The Merchant of Venice - Summary

The Merchant of Venice

Plot Overview

SUMMARY PLOT OVERVIEW

 

·      Antonio, who is a Venetian merchant, complains to his friends of a melancholy which he can’t understand. He is unaware as to why he is sad.

 

·      Bassanio, one of the best friends of Antonio is desperately in need of money.

 

·      We come to know that he is a spendthrift who has squandered all his money.

 

·      Antonio always helps him.

 

·      This time Bassanio demands money from Antonio so that he can court Portia, who is a wealthy heiress of Belmont.

 

·      Bassanio asks Antonio for a loan in order to travel in style to Portia’s estate.

 

·      Antonio agrees, however he informs Bassanio that he wouldn’t be able to meet his demands this time as he has invested all his money in the trade and not even a single ship of his is back from sea.

 

·      Antonio takes Bassanio to one of the city’s moneylenders i.e. Shylock for this loan.

 

·      Antonio says that he will act as the loan’s guarantor.

 

·        In Belmont, Portia expresses sadness over the terms set by her father for her marriage.

 

·      The terms stipulate that she must marry the man who chooses the correct casket out of the three caskets – Gold, silver & lead.

 

·      The system is such that there are three caskets – one of gold, other of silver and another one of lead; one of these contain Portia’s portrait, the one who would choose the right casket would win Portia.

 

·      Portia’s current suitors are not at all liked by her on account of many reasons.

 

·      Portia and her lady-in-waiting, Nerissa, fondly remember a visit paid some time before by Bassanio.

 

 

·      We also come to know that Antonio and Shylock dislike each other.

 

·      Shylock is a Jewish moneylender who takes exorbitant interest; that is why Antonio dislikes him.

 

·      Shylock despises Antonio and wishes to belittle him.

 

·      When Antonio and Bassanio reach Shylock for taking loan, he offers them the loan of three thousand ducats.

 

·      Very thriftily he convinces, Antonio and Bassanio to the term that in case of forfeiture, a pound of flesh of Antonio would be taken.

 

·      He says that he has to write something in the bond that is why he’s written this; however what would he do with his flesh.

 

·      Bassanio having taken the loan sets for Belmont.

 

·      Shylock’s servant Launcelot decides to leave Shylock’s service to work for Bassanio, as Shylock treats him very poorly.

 

·      Jessica – Shylock’s daughter has fallen in love with Lorenzo, who is Antonio’s friend.

 

·      She schemes to elope with him.

 

·      When the streets of Venice fill up with revelers, Jessica escapes with Lorenzo by dressing as his page.

 

·      In Belmont, Portia welcomes the prince of Morocco, who studies the inscriptions on the three caskets and chooses the gold one, which proves to be an incorrect choice.

 

·      In Venice, Shylock is furious to know that his daughter has eloped.

 

·       But, he is happy to hear the rumor that Antonio’s ships have been wrecked and that he will soon be able to claim his debt.

 

·      In Belmont, the prince of Arragon also visits Portia, but he picks the silver one, and fails.

 

·       Bassanio arrives at Portia’s estate, and they declare their love for one another. Despite Portia’s request that he should wait before choosing, Bassanio immediately picks the correct casket, which is made of lead.

 

·      He and Portia rejoice, and Gratiano confesses that he has fallen in love with Nerissa.

 

·       The couples decide on a double wedding.

 

·       Portia gives Bassanio a ring as a token of love, and makes him swear that under no circumstances will he part with it.

 

·      They are joined, unexpectedly, by Lorenzo and Jessica.

 

·      The celebration, however, is hindered by the news that Antonio has lost his ships.

 

·      As he has forfeited his bond to Shylock, so Shylock has claimed a pound of flesh as per the bond.

 

·      Bassanio and Gratiano immediately set for Venice to try and save Antonio’s life.

 

·      After they leave, Portia tells Nerissa that they too should go to Venice to save the life of the noble lord Antonio.

 

·      They go to Venice disguised as men, Portia as a lawyer and Nerrisa as her clerk.

 

·       Shylock, though requested time and again, declines all pleas to spare Antonio’s life, and a trial is called to decide the matter.

 

·      The duke of Venice, who presides over the trial, announces that he has sent for a legal expert, and it’s none other than Portia.

 

·       Portia asks Shylock to show mercy, but he remains inflexible and insists on taking a pound of flesh.

 

·      Though, Bassanio offers Shylock twice the money, but Shylock declines and insists on collecting the bond as it is written.

 

·      Then, Portia examines the contract and, finding it legally binding, declares that Shylock can take the merchant’s flesh, as written in the bond.

 

·       Shylock is overjoyed and he praises her wisdom.

 

·      But, his happiness shatters when; Portia reminds him that he must do so without causing Antonio to bleed, as the contract does not entitle him to any blood spill.

 

·       Now, Shylock having being trapped by Portia’s wit hastily agrees to take Bassanio’s money instead.

 

·      But, Portia insists that Shylock is entitled to take his bond as written or nothing at all.

 

·      Portia declares that Shylock is guilty of conspiring against the life of a Venetian citizen, and as compensation he must turn over half of his property to the state and the other half to Antonio.

 

·      The duke spares Shylock’s life and takes a fine instead of Shylock’s property.

 

·      Antonio also forgoes his half of Shylock’s wealth on two conditions: first, Shylock must convert to Christianity, and second, he must make a will declaring Lorenzo & Jessica as his inheritors upon his death. Shylock agrees and takes his leave.

 

·      Bassanio praises the lawyer his clerk and wishes to present them something as a token of gratitude.

 

·      Portia & Nerrisa disguised as a lawyer and clerk, very thriftily ask for the ring; which Bassanio and Gratiano promised to their beloveds never to part with.

 

·       Both of them – Portia and Nerrisa return to Belmont and are overjoyed to see Jessica and Lorenzo confessing love for each other.

 

·      Bassanio and Gratiano who arrive the next day, are accused by their wives faithlessly giving their rings to other women.

 

·      After teasing them for some time, Portia reveals the reality.

 

·      Lorenzo and Jessica are happy to learn of their inheritance from Shylock.

 

·      Then, arrives a joyful news that Antonio’s ships have in fact made it back safely.

 

·      On a happy note the drama concludes.