The Merchant Of Venice

The Merchant Of Venice

A Shakespearean Comedy 1596-1598

Caloro GabrieleGalletto Elyas

The Story of the Merchant of Venice

Act I

Belmont

Venice

At Belmont, Portia and her maid, Nerissa, discuss the suitors who have come in response to Portia's father's strange will. The will says Portia may only marry a man who chooses the correct casket made from three possible options: gold, silver, and lead. Much to Portia's distress, all her suitors are unsatisfactory. However, she does fondly remember a time when Bassanio came to Belmont, and that leaves her with some hope.

Shylock lends money to Bassanio, so he can pursue the wealthy Portia, who lives in Belmont. Instead of charging interest, Shylock asks for a pound of Antonio's flesh if the loan isn't repaid within three months. The bond is agreed to, on the security of Antonio's expected shipments, and Bassanio prepares to leave for Belmont with his friend Graziano.

Act II

In Venice, Shylock's servant switches loyalties and convinces Bassanio to hire him. Meanwhile, Shylock's daughter Jessica plans to elope with Lorenzo, a friend of Antonio, and escape her father's house. With Shylock's ex-servant delivering a letter outlining the plan, Jessica flees with gold and jewels while Shylock is away.

The next day, Bassanio leaves for Belmont as Shylock fumes over the loss of his daughter and wealth. In Belmont, Portia's suitors, the Prince of Morocco and the Prince of Aragon, fail to win her by choosing the wrong caskets. As Aragon departs, Bassanio arrives, and Portia eagerly prepares to meet him.

Who chooseth me shall...

Act III

In Belmont, Bassanio chooses the lead casket and wins Portia's hand, while Graziano and Nerissa also agree to marry. Portia gives Bassanio a ring, making him swear never to part with it. Soon after, Lorenzo and Jessica arrive, but news comes that Antonio is bankrupt, and Shylock has had him arrested. Bassanio and Graziano leave to help Antonio, while Portia and Nerissa decide to follow in disguise as lawyers.

Therefore, then, thou gaudy gold, I will none of thee; Nor none of thee, thou pale and common drudge ’Tween man and man. But thou, thou meagre lead, Which rather threaten’st than dost promise aught, Thy paleness moves me more than eloquence, And here choose I. Joy be the consequence!

Act IV

In the court in Venice, Shylock demands his pound of flesh. The Duke, presiding over the court, seeks legal advice from the lawyer "Balthazar," who is Portia in disguise. Portia pleads for Shylock to have mercy on Antonio. Bassanio offers his wife's money, which would more than pay the debt, but Shylock refuses to accept.

How do you think trial will end?

Discussion

SHYLOCK I pray you, pursue sentence. PORTIA , ⌜as Balthazar⌝ A pound of that same merchant’s flesh is yours: The court awards it, and the law does give it. SHYLOCK Most rightful judge! PORTIA , ⌜as Balthazar⌝ And you must cut this flesh from off his breast: The court awards it, and the law allows it. SHYLOCK Most learnèd judge! A sentence!—Come. PORTIA , ⌜as Balthazar⌝ Tarry a little. There is something else. This bond does give you here no drop of blood. The words expressly are “a pound of flesh.” Take then your bond, take then your pound of flesh, But in the cutting of it, if you do shed One drop of Christian blood, your lands and goods Are by the laws of Venice confiscate.

Antonio's life is saved when Portia, disguised as Balthazar, points out that Shylock's bond allows him to take a pound of flesh but no blood, preventing him from claiming it. Shylock is then forced to forfeit his wealth for plotting against a Venetian.

Antonio declines his share, requesting it be put in trust for Lorenzo and Jessica, and demands Shylock convert to Christianity. Humiliated, Shylock leaves the court. Later, Bassanio and Graziano thank the disguised "lawyers," and, after persuasion from Antonio, give them their rings as payment.

The End Of The Trial

Act V

Portia and Nerissa return to Belmont and playfully scold Bassanio and Graziano for giving away their rings, pretending they were gifts to other women. They soon reveal they were the lawyers in disguise at the trial. Antonio then receives news that his ships have safely returned. The play ends with the three couples—Portia and Bassanio, Nerissa and Graziano, and Lorenzo and Jessica—preparing to celebrate their marriages.

The Characters of The Merchant of Venice

The Venetian Characters

Bassanio

Lorenzo

Gratiano

Antonio

He is a wealthy and melancholic Venetian merchant who is known for his generosity, especially to his close friend Bassanio. Antonio's friendship with Bassanio leads him to take a loan from the Jewish moneylender Shylock, putting himself in a precarious situation. Though he is kind-hearted and self-sacrificing, Antonio can also be harsh, particularly toward Shylock, reflecting the tensions between Christians and Jews in the play. His character embodies themes of loyalty, mercy, and risk.

Bassanio is a central character in The Merchant of Venice, known for his charm and adventurous spirit. He is a close friend of Antonio and seeks his financial help to court the wealthy heiress, Portia. Though Bassanio is noble and well-intentioned, he struggles with money and is willing to take risks for love. His quest to win Portia’s hand shows his romantic nature and desire for a better life, but it also reveals his dependency on Antonio's friendship and generosity. Bassanio represents themes of love, loyalty, and ambition in the play.

Gratiano is a lively and talkative character in The Merchant of Venice. He is a close friend of Bassanio and accompanies him to Belmont when Bassanio goes to court Portia. Known for his wit, humor, and sometimes crude or reckless behavior, Gratiano often speaks impulsively, adding a comic touch to the play. Despite his light-hearted nature, he shows a serious side when he marries Nerissa, Portia’s lady-in-waiting. Gratiano embodies themes of friendship and loyalty, but his tendency to speak without thinking also brings tension, particularly in the trial scene.

Lorenzo is a minor yet significant character in The Merchant of Venice. He is a Christian and a close friend of Antonio and Bassanio. Lorenzo is best known for his romantic relationship with Jessica, the daughter of the Jewish moneylender Shylock. Their elopement is a key subplot in the play, symbolizing love's ability to cross religious and cultural divides, though it also highlights tensions between Jews and Christians. Lorenzo is sincere and loving toward Jessica, and their relationship explores themes of love, loyalty, and religious conflict.

The Jewish Characters

Jessica

Shylock

Shylock is one of the most complex and memorable characters in The Merchant of Venice. He is a Jewish moneylender in Venice, and the play's antagonist. Shylock is often portrayed as both a villain and a victim, driven by a deep resentment toward the Christian society that mistreats him. His infamous demand for a "pound of flesh" as collateral from Antonio highlights his desire for revenge after years of persecution. However, Shylock’s motivations are also shaped by his personal suffering, especially the betrayal by his daughter Jessica. His character explores themes of justice, revenge, prejudice, and mercy.

Jessica is Shylock’s daughter in The Merchant of Venice. She is a pivotal character who defies her father and her Jewish heritage by eloping with Lorenzo, a Christian, and converting to Christianity. Jessica's actions highlight the strained relationship with her father, as she not only leaves him but also steals a portion of his wealth. Her character raises questions about identity, loyalty, and the consequences of breaking away from one’s family and faith. Though she seeks freedom and love, Jessica’s internal conflict and her feelings of guilt add complexity to her role in the play.

The Belmontian Characters

Portia

Nerissa

Portia is one of the most intelligent and resourceful characters in The Merchant of Venice. A wealthy heiress from Belmont, she is bound by her late father's will to marry the man who successfully chooses the correct casket from among three. Portia is not only beautiful and witty but also demonstrates remarkable wisdom and legal skill when she disguises herself as a male lawyer to save Antonio during the trial with Shylock. Her actions reveal her strength, compassion, and cleverness. Portia embodies themes of love, loyalty, and justice, playing a central role in both the romantic and legal plots of the play.

Nerissa is Portia’s loyal lady-in-waiting and close confidante in The Merchant of Venice. She is witty, practical, and serves as a supportive companion to Portia throughout the play. Nerissa mirrors Portia’s romantic journey by marrying Gratiano, Bassanio’s friend, after Portia and Bassanio are united. Like Portia, she disguises herself as a man during the courtroom scene, assisting in the trial that saves Antonio. Nerissa's character adds humor and balance to the play, and she embodies themes of loyalty, friendship, and love.

Relationship Tree

Close Friend

Lovers

Lovers

Lovers

Father

Maid

Friends

Antonio

Bassanio

Gratiano

Lorenzo

Shylock

Jessica

Portia

Nerissa

The Relationship between Antonio and Shylock

(Click on the post for the audio)

In your opinion?

Is this ending right or do you think it should have gone differently?

Themes

Love

Revenge

Prejudice

Wealth

Symbols

The ThreeCaskets

Rings

The PoundOf Flesh

Language and style

RhymingCouplets

IambicPentameter

Antonio: "Come on, in this there can be no dismay, My ships come home a month before the day." (Lines 156-157 Act 1 Scene 3)

Antonio "In sooth I know not why I am so sad" (Line 1 Act 1 Scene 1)

Disguise

MistakenIdentity

HappyEnding

Aside

Soliloquy

Drammatica devices

In Act1 Scene3, (lines 37-57) Shylock’s aside shows that he holds hatred for Antonio, and relishes getting one over him.

• Jessica disguises herself as a boy to runaway with Lorenzo
• Portia and Nerissa disguise themselves as lawyer and clerk to save Antonio

The quality of mercy is not strained (Spoken by Portia, Act 4 Scene1)

Portia and Nerissa are thought to be a lawyer and clerk at court

• Bassanio picks the right caskets and marries rich and beautiful Portia
• Antonio is saved from death, he receives part of Shylock’s wealth

Literaly devices

Hyperbole

Repetition

Metaphor

Personification

Simile

Antonio: "Mark you this, Bassanio, the devil can cite Scripture for his purpose. An evil soul producing holy witness is like a villain with a smiling cheek, A goodly apple rotten at the heart: O, what a goodly outside falsehood hath! (lines 93-98 Act 1 Scene 3)

Prince of Morocco : "Never so rich a gem was set in worse than gold..." (lines 54-55 Act 2 Scene 7)

Salerio: "I think they call the place; a very dangerous flat and fatal, where the carcasses of many a tall ship lie buried, as they say, if my gossip Report be an honest woman of her word. (lines 4-7 Act 3 Scene 1)

Shyloc : "I'll have my bond; I will not hear thee speak: I'll have my bond; and therefore speak no more.I'll not be made a soft and dull-eyed fool,To shake the head, relent, and sigh, and yieldTo Christian intercessors. Follow not;I'll have no speaking: I will have my bond." (lines 12-17 Act 3 Scene 2)

Antonio: "I pray you, think you question with the Jew:You may as well go stand upon the beach,And bid the main flood bate his usual height;You may as well use question with the wolf,Why he hath made the ewe bleat for the lamb;You may as well forbid the mountain pinesTo wag their high tops and to make no noiseWhen they are fretten with the gusts of heaven;You may as well do anything most hard,As seek to soften that—than which what's harder?--His Jewish heart..." (lines 70-80 Act 4 Scene 1)

Setting

Belmont

Venice

Gesta Romanorum

Il Pecorone

Cultural reference

The Theatre1598

Nowdays

Critical reception

1914

Adaptations

2013

2004

Belmont, on the other hand, is a place of romance and festivity that is completely removed from all the ruthlessness of the real world.Another difference beetween Venice and Belmont is that Belmont is governed by women and Venice in governed by men

Venice, in Shakespeare's time, was a city based on commerce and people were very whealty.Despite all of that (there was a very high popolation of Jews, one of the most high in Europe) but they faced persecution and predujice including being barred from engaging most professions.For example when Portia (disguised as the lawyer Balthazar) was able to strips Shylock's money. Shylock says that she is taking away the only things that whereby he lives

Venice