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The Merchant of Venice: the plot
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A loan, a bond for a pound of flesh, and three caskets. This comedy contains one of Shakespeare's most debated characters, Shylock.
The bond and the caskets
Bassanio needs money to woo the rich heiress Portia of Belmont. His friend Antonio, a merchant whose money is tied up in ships, borrows 3,000 ducats from the Jewish moneylender Shylock.
The bond: if the loan is not repaid, Shylock may take a pound of Antonio's flesh.
Portia's father's will says she must marry the suitor who chooses the right casket: gold, silver or lead.
The bond: if the loan is not repaid, Shylock may take a pound of Antonio's flesh.
Portia's father's will says she must marry the suitor who chooses the right casket: gold, silver or lead.
Losses and choices
The Princes of Morocco (gold) and Arragon (silver) choose wrongly. Bassanio chooses lead and wins Portia.
Shylock's daughter Jessica elopes with the Christian Lorenzo, taking her father's money and jewels.
Antonio's ships are reported lost, and Shylock demands his bond.
Shylock's daughter Jessica elopes with the Christian Lorenzo, taking her father's money and jewels.
Antonio's ships are reported lost, and Shylock demands his bond.
The trial and the rings
Portia, disguised as a young lawyer, defends Antonio. She asks Shylock for mercy; he refuses.
She then rules that he may take flesh but no blood. Shylock loses, and is forced to give up much of his wealth and become a Christian.
In Act 5 a comic trick with rings ends the play, and Antonio's ships turn out to be safe.
She then rules that he may take flesh but no blood. Shylock loses, and is forced to give up much of his wealth and become a Christian.
In Act 5 a comic trick with rings ends the play, and Antonio's ships turn out to be safe.
How does Portia defeat Shylock in court?
- She agrees the bond allows a pound of flesh.
- But it says nothing about blood.
- Taking flesh without shedding Christian blood is impossible, so Shylock cannot claim it.
Answer: The bond allows flesh but no blood, so Shylock cannot carry it out.
Antonio borrows for Bassanio; bond of a pound of flesh; caskets (lead wins); Jessica elopes; ships lost; trial where Portia wins with 'no blood'; Shylock forced to convert; the ring trick; ships safe.
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