Overview
The Merchant of Venice is one of the most successful plays written by the 'Bard of Avon' William Shakespeare.
This famous play is a romantic comedy, mainly focusing on the love journey of three young men and the hilarious happenings that they face.
William Shakespeare
Also called the 'Bard of Avon', William Shakespeare was a true artist of words. He used words to paint his ideas and imagination brilliantly with unparalleled wisdom.
The Merchant of Venice is indeed one of Shakespeare's most finest play's that he has ever written, ranking just under more extraordinary work of arts such as Macbeth, Romeo and Juliet, The Tempest, etc.
(To read more about Shakespeare, click here )
Plot
The play begins by introducing the readers to one of the protagonists, Antonio. He is rich businessman and has multiple business ventures abroad. However, he is in a "melancholy" (sad) mood and he is himself unaware of it's origin. He is in a street in Venice, with is friends Salarino and Salerio, both of whom gives irrational reasons to Antonio's melancholy. Soon enough Antonio is joined by his best friend Bassanio and his apostle Gratiano who, as per Bassanio, "speaks an infinite deal of nothing". Bassanio informs Antonio that he is in dire need of money to "woo Portia", a rich lady complete with the wealth she inherits from her dead father.
Here, in Belmont, Portia too loves Bassanio but is bind by the will of her dead father as per whose wish, only that person could marry Portia who would be able to get Portia's portrait from three caskets of Gold, Silver and Lead respectively. Nerissa is Portia's lady-in-waiting.
Soon, the readers are introduced to Jessica, yet another beautiful lady of a Jewish moneylender Shylock. Jessica is a true lover of Lorenzo, anther friend of Antonio and Bassanio. There in Venice, Antonio tells Bassanio that he would be unable to provide him money as all of his with has been spend in his business ventures at sea, however he promises him (Bassanio) that he would do anything to get him money. The two friends finally resort to Shylock for loan, who is the worst enemy of Antonio.
Shylock is very angry upon Antonio and cradles deep hated for him. Antonio had earlier "spat" on Shylock and called him a "cut-throat dog". When asked for the loan, Shylock accepts to give it readily upon a bond that Antonio had to sign. According to the terms of the bond, if Antonio would be unable to pay the three thousand ducats in three months then shylock would be entitled to cut a pound of flesh from any body part of Antonio's body that pleases Shylock. To help his friend Antonio accepts the deadly bond despite Bassanio refusing the inhuman conditions of the bond.
Bassanio succeeds in wooing Portia and gets married to her. Gratiano too declares that he too is willing to marry Nerissa, as they had vowed that if their master and misses gets marries then they too would marry each other. Lorenzo and Jessica, the two young lovers arrive soon to Belmont in Portia's house. However, despite all the successive happy events, all three couples receives the depressing news that Antonio has forfeited the bond and is now in the clutches of Shylock waiting to be tortured to his death by his worst enemy.
Antonio had sent a letter to Bassanio in which he wished to meet Bassanio, his dearest friend. It was now that Bassanio revealed to Portia who had helped him financially, who then compels him and Gratiano to leave for Venice. Portia devices a plan that she and Nerissa would go to Venice in the guise of a lawyer and clerk respectively. They soon leave for Padua, where she would get a letter from her cousin Dr. Bellario who is also a lawyer which she would later use to enter the court of law, in Venice.
On the other hand in Venice, Bassanio and Gratiano quarrels with the stubborn Shylock, requesting him much to accept the six thousand ducats. However, Shylock was stubborn enough to insist on taking the one pound of Antonio's flesh than accepting the money offered. Shylock said that he had sworn by his "Holy Sabbath" to follow the terms of the bond. Shylock says that, "If every ducat were in six parts and every part a ducat, I would no draw them, I would have my bond".
Soon, Nerissa arrives in the guise of a clerk and hands over a letter from Dr. Bellario to the Duke, who is also the judge. The letter confirmed that Dr. Bellario could not come himself due to some illness but is instead sending one of his most trusted, young lawyer to handle the case. That young lawyer is Portia, disguised as a learned doctor of law.
Portia initially attempts to convince Shylock to accept the money instead of the "malice" that he was playing. It is in reply to Shylock's response that Portia gives her famous speech on 'Quality of Mercy'.
" Quality of mercy is not strain'd,
It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven
Upon the place beneath: it is twice blessed;
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;
Bu mercy is above this sceptred sway;
It is enthroned in the hearts of kings,
It is an attribute to God himself;
And earthly power doth show likest God's
When mercy seasons justice. Therefore, Jew,
Though justice be thy plea, consider this,
That in the course of justice, none of us
Should see salvation: we do pray for mercy;
And that same prayer doth teach us all to render
The deeds of mercy. I have spoke thus much
To mitigate the justice of thy plea;
Which if thou follow, this strict cour of Venice
Must needs give sentence 'gainst the merchant there
Despite the long speech that Portia gave, she failed to convince Shylock. The she demanded that the letter of the bond be shown to her. By examining the bond she permits Shylock to proceed accordingly. However, just before Shylock could cut Antonio's flesh, Portia stops him. She says that as per the bond there is no mention of any bloodshed and hence although Shylock is allowed to have the one pound of flesh, he however is forbidden to shed a single drop of "Christian blood" in the process. Clever enough, Shylock soon understands that the table has been turned against him as it is practically impossible to extract flesh without sheding blood in the process.
He then demands that the money be given to him and he shall leave. However, now Portia has another catch. She says,
" Tarry, Jew:
The law has another hold on you.
It is enacted in the laws of Venice,
If it be prove against an alien
That by direct or indirect attempts
He seek the life of any citizen,
The party 'gainst which he doth contrive
Shall seize one half his goods; the other half
Comes to the privy coffer of the State;
And the offender's life lies in the mercy
Of the Duke only, 'gainst all other voice.
Shylock having lost everything now begs for mercy to the Duke. The Duke forgives the moeity the Shylock would owe to the State however he must pay the moeity he owes to Shylock. Antonio says that he prefers that the moeity that he shall have from Shylock better be given to Jessica and Lorenzo. As the court session ends, Bassanio pleads the lawyer and his clerk to take something as gifts, unaware of the fact that they are Portia and Nerissa. Portia demands Bassanio's ring that she herself had given to him during their marriage and asked him not to part with it. Initially reluctant to give away the ring, Bassanio ultimately gives the ring on Antonio's request. Nerissa too manages to get the marriage ring from her husband Gratiano.
Act 5, Scene 1 is the last scene of the play. It is in this scene that the three lovers reunite and Portia too reveals the secret that the lawyer and clerk that saved Antonio's life were none but she and Nerissa respectively. Portia also gives the good news to Antonio that none of his ships had actually sunk but all has returned to the port safely. The play ends on a happy note as all laugh and joke.
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