Merchant of Venice
Setting: Venice and Belmont
Main Characters Duke of Venice Princes of Morocco and Arragon, and others—Portia’s suitors Antonio—Venetian merchant Bassanio, Solanio, Solario, and Gratiano—Antonio’s friends Lorenzo—Jessica’s lover Shylock—moneylender Tubal—Shylock’s friend Launcelot Gobbo—Shylock’s servant Old Gobbo—Launcelot’s father Leonardo—Bassanio’s servant Balthazar and Stephano—Portia’s servants Portia—a wealthy heiress Nerissa—Portia’s maid Jessica—Shylock’s daughter
A (Very) Brief Plot Summary
Act I, Scene I: Antonio is concerned about his ship, but he offers Bassanio the credit he needs to go to Belmont and court Portia. Scene II: To marry Portia, a man must choose the one box in three that contains her picture. She has six suitors, but they all go home without choosing a box. Scene III: Bassanio asks Shylock to lend him 3000 ducats for three months. The penalty for late payment will be one pound of flesh from whatever part of Antonio’s anatomy Shylock chooses.
Act II, Scene I: The Moroccan Prince is ready to choose a box, even though the penalty for a wrong guess is swearing to never marry. Scene II: Bassanio hires Launcelot and agrees to take Gratiano along to Belmont. Scene III: Jessica gives Launcelot a letter to deliver to Lorenzo. Scene IV: Jessica plans to run away with Lorenzo. Scene V: Shylock leaves his house in Jessica’s care. Jessica disguises herself as a boy and meets Lorenzo. Antonio announces that they will sail that night. Scene VI: The Moroccan Prince chooses the gold casket, incorrectly, and sails away. Scene VII: Shylock discovers that his daughter and his ducats are missing. One of Antonio’s ships has run aground. Scene VIII: The Prince of Arragon incorrectly chooses the silver casket. Bassanio arrives at Belmont.
Act III, Scene I: Two more of Antonio’s ships sink. Shylock plans to take his pound of flesh. Tubal has not found Jessica. Scene II: Portia is in love with Bassanio. He correctly chooses the lead casket. Gratiano and Nerissa are also in love. Lorenzo and Jessica arrive with Solanio, who announces that all of Antonio’s ships are lost. Portia gives Bassanio the money to pay Shylock. Scene III: Shylock will not release Antonio from his debt. Scene IV: Portia leaves her estate in the hands of Lorenzo, saying that she will go to a monastery until Bassanio returns. Scene V: Launcelot teases Jessica and Lorenzo.
Act IV, Scene I: Shylock refuses to accept Bassanio’s money. Portia and Nerissa arrive, disguised as a lawyer and his clerk. Shylock still refuses to show mercy, so Portia tells him he may take his pound of flesh, but if he takes any blood he will lose his entire fortune. Shylock forgives Antonio’s debt. Shylock is charged with attempted murder, but Antonio lets him live. Scene II: Portia and Nerissa plot to get their husbands’ rings.
Latest Articles