The Merchant of Venice Plot
ACT I Act I Synopsis 1. Antonio Antonio is is extremel extremely y sad, sad, and he never never tells tells us why. why. 2. Antonio's Antonio's friend, friend, Bassani Bassanio, o, asks him him if he can borrow borrow some some money money in order order to finance finance his courtship with the beautiful and wealthy Portia of Belmont. Antonio's funds are tied up with his ships (argosies), so he offers to borrow the money for Bassanio. 3. Bassanio Bassanio reveals reveals that that he has unwisely unwisely wasted wasted his his fortune, fortune, but but plans to to retrieve retrieve it by winning Portia's heart and marrying her. 4. Portia Portia has been been courted courted by many wealt wealthy hy suitors, suitors, none none of whom she she cares for. for. Her father father has made it clear in his will that anyone interested in marrying Portia must pass a test. Three caskets (boxes) exist—made of gold, silver, and lead, one of which contains Portia's picture. If a suitor selects the correct casket, he may marry Portia. No one has chosen correctly so far! She would prefer young Bassanio of Venice, who once visited Belmont. 5. Shylock Shylock agrees agrees to lend lend the money money to Antonio; Antonio; however, however, ifif the 3000 ducats ducats are are not returned within three months, then Shylock has the legal right to extract "a pound of flesh" from Antonio's body. 6. Antonio Antonio agrees agrees to Shylock's Shylock's terms terms because because his ships are are to return within within two two months, months, and he has three months to repay Shylock. Bassanio is concerned about the "deal," as he does not want his friend to be harmed on his behalf.
Act II Synopsis 1. The prince prince of Morocco Morocco arrives arrives at Portia's Portia's home home to try for her hand. hand. Portia Portia tells him him that he must swear never to seek another woman for a wife if he chooses the incorrect casket. The prince expresses willingness to accept these terms. 2. Lancelot Lancelot Gobbo, Gobbo, a servant servant of Shylock, Shylock, decide decides s that he must must have a new new employer; employer; Shylock is too unkind. Lancelot's father appears looking for him, and he teases his father before revealing his true identity to the blind old man. 3. Bassanio Bassanio arrives; arrives; Lancel Lancelot ot asks if he he can work work for him. him. Bassanio Bassanio agrees agrees to employ employ him. him. 4. Gratiano Gratiano begs begs Bassanio Bassanio to take take him to Belmon Belmont. t. Bassanio Bassanio agrees agrees on the the condition condition that that Gratiano behave properly; he is known for his inappropriate behavior. 5. Lancelot Lancelot brings a letter letter from Jessic Jessica, a, Shylock's Shylock's daughter daughter,, to Lorenzo, Lorenzo, informing informing him of her plans to elope with Lorenzo that night disguised as a boy. 6. Lancelot Lancelot invites invites Shylock Shylock to Bassanio's Bassanio's for a dinner dinner party. party. Shylock Shylock has some misgivi misgivings ngs about attending, but he decides to go. He warns Jessica to guard the house well, especially his golden ducats. Lancelot is able to convey a message to Jessica that Lorenzo has received her letter, and that she can expect to elope with him that night. 7. The Prince Prince of Morocco Morocco chooses chooses the the golden golden casket, casket, which which contains contains a scroll scroll warning warning of the the folly of being attracted by appearances. He makes a sad departure, to Portia's relief. 8. Salerio Salerio and Salanio Salanio discuss discuss current current gossip: gossip: Shylock's Shylock's anger anger toward toward Jessica's Jessica's elopement elopement with a Christian, and the fact that she stole all of her father's ducats; also the rumor that one of Antonio's ships is lost.
Act III Synopsis
1. Salanio Salanio and Salarino Salarino act act as narrators; narrators; they they suggest suggest that Antonio's Antonio's sea sea ventures ventures have failed. One of his ships lies "wrecked on the narrow seas." 2. Shylock Shylock appears, appears, still still upset upset about about the loss of of Jessica, Jessica, yet relish relishing ing in the the news of Antonio's bad luck. He reveals that he intends to demand that Antonio pay the debt for his loan, if he cannot meet the deadline. Tubal, a friend of Shylock's, enters with the news that Antonio has lost another ship and is likely to be ruined. Shylock plans immediate legal action to be sure of the bond. 3. Portia Portia shows shows her partiality partiality for for Bassanio. Bassanio. She She urges him to delay delay his selection selection of the the casket in case he may wrongly choose. To Portia's delight, he chooses the lead casket. 4. Gratiano Gratiano and and Nerissa Nerissa make a happy happy announcem announcement. ent. Jessica Jessica,, Lorenzo, Lorenzo, and Salino Salino interrupt the happy moment with a letter from Antonio, telling of his ill fortune and hoping to see Bassanio before he has to pa y his debt. Portia offers to pay the debt several times over and urges Bassanio to go to Antonio as soon as their marriage has been performed. 5. Antonio Antonio and his his jailer jailer try try to soften soften Shylock, Shylock, but he is is unmoving. unmoving. 6. Portia Portia leaves leaves her estate estate in the the hands of Lorenzo Lorenzo and and Jessica Jessica while while she and Neris Nerissa sa supposedly retire to a nunnery to pray. However, she sends a message to her cousin, Dr. Bellario of Padua, and reveals to Nerissa that in male disguise they will see their husbands in Venice. 7. Jessica Jessica and Lorenzo Lorenzo discuss discuss how thril thrilled led they are are for Portia Portia and and Bassanio. Bassanio.
Act IV Synopsis 1. The Duke Duke of Venice Venice appeals appeals to Shylock Shylock to to relent at at the last last minute minute and show mercy mercy to Antonio. His speech is full of words designed to touch Shylock's better nature: mercy, remorse, gentleness, love, forgiveness, pity, commiseration, tender courtesy. 2. Shylock Shylock rejects rejects it utterly. utterly. First First,, he declares declares simply simply that he will will have his bond. bond. He is arrogant and aloof. He tells the court that it is his hatred and loathing for Antonio which motivates him. Thus, Shylock presents himself in court as a grim and hateful figure. 3. Antonio Antonio is a passive passive character. character. He accepts accepts what what has befallen befallen him. He tells tells Bassanio Bassanio that that it is useless to plead with Shylock any further. Shylock refuses Bassanio's offers in court of twice and even ten times the amount of the bond. Vengeance is what he is after now; money is secondary. 4. Portia Portia and Nerissa Nerissa appear appear in the the courtroom courtroom dressed dressed as men. men. Portia Portia acts on behalf behalf of of Antonio. She appeals to Shylock, informing him that he could be given three, even ten times as much as Antonio owes him, but he refuses. After he refuses, Portia declares that Antonio must go under the knife. Then, just as Shylock is about to claim his due, Portia springs her trap. She plays upon Shylock's insistence on the letter of the law. Shylock is, she declares, entitled to exactly one pound of flesh, not a fraction of an ounce more nor less, and not a drop of blood. If he exceeds the exact terms of the bond, his life and goods are forfeited to the state. Portia has completely disarmed the moneylender. Antonio is spared. 5. To end Act Act IV with with the focus focus on Shylock Shylock's 's defeat defeat would risk risk generati generating ng too much much sympathy for him. Shakespeare instead diverts the audience's attention to the ring plot which will be developed in the final act. Thus, Portia's asking for Bassanio's ring as payment is the dramatist's means of making the transition from the pain and gloom of the trial to the lightness and romance of Act V. It is clear Shakespeare wanted to reestablish the play as a romantic comedy.
Act V Synopsis 1. In a moonlit moonlit landscape landscape,, Jessica Jessica and Lorenzo Lorenzo speak speak of love, love, music, music, and harmony. harmony. All All of the lovers are reunited in Act V.
2. Bassanio Bassanio and Portia Portia declare declare their their love against against a musical musical background. background. Music Music is an ideal ideal symbol of the harmony with which the play ends. 3. The audience audience is is aware that that Portia Portia and and Nerissa Nerissa have been been given the the rings rings that their their husbands promised never to give away. The men do not realize that Portia and Nerissa are the same Dr. Bellario and his court assistant. 4. Antonio Antonio arrives arrives from Venice Venice to Belmont. Belmont. Porti Portia a informs informs Bassanio Bassanio and Gratiano Gratiano concerning the roles that she and Nerissa played in the trial. She welcomes Antonio and gives him the news that his ships safely come to port after all. The play ends in reconciliation and merriment.
