The Merchant of Venice – Summary
(http://www.cliffsnotes.com/WileyCDA/LitNote/The-Merchant-of-Venice.id-76,pageNum-2.html)
Antonio, a leading merchant of Venice, is a wealthy, respected, and popular man. Among his many
friends is a young man named Bassanio, who owes Antonio a good deal of money. Bassanio would like to
repay his friend, but so far he has been unable to do so. However, he now feels that he may have found a
way—but he will again need a loan from Antonio. In Belmont, Bassanio tells Antonio, there lives a
beautiful and young and wealthy heiress. Bassanio feels sure that he can win her hand in marriage, but he
cannot go courting "hands-hanging." If he is to make a good impression, he has to appear at least as well
off as her other wealthy suitors. Antonio tells his young friend that he would gladly lend him whatever
amount of money he needs, but at the present time he himself is short of cash. All of his money is tied up
in his merchant ships, which are still at sea. However, Antonio will not disappoint Bassanio. He knows of
a moneylender who will probably lend him the necessary amount, and Bassanio can use Antonio's good
name as security for the loan.
At Belmont, Portia speaks to Nerissa, her confidante, telling her how tired she is of the constant stream of
suitors, and how she wishes to be free of the perverse obligation of her father's will: Portia cannot choose
her own husband; she can marry only the man who chooses the correct one of three caskets—one gold,
one silver, and one lead; one contains her portrait and that one is the lucky casket. So far, none of her
suitors has decided to risk choosing one of the caskets, which is all for the good, because Portia has no
liking for any of them. However, when Nerissa mentions the name of Bassanio, a possible suitor, Portia's
mood brightens. He was once a visitor at Belmont, and Portia was impressed with him.
Meanwhile in Venice, Shylock, a rich Jewish moneylender who harbors a secret hatred for Antonio, has
agreed to lend Bassanio three thousand ducats for three months, on Antonio's bond. Foregoing his usual
high interest rate, Shylock demands instead that if the day for payment falls due and the money is not
returned, he may cut off one pound of flesh from Antonio's body. Antonio agrees because all of his ships
are due back in Venice a full month before the bond falls due.
A romantic subplot develops when Lorenzo, a close friend of Antonio and Bassanio, falls in love with
Shylock's daughter, Jessica. He manages to elope with her by disguising her as a boy, and she manages to
take with her a goodly amount of her father's ducats. Of course, this infuriates Shylock, and he vows
revenge. Shortly thereafter, Bassanio and Gratiano leave for Belmont, where the "fair Portia" has just sent
away the Prince of Morocco and the Prince of Arragon, two more disappointed, unsuccessful suitors.
When Bassanio asks to choose one of the caskets, Portia falls immediately in love with him, and she begs
him to wait a few days before choosing one of the caskets. He has fallen in love with Portia and insists on
taking his chances. He rejects the gold one, then the silver one; he chooses, finally, the lead casket, and on
opening it, he finds a portrait of Portia. Both he and Portia are overjoyed, and they make plans to be
married at once, along with Nerissa and Gratiano, who have also fallen in love. Happiness reigns in
Belmont until Bassanio is brought a letter from Antonio bidding him farewell since his ships have been
lost at sea and since it is impossible that he will live after Shylock collects his pound of flesh. Horrified,
Bassanio leaves instantly for Venice with money which Portia gives him to pay the bond.
In Venice, Shylock is no longer interested in the mere payment of the money due him. He wants revenge.
A Christian stole his daughter (and she took his money), and nothing will satisfy Shylock except the legal
fulfillment of the bond. In the court of justice, presided over by the Duke of Venice, Shylock faces his
enemy, Antonio. Antonio is surrounded by his friends and is quietly resigned to death. On all sides,
Shylock is surrounded by enemies. Bassanio pleads with Shylockto accept double the money due him, but
Shylock refuses.
1
(http://www.cliffsnotes.com/WileyCDA/LitNote/The-Merchant-of-Venice.id-76,pageNum-2.html)
Antonio, a leading merchant of Venice, is a wealthy, respected, and popular man. Among his many
friends is a young man named Bassanio, who owes Antonio a good deal of money. Bassanio would like to
repay his friend, but so far he has been unable to do so. However, he now feels that he may have found a
way—but he will again need a loan from Antonio. In Belmont, Bassanio tells Antonio, there lives a
beautiful and young and wealthy heiress. Bassanio feels sure that he can win her hand in marriage, but he
cannot go courting "hands-hanging." If he is to make a good impression, he has to appear at least as well
off as her other wealthy suitors. Antonio tells his young friend that he would gladly lend him whatever
amount of money he needs, but at the present time he himself is short of cash. All of his money is tied up
in his merchant ships, which are still at sea. However, Antonio will not disappoint Bassanio. He knows of
a moneylender who will probably lend him the necessary amount, and Bassanio can use Antonio's good
name as security for the loan.
At Belmont, Portia speaks to Nerissa, her confidante, telling her how tired she is of the constant stream of
suitors, and how she wishes to be free of the perverse obligation of her father's will: Portia cannot choose
her own husband; she can marry only the man who chooses the correct one of three caskets—one gold,
one silver, and one lead; one contains her portrait and that one is the lucky casket. So far, none of her
suitors has decided to risk choosing one of the caskets, which is all for the good, because Portia has no
liking for any of them. However, when Nerissa mentions the name of Bassanio, a possible suitor, Portia's
mood brightens. He was once a visitor at Belmont, and Portia was impressed with him.
Meanwhile in Venice, Shylock, a rich Jewish moneylender who harbors a secret hatred for Antonio, has
agreed to lend Bassanio three thousand ducats for three months, on Antonio's bond. Foregoing his usual
high interest rate, Shylock demands instead that if the day for payment falls due and the money is not
returned, he may cut off one pound of flesh from Antonio's body. Antonio agrees because all of his ships
are due back in Venice a full month before the bond falls due.
A romantic subplot develops when Lorenzo, a close friend of Antonio and Bassanio, falls in love with
Shylock's daughter, Jessica. He manages to elope with her by disguising her as a boy, and she manages to
take with her a goodly amount of her father's ducats. Of course, this infuriates Shylock, and he vows
revenge. Shortly thereafter, Bassanio and Gratiano leave for Belmont, where the "fair Portia" has just sent
away the Prince of Morocco and the Prince of Arragon, two more disappointed, unsuccessful suitors.
When Bassanio asks to choose one of the caskets, Portia falls immediately in love with him, and she begs
him to wait a few days before choosing one of the caskets. He has fallen in love with Portia and insists on
taking his chances. He rejects the gold one, then the silver one; he chooses, finally, the lead casket, and on
opening it, he finds a portrait of Portia. Both he and Portia are overjoyed, and they make plans to be
married at once, along with Nerissa and Gratiano, who have also fallen in love. Happiness reigns in
Belmont until Bassanio is brought a letter from Antonio bidding him farewell since his ships have been
lost at sea and since it is impossible that he will live after Shylock collects his pound of flesh. Horrified,
Bassanio leaves instantly for Venice with money which Portia gives him to pay the bond.
In Venice, Shylock is no longer interested in the mere payment of the money due him. He wants revenge.
A Christian stole his daughter (and she took his money), and nothing will satisfy Shylock except the legal
fulfillment of the bond. In the court of justice, presided over by the Duke of Venice, Shylock faces his
enemy, Antonio. Antonio is surrounded by his friends and is quietly resigned to death. On all sides,
Shylock is surrounded by enemies. Bassanio pleads with Shylockto accept double the money due him, but
Shylock refuses.
1
