Portia enters disguised as the young Doctor “Balthasar.” Portia tries to persuade Shylock to spare Antonio’s life through an appeal to “mercy.” When Shylock won’t budge, Portia grants him his pound of flesh. Shylock holds a knife ready to cut into Antonio's breast.
Suddenly Portia stops him. He may have his pound of flesh, she says, but not a single drop of blood, and the flesh must weigh exactly one pound-no more and no less, or Venice can confiscate his lands and goods. Shylock, clearly unable to comply, backs down, saying he will accept three times the original amount owed to him.
But Portia refuses and presses on. In demanding Antonio’s flesh, Shylock was prepared to take his life. If any foreigner conspires against the life of a Venetian, half his wealth is to be given to the man against whom he conspired, half is taken by the state, and the Duke can have the conspirer put to death. At this point, the Duke pardons Shylock’s life and Antonio tells the court he will forgive the fine of half of Shylock's wealth provided Shylock converts to Christianity.
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True
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Thanks so much for this video because i didn't understand about The Merchant of Venice story when i have exam tmr but now i did understand the story so i don't have to worry anymore.
Watching this the day before junior cert
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One of my favorites in my high school literature class.
Tooo many characters my brain aint braining
Wait till you watch one piece lol
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Anyone else here just before the mocks
Yup
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@@zimal.editsswtf literally the exact same my exam is on sunday
Yup
Here before the JC
Thank you for this video!
This is for english test. this helped me a lot thanks
Thanks for making the illustration easy, it's easier to make a drawing of it
Antonnio and the Shylock, the moral lessons of our lifetime
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"deep and loving friendship"
Brilliant summary i find the story very profound and its complexing plot twist at the end really just shakes my dabloons thanks so much for this summary it really helped alot.
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Last minute review, this helped, thx
Thank you :)
SO CLEAR NOW, THANK YOU SUBSCRIBED!
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I wanted to check out Dan's illustrations, they look fantastic!
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This vedio made it easier to better understand the story
THANKS ALOT ❤
thanks
"Merchant of Venice " -A sick thinking of Williams Shakespeare.
No people on that time were clear about, how to handle cunning foxes, even if they discuss themselves as lion cubs.
thanks!!!
thank you for this explain
Explanation *
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how did it go
he blew it@@khakishark
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I only wrote the summary which have this much explaination bcoz of this i got A+ in exam thanku❤
We love to hear it!
Thank
The only Shakespeare play in which the protagonist is the most uninteresting character
The only character I cared about was Shylock. Everyone else is a total scumbag tbh lol
Thank you so much i have a exam tomm …🤞
thank youuu
Shakespeare’s way to scream Jews will not replace us.
He was living in England, same time when jews were already thrown out of England by Tudor monarchs. If some one talking about cancer cells, it doesn't mean he also have it in his body.
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Thank you sir,
just got casted as portia i need to learn this asap
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Wednesday 1st February i have my boards and now i am watching it..
Please make me wish in the exam after 10 minutes 😢
THis is so interesting!
thank u thank u thank u thank u thank u
People nowadays be like: "How you get fooled into a contract for a pound of your flesh, dumbass?! Unrelated, have you ever thought of becoming your own boss by selling supplements?" 😅❤
Any elps students here before the exams?
History of moral uprightness and the opposite side of the play
Really it's good
Shylock has been undone completely 😂
Bro, change your name to life saver
💀
poor shylock
Now cover Huckleberry Finn / The Absolutely True Diary of a Part Time Indian / Comedy of Errors / The Hobbit / 12th Night
I know the narrator!
Good
Our English teacher showed us this vid
Shakespeare knew it
"it wasn't Abdool*
Peace
This is a funny story. I wish it was a Guy Ritchie movie
Now do The Merchant of Venice 2.
That's where a recently converted Shylock subverts the Catholic Church.
Obviously all of those who commented before actually read the play for themselves...😁
Play of the 14th century
4:50 Portia said zoom
My teacher told me to watch this and my name is also poshya😍
(Our names are different)
Before exam.... just for glance
Here for an assignment
Who are the caracters of the play please
Antonio- a money lender
Bassanio- best friend of Antonio/marries Portia
Shylock- Jewish money lender/ hates Antonio
Portia- wealthy heiress/ marries Bassanio
Jessica- Shylock daughter/ married Lorenzo
Lorenzo- Christian man/marries Jessica
Gratiano- Friend of Bassanio/ marries Nerissa
Nerissa- marries Gratiano/ Portia’s maid
Lads studding for the Jc tmrw 😂
2:08 Honestly, the prince of aragon should’ve married proshe, them pictures identical
If I pass the junior cert I’ll subscribe
I have an English exam in 17 mins 😭
How'd it go
Yeah im failing
This is home work
Like If you are Icse class X students. 😄
Be your brother's and sisters Keeper especially the most marginalized and vulnerable groups of the World
Im done bruh
Take a 💀 with you bro but I frickin ❤ u
The love of money is the roots of all evils of the World
I love happy ending