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The Merchant Of Venice . -short explanation of the play . Merchant Of Venice . Play written by William Shakespeare Between 1596 and 1598 Romantic comedy . Set in Venice, Italy Antonio (Merchant Of Venice) feeling sad Bassanio (Antonio’s friend)
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The Merchant Of Venice -short explanation of the play
Merchant Of Venice • Play written by William Shakespeare • Between 1596 and 1598 • Romantic comedy
Set in Venice, Italy • Antonio (Merchant Of Venice) feeling sad • Bassanio (Antonio’s friend) got back from secret trip to see an heiress, Portia
Bassanio – borrowed money from Antonio all his life • Anotonio lends three thousand ducats to Bassanio wooing Portia
Antonio’s money – tied up in business ventures that need to return from his ships from sea • Antonio borrows money from Shylock (Jewish moneylender) • Shylock lends money against a bond if he fail to repay loan entitle Shylock to a pound of Antonio’s flesh • Whoever makes the correct decision when three caskets presented marry Portia (decided by Portia’s father)
Bassanio succeeds by choosing lead • Antonio’s ships have been lost (can not pay his debt) • Law court – news arrives of Shylock’s claim to Antonio’s pound of flesh • Portia then disguises herself as a young male lawyer acting on behalf of Antonio
Portia’s defense – Shylock is entitled to his pound of flesh, but not to spill any of Antonio’s blood • Claims the Jew should forfeit his life due to having conspired against the life if a Venetian • Duke pardons Shylock have to give half of his wealth to Antonio and half of the state • Shylock converts to Christianity and have to give his property to his daughter Jessica
Portia and Nerissa (Portia’s lady-in-waiting) assert their power over Bassanio and Gratiano (the one who marries Nerissa) • Portia and Nerissa trick Bassanio and Gratiano by involving rings that have the men promised never to part with (wedding rings) • Good news about Antonio’s ships • Happy ending for most of the characters – except Shylock