In this article, we describe the work "The Merchant of Venice." A brief summary of the play written in 1600 by Shakespeare will begin as follows. Antonio, a Venetian merchant, is in causeless sadness. His friends, Salanio and Salarino, are trying to explain her with unhappy love or concern for ships loaded with goods. However, both of these explanations are rejected by the Venetian merchant. The summary continues with the advent of Bassanio, Antonio's closest friend and relative, accompanied by Lorenzo and Graziano. Salanio and Salarino leave. Graziano, the joker, is trying to amuse Antonio, but he does not succeed. The merchant says that the world is a scene in which everyone has their own role, and the role of Antonio is sad. Lorenzo and Graziano are removed.
Bassanio asks Antonio for money
He then describes the conversation between two friends of Shakespeare ("The Merchant of Venice"). A summary of it is as follows. Bassanio, alone with his friend, admits that he was left completely without funds because of his careless lifestyle, and therefore again forced to ask Antonio for money in order to go to the Portia estate, located in Belmonte. Portia is a wealthy heiress, and Bassanio is passionately in love with her virtue and beauty, as well as confident in the success of the matchmaking. Antonio does not have cash, but he offers his friend to find a loan in his name.
Portia and Nerissa discuss candidates
In Belmonte, meanwhile, Portia complains to Nerissa, her maid, that he cannot, either by testament of his father, reject or select the bridegroom herself. Her husband will be the one who, choosing from three caskets (lead, silver and gold), guesses which of them contains her portrait. The maid begins to list the various candidates - Portia makes fun of each of them. Only about Bassanio - the warrior and scientist who once visited her father, does the girl recall with fondness.
Antonio's contract with Shylock
Meanwhile, Bassanio in Venice asks for a loan of three thousand ducats to the merchant Shylock under the guarantee of Antonio for three months. Shylock, however, knows that his entire state is entrusted to the sea. He, in conversation with the protagonist who appeared, whom he hates for contempt for usury and for his people, reminds him of the countless insults to which his Venetian merchant subjected. The summary will not describe all the details of this meeting. Since Antonio lends without interest, Shylock, in order to gain friendship with him, will also give a loan without interest. Only a pledge is required - this is a pound of merchant’s meat, which he can cut as a forfeit from any part of Antonio’s body. He is delighted with the kindness and joke of the usurer. Bassanio also has a bad feeling and therefore asks his friend not to make this deal. However, Shylock says that he would not benefit from such a pledge anyway. And his friend reminds that the ships will come long before the time of payment.
The Prince of Moroccan arrives at Portia's house in order to select a casket. He takes an oath, as the conditions of the test require: not to get married in case of failure to any of the women.
Jessica runs away with Lorenzo
Lancelot Gobbo, the servant of Shylock, in Venice convinces himself that he will run away from the master. He constantly jokes, as mentioned in the work "The Merchant of Venice" by William Shakespeare. Lancelot, having met the blind father, plays him for a long time, after which he talks about his intention to go to the servants to Bassanio, who is known for generosity. He agrees to take on the service of Lancelot, as well as go with Graziano to Belmont. A servant in Shylock’s house says goodbye to Jessica, the daughter of her former master. They exchange jokes with each other. Jessica's father is ashamed. Lancelot is called to secretly convey to Lorenzo, this girl’s lover, a letter describing the escape plan. Jessica, taking with her father's jewelry and money, dressed as a page, secretly leaves with the help of Salarino and Graziano with Lorenzo. Graziano and Bassanio hurry to sail to Belmont with a fair wind.
The attempt of the prince of Moroccan
The Moroccan prince in Belmonte chooses a gold box. In his opinion, a precious pearl in a different frame cannot be enclosed. However, it contains instructive verses and a skull, and not a portrait of her lover. The prince is leaving.
Salanio and Salarino in Venice make fun of the anger of Shylock, who learned that his daughter robbed him and fled with the Christian. At the same time, they are discussing that one of the ships that belonged to Antonio sank in the English Channel.
Prince of Aragon's Choice
The new challenger is in Belmont - the Prince of Aragon. His choice is a silver casket. However, it contains mocking poems and an image of stupid faces. After he leaves, the servant reports that a young Venetian arrived with rich gifts. Nerissa thinks that it could be Bassanio.
Shylock promises to fulfill the terms of the contract
Salanio and Salarino are discussing Antonio, who suffered new losses. Both admire the kindness and nobility of such a man as this Venetian merchant. Reviews of Salanio and Salarino about Antonio say that they value friendship with this person. When Shylock appears before them, first Salanio and Salarino mock him, after which they express confidence that if Antonio's bill expires, the moneylender will not require his meat. Shylock in response says that he dishonored him, obstructed Shylock’s affairs, heated his enemies. He promises to fulfill everything according to the contract.
Jessica is wasting father's fortune
Salario and Salarino leave. Tubal appears - a Jew whom he sent to find his daughter, Shylock. However, he could not do this. He only tells Shylock rumors about his daughter’s motivation. Father is terrified of the losses incurred. Upon learning that Jessica exchanged a ring given to him by her deceased wife for a monkey, Shylock sends a curse to her daughter. One thing comforts him - rumors that Antonio is suffering losses. He is determined to take out his grief and anger on him.
Bassanio makes the right choice
Portia in Belmonte persuades to slow down the choice of Bassanio. In case of an error, she is afraid of losing it. He wants to immediately test his fate. Young people, exchanging witty phrases, confess their love to each other. Bring caskets. Rejects silver and gold by Bassanio, as the sheen is deceptive. His choice is a lead casket. Opening it, he finds a portrait of Portia, as well as a poetic congratulation. Bassanio and Portia are preparing for the wedding, and with them Graziano and Nerissa, who have fallen in love. Portia gives her groom a ring, and also takes an oath from him to keep this jewelry as a guarantee of their mutual love. A similar gift is made by Nerissa Graziano.
Letter by Antonio
Lorenzo and Jessica come, as well as a messenger who brought a letter written by a Venetian merchant. The summary of Antonio’s letter is as follows. He reports that all his ships were lost, and he was busted, a promissory note to the moneylender was expired, and he demands the payment of a terrible penalty. In the letter, Antonio also asks his friend not to blame himself for his misfortunes and to come to see him before his death. Portia insists that Bassanio go immediately to the aid of Antonio, offering any money for the life of his friend Shylock. Graziano and Bassanio set off for Venice.
Shylock revels in a thirst for revenge, because the law is now on his side. Antonio realizes that it is impossible to violate him, so he is ready for his imminent death. The merchant wants only one thing - to see Bassanio before his death.
Serving Act
A portion in Belmonte entrusts his estate to Lorenzo, while she herself leaves with her maid supposedly for prayer in the monastery. But in fact, she intends to go to Venice. The girl sends a servant to Padua to Bellario, the doctor of law and her cousin. He must supply Portia with a man's dress and papers.
Lancelot laughed at Jessica because of the adoption of that Christianity. Lancelot, Jessica and Lorenzo exchange joking remarks between themselves. They strive to surpass each other in the wit of each other these heroes of the play "The Merchant of Venice". Quotes from the work are very interesting. The play has several similar scenes depicting the wit of heroes in verbal fights.
Trial
Shylock enjoys triumph in court. Nothing can mitigate the cruelty of this moneylender - neither calls for mercy, nor proposals from Bassanio to pay double the amount of debt. Shylock refers in response to reproaches to the law and in turn reproaches Christians for having slavery. The judge asks for a consultation with Dr. Bellario before making a final decision. Antonio and Bassanio, the heroes of "The Merchant of Venice", the contents of which in brief are you reading, are trying to cheer each other up. Each of them is ready to sacrifice himself. A scribe enters, disguised as a disguised Nerissa. Citing ill health, Bellario, in a letter she transmitted, recommends her young, but very smart colleague, Dr. Balthazar (Portia, dressed up) to lead the process. The girl first tries to appease Shylock. Having been refused, she admits that the law is on the side of the moneylender.
The wisdom of the young judge extols Shylock. Antonio says goodbye to his friend. He is desperate. He is able to sacrifice everything for him, even his wife, if only this would save Antonio's life. Graziano for his part is ready for the same. But Shylock only condemns the fragility of Christian marriage. He wants to get down to business.
Shakespeare ("The Merchant of Venice") continues his work . The summary of further events of the trial is as follows. The “judge” stops Shylock at the last moment in order to remind him that he should take only the meat of the merchant, without spilling a drop of blood. In addition, take it should be exactly a pound.
If Shylock violates these conditions, the law will await cruel punishment. Then the moneylender agrees to be paid a triple amount of debt instead. But the judge is against, since not a word is said about this in the bill. Shylock is ready to receive only payment of a debt, but again - refusal. In addition, for attempted assassination of a citizen of the republic by Venetian laws, he must give half of the property to him, and the second should be sent to the treasury as a fine. The life of the criminal himself depends on the grace of the judge. However, Shylock refuses to ask for leniency. Nevertheless, they save his life, replacing the requisition with a fine. Antonio generously refuses the half due to him, provided that she will be bequeathed to Lorenzo after the death of Shylock. The guilty merchant must accept Christianity and bequeath his property to his son-in-law and daughter. Desperate, Shylock agrees. Imaginary judges as a reward entice rings from fooled husbands.
Jessica and Lorenzo in Belmonte on a moonlit night order musicians to play in the garden. They are preparing for the return of their masters.
Garden scene
The next scene completes the events of the work "The Merchant of Venice". The play ends with a conversation in the garden. Nerissa and Portia converge there with their husbands at night. It turns out that they lost the rings. Wives say they were given to women. Men justify themselves, but in vain. Portia and Nerissa, continuing the rally, promise to share the bed with the judge, just to return the gifts. After that, they show the rings and are recognized in the drawing. Antonio Portia gives a letter stating that all his ships are intact. Nerissa, on the other hand, gives Jessica and Lorenzo the act by which Shylock transfers his wealth to them. Everyone goes to the house in order to find out there the details of the adventures of Nerissa and Portia.
Thus ends his work "The Merchant of Venice" by Shakespeare. This play is very interesting. In summary, we introduced the reader to it. However, our task does not include a story about the features of such a work as "The Merchant of Venice". Try to analyze it yourself.