Antonio agrees, but since he is cash-poor – his ships and merchandise are busy at sea to Tripolis, the Indies, Mexico and England – he promises to cover a bond if Bassanio can find a lender, so Bassanio turns to the Jewish moneylender Shylock and names Antonio as the loan's guarantor.Īntonio has already antagonized Shylock through his outspoken antisemitism and because Antonio's habit of lending money without interest forces Shylock to charge lower rates. Bassanio approaches his friend Antonio, a wealthy merchant of Venice, who has previously and repeatedly bailed him out. Having squandered his estate, he needs 3,000 ducats to subsidise his expenditures as a suitor. Plot summary Gilbert's Shylock After the Trial, an illustration to The Merchant of Veniceīassanio, a young Venetian of noble rank, wishes to woo the beautiful and wealthy heiress Portia of Belmont. Magnificoes of Venice, officers of the Court of Justice, gaolers, servants to Portia, and other attendants and Doctor Bellario, cousin of Portia.Salerio – a messenger from Venice friend of Antonio, Bassanio and others.Salarino and Salanio (also known as Solanio) – friends of Antonio and Bassanio.Duke of Venice – authority who presides over the case of Shylock's bond.Launcelot Gobbo – servant of Shylock later a servant of Bassanio son of Old Gobbo.Jessica – daughter of Shylock, later the wife of Lorenzo.Shylock – a miserly Jew moneylender father of Jessica.Nerissa – Portia's waiting maid – in love with Gratiano later the wife of Gratiano disguises herself as Portia's clerk.Portia – a rich heiress later the wife of Bassanio.Lorenzo – friend of Antonio and Bassanio in love with Jessica later the husband of Jessica.
Gratiano – friend of Antonio and Bassanio in love with Nerissa later the husband of Nerissa.Bassanio – Antonio's close friend suitor to Portia later the husband of Portia.Antonio – a prominent merchant of Venice in a melancholic mood.
Debate exists on whether the play is anti-Semitic, with Shylock's insistence on his legal right to the pound of flesh being in opposition to Shylock's seemingly universal plea for the rights of all people suffering discrimination. The play contains two famous speeches, that of Shylock, "Hath not a Jew eyes?" on the subject of humanity, and that of Portia on " the quality of mercy". A merchant in Venice named Antonio defaults on a large loan on behalf of Bassanio, his dear friend, provided by a Jewish moneylender, Shylock.Īlthough classified as a comedy in the First Folio and sharing certain aspects with Shakespeare's other romantic comedies, the play is most remembered for its dramatic scenes, and it is best known for the character Shylock and his famous demand for a " pound of flesh" in retribution. The Merchant of Venice is a play by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written between 15.
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