Merchant of Venice

A Short Summary

Bassanio a solider needs money to woo the wealthy Portia. He asks his friend Antonio, a wealthy merchant, for a loan. Antonio's could not help him as his ships carrying goods from different parts of the globe were wrecked. Antonio has no money to spare, He takes a loan for his friend, from Shylock.

Shylock is a Jew. They were the moneylenders in Venice, Shylock demands more interest for the money he lends.   Antonio had insulted Shylock in the past for being Jewish, so Shylock wanted revenge. He loans Antonio the money, but he insists on a pound of Antonio's flesh, taken from any part of his body Shylock chooses, if the money is not repaid on time.

 Portia is not able to choose her husband as per the father’s will. Instead, she must marry the man who picks the right one of three caskets, one gold, one silver and one lead. Several suitors select the wrong casket. Bassanio chooses the right one, made of lead which contains her picture. They exchanged ring as a token of their love.
They were informed by Jessica and her husband the sad situation of Antonio.

Meanwhile, all of Antonio's ships appear to be lost. As promised he couldn’t pay the money to the Jew.  Shylock then insists on his pound of flesh. He wants it from Antonio's heart, which means Antonio will die. The two go to court to plead before the Duke. There, Portia and her maid Nerissa show up, disguised as a male lawyer and his male clerk. Portia appealed to Shylock's sense of mercy, and when that doesn't work, as per the letter she insists that Shylock can take Antonio's flesh but must not spill one drop of his blood or his own life will be forfeit, a sentence the Duke supports. Shylock is humiliated and defeated, and is sentenced to give up half his fortune.

After the trial, the disguised Portia and Nerissa insist that their clients to give them rings that they had promised never, ever to part with under any circumstances. They had given them, however, to the "male lawyer and clerk” but now  they tease their beloveds about this, and revealed the truth about their male lawyer appearance in the court. All ends peacefully with joy and happy.

Questions and Answers

1. Name the Characters in the story?

• Antonio the Rich Merchant
• Bassanio  The Young Solider
• Shylock the Jewish money lender
• Portia A wealthy heiress from Belmont
• Gratiano – friend of Antonio and Bassanio.
• Lorenzo – friend of Antonio and Bassanio; in love with Jessica.
• Nerissa – Portia's waiting maid – in love with Gratiano.
• Jessica – daughter of Shylock, later the wife of Lorenzo
• Duke of Venice – authority who presides over the case of Shylock's bond
• Prince of Morocco – suitor to Portia
• Prince of Arragon – suitor to Portia

     2.What test was Portia's father devised for her suitors?

• Portia's father had announced that she would marry the suitor who chose correctly from three caskets / made of gold, silver and lead. If the suitors chose the wrong casket they should give way the others.

    3. Who were the three suitors?

• Prince of Morocco.
• Prince of Aragon.
• Bassanio from Venice.

   4. what were the three boxes? What were written inside and outside of the boxes? what objects were found in each boxes?

• Gold box. "Who chooseth me shall gain what many men desire".On the inside is a skull with the following inscription: "All that glitter is not gold" Prince Morocco selected and failed.

• The second casket was made of silver, and bore the inscription:“Who chooseth me shall get as much as he deserves."  On the inside  there was a picture of a fool. the scrool stated" “There be fools alive iwis, silvered ov’r, and so was this.”Prince of Aragon choose and was failed.

• The final casket, containing Portia’s portrait, was made of lead. On it was written:
  “Who chooseth me must give and hazard all he haths”   Bassanio choose the right one and  married his beloved Portia.

    5. What was the bad news?

• Antonio's ships were wrecked and he lost all his money and could not pay the money he borrowed from Shylock.

    6. Why does Shylock hates Jessica and her husband Lorenzo?

• Lorenzo was not a Jew but he married Shylock's daughter Jessica who was a Jew.

   7. Why did Jessica go to Belmont?

• To escape from Shylock's anger.

   8. Why was Shylock happy about the misfortune of Antonio?

• Shylock was happy because he can take revenge on Antonio as he was not able to pay back his money.

   9. Who tried to persuade  Shylock to give up his revenge?

• The young Lawyer
• The Duke of Venice

 10. Why did not Shylock accept the money  that Bassanio offered?

• He could think of nothing but revenge and he refused to take the money from Bassanio who said he would give his money ten times the same he owned.

  11. On what condition was Shylock allowed to cut a pound of flesh from Antonio's body?

• He should not spill a drop of blood, if he spill he should give all his money and possession to the state.

  12.  How was Shylock punished?

• Shylock is humiliated and defeated, and is sentenced to give up half his fortune.

thank you

 

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