Read our short The Merchant of Venice summary to help you understand the play and characters. Shakespeare’s The Merchant of Venice is a much loved – and studied – play, set in Venice, Italy.
The main themes are justice, mercy, revenge, love, and friendship, and though much of the subject matter is rather dark, it is regarded as one of Shakespeare’s comedy plays.
Here’s a brief The Merchant of Venice summary:
A young Venetian, Bassanio, needs a loan of three thousand ducats so that he can woo Portia, a wealthy Venetian heiress. He approaches his friend Antonio, a merchant. Antonio is short of money because all his wealth is invested in his fleet, which is currently at sea. He goes to a Jewish moneylender, Shylock, who hates Antonio because of Antonio’s anti-semitic behaviour towards him.
Shylock nevertheless agrees to make the short-term loan, but, in a moment of dark humour, he makes a condition – the loan must be repaid in three months or Shylock will exact a pound of flesh from Antonio. Antonio agrees, confident that his ships will return in time.
Because of the terms of Portia’s father’s will, all suitors must choose from among three caskets, one of which contains a portrait of her. If he chooses that he may marry Portia, but if doesn’t he must vow never to marry or court another woman. The Princes of Morocco and Arragon fail the test and are rejected. As Bassanio prepares to travel to Belmont for the test, his friend Lorenzo elopes with Shylock’s daughter, Jessica. Bassanio chooses the lead casket, which contains her picture, and Portia happily agrees to marry him immediately.
Meanwhile, two of Antonio’s ships have been wrecked and Antonio’s creditors are pressuring him for repayment. Word comes to Bassanio about Antonio’s predicament, and he hurries back to Venice, leaving Portia behind. Portia follows him, accompanied by her maid, Nerissa. They are disguised as a male lawyer and his clerk. When Bassanio arrives the date for the repayment to Shylock has passed and Shylock is demanding his pound of flesh. Even when Bassanio offers much more than the amount in repayment, Shylock, now infuriated by the loss of his daughter, is intent on seeking revenge on the Christians. The Duke refuses to intervene.
Portia arrives in her disguise to defend Antonio. Given the authority of judgment by the Duke, Portia decides that Shylock can have the pound of flesh as long as he doesn’t draw blood, as it is against the law to shed a Christian’s blood. Since it is obvious that to draw a pound of flesh would kill Antonio, Shylock is denied his suit. Moreover, for conspiring to murder a Venetian citizen, Portia orders that he should forfeit all his wealth. Half is to go to Venice, and half to Antonio.
Antonio gives his half back to Shylock on the condition that Shylock bequeaths it to his disinherited daughter, Jessica. Shylock must also convert to Christianity. A broken Shylock accepts. News arrives that Antonio’s remaining ships have returned safely. With the exception of Shylock, all celebrate a happy ending to the affair.
And that is a very short summary of The Merchant of Venice! What do you think – anything unclear, or missing? Let us know in the comments section below.
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In this summary, some points at last is missing after the hearing there is a conversation between lawyer and Bassanio. Bassanio asked the lawyer shat should I give you as a present the lawyer dressed up as a Portia and her maid Nerissa as a clerk asked for the wedding ring from Antonio and Bassanio. First and the foremost the refused it then they agree afterward Portia and her maid rushed up to the kingdom before Antonia and Bassanio arrival and both of them pretended to fool their husbands and asked them about the wedding ring. Bassanio and Antonia told that the had given the ring to a lawyer because he saved Antonio life and told the full story to Portia, at last, she says to Antonio that she had dressed up as a male lawyer and saved Antonio life after a great drama she told the story and convenience Antonio and gave back the ring and started a wonderful life
Yeah you are right I have also read that
You too are right
Thankss for this
Hello Adarsh
Please take note that Portia and Nerissa asked the rings from Bassanio and Gratiano, respectively. Antonio merely requested Bassanio to give his ring away to Portia (who was dressed as the lawyer). However, Antonio himself did not give away or accept any ring.
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It worked in my project too
Even , it’ll be useful for my project too!
It is very good and useful for all who are new to Shakespeare’s plays . It helped me a lot.
However, we are going to Venice in May, 2019 to see the city which prompted Shakespeare to have this Drama
I think Shylock is the main hero
i absolutely agree
shylock is the villian of drama
yes because Antonio used to call shylock a dog so when shylock found a chance to punish Antonio he used it and every one thought he was cruel
Helped in my project
Me too
Helped me to revice this story during exam
Completely useful! Thanks a ton!