Help Me Understand The Merchant of Venice!: Includes Summary of Play and Modern Translation

By William Shakespeare

The Merchant of Venice is considered one of Shakespeare’s greatest comedies. So why aren’t you laughing! 

Shakespeare is a funny guy--when you can understand him; the problem is his plays were written hundreds of years ago and if you don’t understand the context, the plays can be really confusing.

If you are st

• Language: English
• Publisher: Golgotha Press, Inc.
• Release date: Nov 7, 2019
• ISBN: 9781087829159

William Shakespeare

William Shakespeare is the world's greatest ever playwright. Born in 1564, he split his time between Stratford-upon-Avon and London, where he worked as a playwright, poet and actor. In 1582 he married Anne Hathaway. Shakespeare died in 1616 at the age of fifty-two, leaving three children—Susanna, Hamnet and Judith. The rest is silence.

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cover-image, Help Me Understand the Mercant of Venice

Help Me Understand

The Merchant of Venice!



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Includes summary of Play and Modern Translation

William Shakespeare /

Scott La Counte (Editor)

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SwipeSpeare

ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA

www.SwipeSpeare.com

Copyright © 2019 by Golgotha Press, Inc.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law.

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Table of Contents

Historical Context

Plot Overview

Detailed Synopsis

Themes

Leah's Ring

Religion

Profit and Debt

Pound of Flesh

Deception

Mercy

The Law

Fathers and Daughters

Salvation and Damnation

Contracts and Love

Characters

Antonio

Bassanio

Shylock

Portia

Gratiano

Lorenzo

Lancelet- (Lan-ce-let)

Jessica

Nerissa

The Duke

Salerio

Solanio

Morocco

Aragon

Tubal

Summary of Play: Act One

Act One, Scene One

Act One, Scene Two

Act One, Scene Three

Summary of Play: Act Two

Act Two, Scene Two

Act Two, Scene Three

Act Two, Scene Four

Act Two, Scene Five

Act Two, Scene Six

Act Two, Scene Seven

Act Two, Scene Eight

Act Two, Scene Nine

Summary of Play: Act Three

Act Three, Scene Two

Act Three, Scene Three

Act Three, Scene Four

Act Three, Scene Five

Summary of Play: Act Four

Act Four, Scene Two

Summary of Play: Act Five

William Shakespeare Biography

The Times Shakespeare Lived In

Shakespeare’s Family

Shakespeare’s Childhood and Education

Shakespeare’s Adulthood

Modern Play: Act One

Act 1: Scene 1

SCENE I. Venice. A street.

SCENE II: Belmont. A room in PORTIA'S house.

SCENE III. Venice. A public place.

Act II

SCENE I. Belmont. A room in PORTIA'S house.

SCENE II. Venice. A street.

SCENE III. The same. A room in SHYLOCK'S house.

SCENE IV. The same. A street.

SCENE V. The same. Before SHYLOCK'S house.

SCENE VI. The same.

SCENE VII. Belmont. A room in PORTIA'S house.

SCENE VIII. Venice. A street.

Act III

SCENE I. Venice. A street.

SCENE II. Belmont. A room in PORTIA'S house.

SCENE III. Venice. A street.

SCENE IV. Belmont. A room in PORTIA'S house.

SCENE V. The same. A garden.

Act IV

SCENE I. Venice. A court of justice.

SCENE II. The same. A street.

Act V

SCENE I. Belmont. Avenue to PORTIA'S house.

About the Editor

For more help understanding Shakespeare, visit www.SwipeSpeare.com.



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Historical Context

William Shakespeare, playwright extraordinaire, lived in 16th to 17th Century England. He wrote a vast number of plays, including the still popular Hamlet, A Midsummer Night's Dream, and Romeo & Juliet. Many of his plays were written as part of the Lord Chamberlain's Men—later known as the King's Men—who were a company of players, or actors. Although Shakespeare is synonymous with the Globe Theatre, a great number of his plays were performed at Blackfriars Theatre and at court for royalty and their guests. He was also a seasoned poet and is still celebrated for his 154 sonnets, including the ever popular Sonnet 18. The beginning lines are possibly the most quoted out of all the sonnets: Shall I compare thee to a Summer's day? Thou art more lovely and more temperate. I bet you've heard those lines before!

The 16th and early 17th Centuries in England were periods of immense wealth and strength. Shakespeare lived through the Spanish war, saw the end of Elizabeth the Virgin Queen's reign, and heralded in the reunification of the English and Scottish thrones under one monarch, King James VI. However, despite the Royal family's enormous wealth and rich noblemen in the upper classes, the poor were extremely poor. Famine, poor hygiene and the lack of wages created an environment full of disease, crime and pestilence. If you were poor during this time, you had little to look forward to! Some would visit the theatre as a means to escape their lives if they could afford it, but they would only be able to afford standing room. Imagine standing up through an hour long play! Other entertainment available to the poor included watching executions, tormenting those placed in stocks and attending witch trials. A pretty grim past-time, but there was little else to do!

The Merchant of Venice is a tragic-comedy probably written between the years 1596 and 1598, the latter being the year that the Lord Chamberlain's Men requested to allow the printing of the play's book. Many elements of the play—including a woman disguised as a male lawyer, and the contract made by the friend instead of the man who needs the money—came from Ser Giovanni Florentino's Il Percorone, or The Dunce, which was published in 1558.

Antonio is the titular character of the play, but it is the character of Shylock that has attracted the likes of Sir Patrick Stewart and Al Pacino, which is surprising as he is not present for much of the play. Actors who play him think of him as a challenge and an intriguing character. Most play him with a slight sympathetic edge, using his inability to express his love and the loss of his wife as a launching point. Although many modern readers of this play might feel uncomfortable with the portrayal of Shylock, they need to keep in mind that the Jewish faith and people had been expelled from England for almost 300 years by this time and were not allowed to return to the country until at least 1655.

The Merchant of Venice was extremely popular even in Elizabethan England. Since then, tt has been adapted into various stage plays, films, stage sequels and even opera!



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Plot Overview

Antonio is asked by his best friend to borrow money so he can woo Portia to be his bride. Antonio enters into an agreement with Shylock, the Jewish moneylender, to borrow three thousand ducats. If he doesn't repay the money, Shylock will take one pound of his flesh as a penalty. After Antonio's ships run aground, and all seems lost, a surprising ally. in the form of a disguised woman, comes to his rescue to trick Shylock out of taking the flesh and setting things right once more.

Detailed Synopsis

Antonio is worried. He and his friends, Salerio and Solanio, discuss the reasons why he could be upset: they believe he is anxious about his ships still being out at sea. Antonio isn't sure that's the reason. Bassanio, Antonio's best friend, asks for his help in travelling to Belmont to woo the beautiful and rich Portia to be his bride. The only snag? He needs to borrow money. Antonio will borrow money for him and be his guarantor. They leave to find someone to borrow the money from.

In Belmont, a young woman called Portia complains to her servant, Nerissa, about having her suitors and husband chosen for her. Her dead Father has constructed a game to test the suitors and whoever wins will have her hand in marriage. There are three caskets, made from gold, silver and lead, and Portia's picture sits in one of them. Whoever finds the picture is the most worthy and deserves Portia's hand. She and Nerissa discuss the suitors who have come to choose the caskets and chickened out already. Portia didn't like the suitors, and is extremely witty when she remarks on each of them, proving her intelligence. Nerissa reminds her of Bassanio who visited the house when Portia's Father was still alive. Both believe Bassanio is extremely worthy. A servant announces that the Prince of Morocco will arrive the next day, but Portia is unimpressed with this news.

Back in Venice, Bassanio and Shylock—a Jewish moneylender—discuss the loan. He needs to borrow three thousand ducats for three months. Shylock wants to charge interest, and isn't sure about Antonio being the guarantor for the loan. His fortunes are wrapped up in foreign businesses, which are too unpredictable. Antonio arrives, and Shylock reveals his real reasons for hesitating—he hates Christians, and Antonio is one, and also because Antonio has been damaging Shylock's moneylending business by loaning money without charging interest. Antonio reveals he doesn't usually borrow or lend money, but is doing this as an exception to help Bassanio out. Shylock wonders why Antonio has come to him for help when he insults Shylock behind his back. Antonio knows it will be easier to borrow from his enemy as the terms will be followed precisely, but Shylock wants to be his friend not charge interest. He jokes that if Antonio is unable to pay the money back, Shylock will take a pound of his flesh. Bassanio warns Antonio against it—he doesn't like the sound of that contract—but Antonio waves him off. He'll make three times that amount of money in the next two months. They will put the contract in writing later. Shylock leaves. Antonio thinks Shylock is a kinder man than he thought, but Bassanio thinks he is still a villain and is tricking Antonio.

The Prince of Morocco asks Portia to not judge him based on his complexion. Portia cannot send anyone away who decides to try the caskets for her hand in marriage, and so it is not her choice anyway. Morocco speaks lovingly to her, but is a little self absorbed. Portia reminds Morocco that the penalty for choosing the wrong casket is for him to remain unmarried for his entire life.

Lancelet Gobbo, the Clown, wants to run away from Shylock's household, where he is a servant. When he finally decides that, yes, he will leave the house, he bumps into Old Gobbo, his father. Old Gobbo is half blind, and cannot see Lancelet properly, so Lancelet decides to play a trick on him. Old Gobbo is looking for his son, and for Shylock's home, so that he can give Shylock a present for continuing to keep Lancelet on as staff. Lancelet pretends his son is dead, before revealing that he is, in fact, Lancelet. Once Old Gobbo finally believes Lancelet, he is told that Lancelet is leaving to serve Bassanio. Old Gobbo should give him the present. Bassanio arrives and—after much comic confusion—agrees to take on Lancelet as a new servant.

Jessica, Shylock's daughter, doesn't want Lancelet to leave her. He makes life a little easier for her to deal with at the house. Lancelet is given a letter and money to deliver to Lorenzo, who is staying in Bassanio's home. She wants to marry Lorenzo and become a Christian.

While Lorenzo and the others dress themselves for a masquerade ball to help Jessica escape, Lancelet arrives with the letter. He is going back to Shylock's with an invitation from Bassanio to go to dinner with him, so Lorenzo asks him to tell Jessica he will be there. He sends Salerio and Solanio ahead of him to prepare and keep watch. Lorenzo tells Gratiano that Jessica will be fetching gold and jewels and will be disguised as a torchbearer so she can escape as part of the group of masquers.

Shylock warns Lancelet that working for Bassanio might not be as fantastic as he thinks it's going to be. He tells Jessica to lock the doors and windows after Lancelet warns them there will be a masque that night. She is not to look out onto the streets. Lancelet whispers to Jessica to watch out for a Christian (i.e. Lorenzo) as he is on his way. Shylock reminds Jessica to lock the house up and leaves for Bassanio's dinner.

Meanwhile, Gratiano and Salerio wait for Lorenzo to arrive. They're worried he is late, but then he finally turns up and calls for Jessica. She appears above them at a window, dressed in boy's clothes. She throws down a box of jewels and money to Lorenzo, and then comes down to meet him, even though she's embarrassed by her disguise. They leave to join the masque, leaving Gratiano behind. Antonio appears and tells Gratiano they will leave with Bassanio for Belmont that night as the wind is favourable.

The Prince of Morocco looks at the three caskets, reading the inscription on each of them. The gold tells him he will gain what many men desire, the silver as much as he deserves and the lead to give and hazard all he hath. Portia tells him about the portrait. Morocco explains his understanding of each casket, revealing his own self importance in his belief that he deserves to have the thing that all men desire the most. He chooses the gold casket, within which lies a human skull with a scroll stuck through the eye socket. According to the scroll he has judged on appearances and has lost his chance. Morocco is too upset to stay and leaves immediately. Portia hopes that everyone like Morocco leaves as quickly.

Salerio and Solanio talk about Jessica's disappearance from Venice, and Shylock's response. He and the Duke of Venice tried to search Bassanio's ship, but it had already set sail. Salerio is sure Lorenzo wasn't on it anyway. Solanio tells Salerio that Shylock ran through the streets crying for his daughter and his gold. They hope that Antonio can repay Shylock's loan; otherwise he will have to face Shylock's anger. Salerio has heard news of Antonio's ships possibly being lost and he is worried.

The Prince of Aragon arrives to try his hand with the three caskets. Aragon chooses the silver casket and finds a picture of an idiot inside. The scroll tells him that he is a foolish man for choosing second best as many other men do throughout their lives. Aragon leaves. A messenger arrives to tell them a Venetian man is on his way. Portia is looking forward to seeing him. Nerissa hopes that it is Bassanio.

Solanio and Salerio discuss the loss of another of Antonio's ships. Shylock appears and accuses them of helping Jessica escape. They admit they did know she was going to leave, but that it wasn't truly a surprise. They ask if Shylock has heard about Antonio's losses at sea. He has, and will be taking the pound of flesh soon. Salerio doesn't understand what he could do with it, but Shylock wants his revenge, even if it is useless to take the flesh. Antonio has mocked and insulted him, so why shouldn't Shylock take his revenge? Antonio's servant arrives and asks Solanio and Salerio to go and visit him. Tubal, Shylock's Jewish friend, appears. Shylock asks if he managed to find Jessica. He has not, but has heard many rumours of her spending money, including exchanging a ring from his dead wife for a monkey. Antonio has also lost another ship. Shylock is angry for his losses, but pleased he will be able to take revenge.

Portia begs Bassanio to wait before choosing a casket because she wants to spend more time with him. Bassanio confesses his love for Portia, but doesn't want to wait because he is nervous. Bassanio is a sound judge—he rejects the gold and silver caskets and chooses the lead. He finds Portia's portrait inside. Portia is extremely happy: she puts Bassanio in charge of the household and staff, and vows herself to him. They will marry that night. She gives him a ring which she makes him vow never to take off, or it will render his love dishonest. Nerissa and Gratiano congratulate them and then reveal they love one another. They too will get married that night. Lorenzo, Salerio and Jessica arrive. Salerio gives Bassanio a letter from Antonio. Portia is worried that Bassanio has gone pale reading the letter. He reveals Antonio is in trouble because of him and tells her about the contract. Jessica tells them that Shylock is extremely fixated on getting his penalty back, and there's probably no way that Shylock will back off. Portia tells Bassanio that he must go and save his friend. They shall be married immediately and then Bassanio and Gratiano will leave for Venice to help Antonio. In the meantime, they shall live like virgins, and wait for their husbands' return. Bassanio reads the letter to Portia—Antonio doesn't think he will live after the flesh is taken from him and cancels all debts between himself and Bassanio.

Antonio will not try to hide from Shylock any longer. Shylock rants and raves, upset that Antonio is being released from jail and vows to make the law recognize his right to the pound of flesh. He knows that the Duke of Venice can't step in the way as if he did all of Venetian law would be questioned. Antonio hopes that Bassanio will come see him pay his debt.

Lorenzo tells Portia that Antonio is well worth saving. She should be proud of Bassanio. Portia and Nerissa are going to retire to a Monastery to pray for their husbands' safe return. She puts Lorenzo and Jessica in charge until they come back. A servant, Balthasar, comes in, and Portia asks him to send a letter to her cousin, a lawyer by the name of Bellario, and to bring whatever clothes or letters he sends to Venice. She and Nerissa will meet them there. Portia reveals her plan to Nerissa; they will be dressed like men!

Lancelet fears for Jessica's soul because of her connection to Shylock. She is sure that Lorenzo has saved her soul by converting her to Christianity. Lorenzo arrives, and Jessica tells him what Lancelet has been saying. Lorenzo simply brings up the fact that he got a woman pregnant, and after many jokes back and forth, orders Lancelet to get the dinner ready.

In the courtroom, the Duke of Venice is terribly sorry that Antonio has to face an enraged man like Shylock. Antonio is ready to accept his sentence. The Duke asks for Shylock's mercy towards Antonio, but he will not budge; he wants the pound of flesh owed to him by the contractual agreement. Bassanio offers him the three thousand ducats, and then twice that, but Shylock will not take the money. A clerk, Nerissa disguised as a man, has arrived with a message from the lawyer Bellario. While the Duke reads the letter, Shylock sharpens his knife on his shoe. The Duke reveals that Bellario cannot come, but has sent a young lawyer called Balthasar in his place. Portia enters, disguised as Balthasar.

She concludes that Shylock needs to be merciful as it is in God's nature to be merciful, and so he must follow that example. Shylock refuses. Bassanio offers to pay ten times the amount and get the law changed, but the law must be upheld. Shylock praises Balthasar/Portia for her sound reasoning. She asks to see the contract and defends Shylock's position: the flesh must be given. She calls for a surgeon to come to stitch Antonio up, so he doesn't die. Shylock doesn't want a surgeon there: that isn't in their contract. Antonio tells them he is ready. Bassanio and Gratiano both claim they would give up their wives if it meant saving Antonio from death. Portia and Nerissa are suitably unimpressed by this.

Portia reminds Shylock that, by Venetian law, he must not spill any blood—the contract will provide him with only flesh, and exactly a pound. If he takes anymore, or spills any blood, he will have broken the law and Shylock will have to surrender his life, his belongings and property. Shylock decides to take the money, but he has already refused that in a court of law and so cannot. Shylock tries to leave, but Portia reminds him that by law half of his money should go to the man he attempted to kill and half to the state