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BA ENGLISH LITERATURE
FIRST YEAR - SEMESTER I
CORE I – INTRODUCTION TO ENGLISH LITERATURE
UNIT - IV : DRAMA
4.1 The Merchant of Venice by William Shakespeare
About
Author:
William
Shakespeare (1564-1616) born in Stratford-upon-Avon. He was
an English poet, playwright and actor. He was prolific writer during the
Elizabethan and Jacobean ages of British theatre. He was known as England’s
national poet and the “Bard of Avon”. He started as a small actor and later
became a playwright and a producer of plays. Some of his major works: Hamlet,
Othello, King Lear, Macbeth, As you Like It, Romeo and Juliet.
About Work:
The Merchant of Venice was first printed in a quarto edition
in 1600. The
Merchant of Venice may refer to the character Antonio, a wealthy Venetian
merchant whose trade and relationships intersect in ways that place him in
mortal danger when he makes a deal with a moneylender. However, an alternate
title that appears in early records, The Jew of Venice, calls this reading into
question. The original double title raises questions regarding the identities
of the play's hero and villain and the play's stance on anti-Semitism.
Summary:
The Merchant of Venice is set largely in the wealthy
city-state of Venice, a hub of Renaissance trade. Some scenes take place at the
nearby estate of Belmont, where Portia lives.
Antonio is a prosperous merchant in
Venice, but he has overextended his fortunes in his most recent venture, sending
ships to several different ports. Thus, he is unable to lend his close friend
Bassanio money when Bassanio asks him for a loan. Bassanio needs money to help
him appear impressive when he goes to Belmont to court the beautiful heiress
Portia. Bassanio has no credit of his own, but Antonio does not want to refuse
his friend, so Antonio sends Bassanio to borrow the money from Shylock on
Antonio's credit.
Shylock is a Jewish moneylender
whose relationship with Antonio has been overwhelmingly negative. Antonio has
insulted him in the streets and interfered with his business. He also knows
Antonio's own fortunes are stretched thin, so Shylock is reluctant to lend him
money. He finally agrees when Antonio offers a pound of his own flesh to secure
the loan. With the money secured, Bassanio begins preparations to travel to
Belmont, Portia's estate near Venice.
In Belmont Portia has her own
problems. She is coping with an abundance of suitors she finds completely
unacceptable. Her wealth and beauty have attracted dignitaries from all over
the world, but they all seem deeply flawed. She fears she will be forced to
marry one of them because her father, before he died, created a challenge to
choose a suitor for her. He set up three caskets, or boxes: one gold, one silver,
one lead. The man who chooses the casket with Portia's portrait inside gets her
hand; Portia is understandably nervous about leaving her choice of husband up
to what she considers a game of chance. Two suitors, one from Morocco and one
from Arragon (part of Spain), try and fail in the challenge before Bassanio
arrives. Portia knows and loves Bassanio, so she is relieved when he chooses
correctly. They exchange rings, and Bassanio's companion Gratiano reveals he
plans to marry Portia's waiting woman, Nerissa.
Meanwhile, in Venice, Shylock's
daughter, Jessica, makes plans to escape from her overprotective father and
marry Lorenzo, a Christian friend of Bassanio, Gratiano, and Antonio. After her
only friend in her father's house, Launcelot Gobbo, leaves to work for
Bassanio, Jessica disguises herself as a boy, takes her father's jewels, and
sneaks out in the night to run away and marry Lorenzo. Shylock is anguished by
the loss of his daughter and his jewels, especially the ring he gave Jessica's
mother when they married. He is cheered when he learns Antonio's ships have
been lost at sea and he may be able to exact revenge for Antonio's wrongs—and
the wrongs he has suffered from all Christians, including the one who took
Jessica—by collecting the pound of flesh promised in their contract.
Shylock and Antonio appear before the Duke of Venice for their case to be heard. Bassanio and Gratiano return to Venice, leaving their wives in Belmont, to support Antonio in his time of need. At the hearing Shylock first appears to have the upper hand because both men entered into the contract freely. Then a young lawyer named Balthazar comes to read the contract and save Antonio's life. Balthazar is actually Portia, disguised as a man, who has come to the court to help her new husband's friend. She makes an impassioned plea to Shylock to show mercy to Antonio, to be the better man. Shylock refuses, so Portia reads the contract carefully and declares Shylock is entitled to his pound of flesh, but the contract does not allow Shylock to spill any of Antonio's blood. Should Shylock take Antonio's blood, which is not part of the contract, his own life will be forfeit. Since it is impossible to take a pound of flesh without spilling blood, Shylock's claim is void. Because Shylock's intention to take a pound of his flesh would have killed Antonio, the duke finds Shylock guilty of plotting to murder the merchant. He spares Shylock's life but takes his fortune, giving half to the state and half to Antonio. Antonio places his share in trust for Jessica and further demands that Shylock convert to Christianity.
After the trial, Bassanio and Antonio express their gratitude to Portia, still thinking she is Balthazar. As a test of Bassanio's loyalty, Portia asks for the ring she gave him as a reward for her service. Bassanio refuses at first, but Antonio convinces him to change his mind, so Portia now knows her husband will part with his wedding ring when Antonio asks him. Nerissa plays a similar trick and gets her ring from Gratiano.
Bassanio, Gratiano, and Antonio
return to Belmont, where Jessica and Lorenzo have come to visit. Portia and
Nerissa return as well, now appearing as themselves again. Portia tells
Bassanio she got his ring from Balthazar after sleeping with him, and Nerissa
tells Gratiano a similar story. Bassanio and Gratiano are outraged until Portia
gives them a letter that reveals the truth. The happy couples retire to bed as
the sun rises.
Characters:
Shylock:
Shylock
is confined by the laws limiting Jews' participation in Venetian society and
subject to prejudice and scorn. He bears a special grudge against Antonio
because Antonio has mistreated him and interfered with his business in the
past. When Antonio comes to borrow money from Shylock, Antonio offers a pound
of his own flesh as collateral. Shylock accepts the bond and lends the money.
When Antonio's ships are lost, Shylock demands the letter of his bond be
honored, and the case goes to court because taking a pound of Antonio's flesh
is tantamount to murder. Shylock loses his case, and as punishment for seeking
to kill Antonio he must forfeit his fortune and convert to Christianity.
Antonio:
Antonio
is a Venetian merchant, the title character of the play, who borrows 3,000
ducats from his rival, the Jewish moneylender Shylock, on behalf of his friend
Bassanio. Antonio's own money is tied up in his ships at sea, so he offers
Shylock a pound of his own flesh as collateral for the loan, reflecting his
confidence that he will be able to repay Shylock. When Antonio's ships are
temporarily lost, he can't repay the 3,000 ducats, and Shylock demands the
pound of flesh. When the dispute goes to court, Antonio ultimately prevails.
His life is spared, and his fortune is restored when the lost ships return to
port.
Bassanio:
Bassanio
is Antonio's friend who needs money so he can court the wealthy heiress Portia,
a woman famed for her wealth, wisdom, and beauty. Bassanio has squandered his
own fortune and is in debt to Antonio and others, but Antonio cares deeply for
Bassanio and does not refuse the request. Bassanio is successful in his
courtship and marries Portia, but he returns to Venice shortly after they are
wed to support Antonio in his time of need.
Portia:
Portia
is a wealthy heiress who lives at Belmont, an estate near Venice. Her father
has died, and he devises a riddle involving three boxes of gold, silver, and
lead to help her choose a worthy husband. The suitors must choose between the
three boxes to find a portrait of Portia. The man who chooses correctly wins
her hand. Portia is lucky enough to have the man she loves, Bassanio, win this
challenge, and they get married. When she learns of Antonio's troubles in
Venice, she disguises herself as a young man named Balthazar and presents
herself at court as a legal scholar. Her reading of the contract and her
cleverness allow her to help Antonio go free.
Gratiano:
Gratiano
is Bassanio's close friend who accompanies him to Portia's estate, Belmont, to
offer moral support as Bassanio attempts to woo Portia. Gratiano shows great
humor and fierce loyalty to Bassanio, a loyalty he also shows for Antonio
during Antonio's trial. At Belmont Gratiano notices Portia's lady-inwaiting,
Nerissa, and marries her.
Nerissa:
As
Portia's "waiting-gentlewoman," Nerissa is part servant, part
adviser, part best friend. She advises and encourages Portia when Portia is
frustrated by the suitors who swarm her home seeking her hand in marriage. She
also disguises herself as a man and accompanies Portia to Venice when Portia
goes there to defend Antonio. Nerissa is distinguished by her strong common
sense and good judgment.
Jessica:
Jessica's
father, Shylock, has protected and sheltered his only child throughout her
life. He limits her contact with the outside world, and Jessica feels stifled
and suffocated by his overprotection. Despite Shylock's efforts, Jessica meets
and falls in love with Lorenzo, a Christian. Her father would forbid the match
and punish her for even talking with Lorenzo, so she disguises herself, takes
as much of her father's wealth as she can carry, and elopes with Lorenzo in the
middle of the night. At the end of the play, the couple end up at Belmont with
Portia, Bassanio, Nerissa, and Gratiano.
- Bond Story:
Act 1 Scene
3:
Bassanio negotiates with Shylock, a Jewish moneylender, to
borrow 3,000 ducats for three months in Antonio's name. Shylock acknowledges
Antonio has sufficient fortune but worries because he has heard much of
Antonio's fortune is currently at sea in ships bound for Tripoli and Libya as
well as for the Indies, Mexico, and England. He speculates on the hazards of
weather and pirates and wonders if Antonio will be able to repay him. Bassanio
invites Shylock to join him and Antonio for dinner so Shylock can speak with
Antonio directly, but Shylock refuses the invitation because he follows
different customs. Just then Antonio arrives, and Shylock speaks in an aside of
his hatred for Antonio and how he would like to get revenge on him. However,
Shylock treats Antonio with businesslike politeness until he enumerates the
wrongs Antonio has done to him in the past: spitting on his clothing, calling
him a dog, and criticizing his business practices in public. Antonio becomes
defensive and says he is likely to do so again, but Shylock claims he wants to
forgive and forget the past. He agrees to lend Antonio the money free of
interest, asking Antonio to promise a pound of his own flesh to secure the bond
as "a merry sport." Antonio agrees to these terms even though Bassanio
protests.
Act 2, Scene 7
The Prince of Morocco undertakes the
challenge left by Portia's father. He is to choose between three
"caskets" or chests. One made of gold, one of silver, one of lead.
One of the chests contains a portrait of Portia, and if the suitor chooses that
chest, he can marry Portia. If he chooses the wrong chest, he goes home in
shame. Each chest is inscribed with a hint. The gold one reads "Who
chooseth me shall gain what many men desire." The silver one reads
"Who chooseth me shall get as much as he deserves." The lead one
reads "Who chooseth me must give and hazard all he has." The Prince
of Morocco deliberates over the chests and their inscriptions. He finds the
lead casket threatening and eliminates it right away. Then he thinks of what he
may deserve, but he questions whether that extends to Portia, even though he
believes he deserves much. He settles on the golden casket because he believes
Portia is the thing many men desire. He also thinks the golden casket is the
only one worthy to contain her image, so he chooses gold. When he unlocks the
casket he finds a skull and a message cautioning against being seduced by
outward appearances—"All that glisters is not gold." He leaves
quickly, and Portia expresses relief at his failure.
Act 2, Scene 9
The Prince of Arragon attempts the
challenge of choosing between the three caskets to find Portia's portrait and
win her hand. He reiterates the conditions of accepting the challenge: If he
loses he can never reveal which casket he chose, and he may never seek to marry
another woman. He considers the inscription on the lead casket, "Who
chooseth me must give and hazard all he hath," and dismisses the lead
casket right away because it is not beautiful. He looks at the gold casket,
"what many men desire" and decides it is foolish to follow the
"multitude that choose by show." He does not want to be associated
with the common man. He looks at the silver casket that promises "as much
as he deserves" and decides he deserves the wealth and privilege he has,
so he chooses the casket he deserves as well. Inside is a portrait of a fool
and a message telling him his judgment is foolish. The Prince of Arragon
departs unhappily as a messenger arrives to announce the approach of "a
young Venetian." Portia is excited, hoping it is Bassanio, and Nerissa
prays for the same thing.
Act 3 Scene
2
Portia wants Bassanio to wait a few days before he undertakes
her father's challenge, fearing he might choose wrong and be forced to leave
her. She believes if she has more time with Bassanio, she can "teach [him]
to choose right." Bassanio cannot take the suspense of not knowing his
future and insists on accepting the challenge right away. He professes his love
for Portia, and Portia hopes his love will guide him to the correct choice
among the caskets. Bassanio reasons his way through the challenge, rejecting
the gold and silver caskets because "the world is deceived with
ornament." He chooses the lead casket and finds Portia's image inside.
Both Portia and Bassanio rejoice at this outcome and agree to marry. Portia
gives Bassanio a ring. Gratiano reveals his plan to marry Nerissa. Lorenzo and
Jessica arrive with Salerio, who brings Bassanio a message from Venice: Antonio
has lost his ships and is now unable to pay Shylock. Bassanio is forced to tell
Portia the true state of his finances, but she is not bothered by his
confession. She is more concerned with Antonio's welfare. Portia offers any sum
necessary to save Antonio's life, even though Salerio tells her Shylock claims
he will refuse repayment if offered. Jessica confirms her father's
stubbornness, saying he has told her he would "rather have Antonio's
flesh/Than twenty times the value of the sum." Portia sends Bassanio back
to Venice to help his friend.
- Portia's speech on 'Mercy':
Act 4, Scene 1
Shylock and Antonio appear
before the Duke of Venice. Shylock demands fulfillment of the letter of their
contract, and Antonio believes it is pointless to argue or try to reason with Shylock.
The duke hopes Shylock will relent and show Antonio mercy at the last minute,
but Shylock makes it clear he has no such plan. He says he wants the pound of
flesh because it is "[his] humor," and he refuses when Bassanio
offers him twice the sum of the original loan. Shylock compares his entitlement
to Antonio's body to the way other Venetians feel entitled to do as they will
with the bodies of their slaves and animals. The duke calls Doctor Bellario
from Padua and Balthazar, Doctor Bellario's colleague from Rome, who is
actually Portia in disguise. She first appeals to Shylock to show Antonio mercy
because mercy is its own reward. She goes on to respond to Shylock's calls for
justice by saying, "That in the course of justice none of us/Should see salvation.
We do pray for mercy." Shylock remains unmoved, just as he remains unmoved
by Bassanio's repeated offers to pay twice or 10 times the sum of the loan.
Portia looks at the bond and urges Shylock to accept three times the amount of
the loan. When he refuses again, Portia bids Antonio to prepare for Shylock's
knife. She waits until Shylock approaches Antonio with the knife before
stopping him and informing him that the bond allows him a pound of Antonio's
flesh, but it does not allow him any drop of Antonio's blood. It is impossible
for Shylock to take his pound of flesh without spilling blood, so Shylock is
found guilty of conspiring to commit murder against a citizen of Venice. He
could receive the death penalty for this crime, but the duke spares his life.
The duke takes half Shylock's fortune for the state and gives the other half to
Antonio. Antonio asks the court to drop the fine of half his goods to the state
and says he will give his own half of Shylock's fortune to Lorenzo and Jessica
upon Shylock's death. He requires Shylock to leave any of his own possessions
to Lorenzo and Jessica upon his death as well and that Shylock convert to
Christianity. Shylock agrees to these terms and leaves the court. After Shylock
departs and Antonio is freed, he and Bassanio thank Portia—still believing her
to be Balthazar—for her assistance. They insist on giving her some payment for
her trouble, and she takes Bassanio's gloves. She then asks for his ring, the
one she gave him when they were wed. Bassanio refuses to part with the ring,
and she scolds him for not giving her the ring and takes her leave. Antonio
then convinces Bassanio to send the ring to the legal scholar saying, "Let
his deservings and my love withal/Be valued 'gainst your wife's commandment."
Bassanio sends Gratiano to catch up with Portia and give her the ring.
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