The Merchant of Venice

The Merchant of Venice is one of the most famous plays by William Shakespeare, written at an uncertain date between 1594 and 1597. It was entered in the Stationers' Register, the method at that time of obtaining copyright for a new play, by James Roberts on July 22, 1598. It was first printed in 1600 and again in a pirated edition in 1619. The play was mentioned by Francis Meres in 1598, so it must have been familiar on the stage by that date. Critics also debate over the resemblance of Shakespeare's play to Christopher Marlowe's "The Jew of Malta."

Story

The title character is the merchant Antonio, not the more famous villain, the Jewish moneylender Shylock. Antonio needs 3000 ducats to lend for three months to his friend Bassanio (about whom more later). As all of Antonio's ships and merchandise are on the water, he is short of cash, and so approaches Shylock for a loan. Although Antonio has in the past refused to take or pay interest when lending or borrowing money, and has roundly criticized (and spat upon) Shylock for doing so, for love of Bassanio, Antonio consents to pay interest in this instance. Shylock, however, agrees to forego the usual rate of interest, instead lending the money ostensibly in return for Antonio's friendship, and accepting Antonio's assent to a "merry bond" providing that, if Antonio is unable to repay Shylock at the specified date, Shylock will be free to take instead a pound of Antonio's flesh from near his heart. Antonio is untroubled by the stipulation, as he feels certain he will easily be able to repay. Bassanio, who is very uneasy about the bond, briefly (and unsuccessfully) attempts to dissuade Antonio from agreeing to it. Before the due-date of the loan, all ships bearing Antonio's goods are reported to have been lost at sea, leaving him unable to satisfy the bond. Shylock, who may not have intended to enforce the bond at first, is determined to do so after his daughter Jessica flees his home to convert to Christianity and marry the Christian Lorenzo, having taken a substantial amount of Shylock's wealth with her. Shylock's anger at Antonio as far as the matter of Jessica is concerned is shown to the audience to be unjust: although Bassanio and his friend Gratiano helped Lorenzo spirit Jessica away, there is no indication that Antonio had any advance knowledge of this. Nevertheless when the bond comes due, Shylock has Antonio arrested and brought before the court.

Related Topics:
Jewish - Shylock - Ducat - Take or pay interest - Interest - Pound - Convert to Christianity

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Meanwhile, Bassanio has travelled to Belmont seeking to marry the beautiful and wealthy heiress Portia. Portia's father has left a will requiring that each of her suitors choose one of three caskets; one casket is of gold, the second silver, and the third lead. In order to be granted an opportunity to choose among the caskets, each suitor must agree in advance that, if he chooses wrongly, he will live out his life as a bachelor. The suitor who correctly looks past the outward appearance of the caskets, choosing the leaden one (symbolizing his recognition and willingness to undertake the grave responsibilities of a good marriage), will win Portia's hand. A suitor choosing one of the showy golden or silver caskets will, upon opening it, discover a joke deriding the suitor's superficiality, and dispatching him to his remaining life of bachelorhood. After two comical suitors choose incorrectly, Bassanio makes the correct choice, perhaps aided by a subtle hint from Portia and a knowledge of the Gesta Romanorum which explains which casket to pick. Portia and Bassanio have just been married, along with their friends Gratiano and Nerissa, when Bassanio receives a letter telling him that Antonio has defaulted on his loan from Shylock. Bassanio and Gratiano leave for Venice, with money from Portia, to seek to save Antonio's life. Unbeknownst to Bassanio and Gratiano, Portia and Nerissa leave Belmont to seek the counsel of Portia's elderly uncle Bellario at Padova.

Related Topics:
Belmont - Portia - Will - Gold - Silver - Lead - Bachelor - Gesta Romanorum - Venice - Padova

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The dramatic center of the play comes in the court of the Duke of Venice, where Shylock refuses Bassanio's offer to satisfy the now-defaulted loan, demanding instead his pound of flesh from Antonio. The Duke, wishing to save Antonio but being unwilling to set the dangerous legal precedent of nullifying a contract, refers the case for decision by Balthasar, a young "doctor" of the law, who is actually Portia in disguise. Portia asks Shylock to show mercy in a famous speech, (The quality of mercy is not strained - Act IV, Scene I, l 185), but on Shylock's refusal she awards him the pound of flesh. Before Shylock can exact the pound of flesh, however, she points out that the bond allows him to remove only flesh, not blood, and that if Shylock sheds any drop of Antonio's blood, under the laws of Venice Shylock's life will be forfeit. Shylock then accedes to accept monetary payment for the defaulted bond, but is denied the money, as only the pound of flesh was specified in the bond. Portia further pronounces that, for his attempt to take the life of a citizen, Shylock's property is forfeit, half to the government and half to Antonio. Antonio states that he will hold his share "in use" (that is, reserving the principal amount while taking only the income) until Shylock's death, when the principal will be given to Lorenzo and Jessica. At Antonio's request, the Duke grants remission of the state's half of forfeiture, but in return, Shylock is forced to accept conversion to Christianity and to bequeath the rest of his property to Lorenzo and Jessica.

Related Topics:
Duke of Venice - The government - Principal - Conversion - Christianity

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The destruction of Shylock takes place in Act IV, scene 1. The remainder of the story is anti-climactic - but inspired - tomfoolery about some rings given by Portia and Nerissa to their new husbands. After all the other characters make amends, Antonio learns that his ships have returned safely after all, and the curtain descends in a blaze of happiness for everyone except Shylock.

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