Merchant of venice summary

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University of New South Wales *

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ADVANCED

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Arts Humanities

Date

Oct 30, 2023

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docx

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Uploaded by DrCrown12433

The Merchant of Venice" is a renowned play written by William Shakespeare, likely in the late 16th century. The story revolves around themes of love, justice, prejudice, and the complexities of human nature. The play is set in Venice and Belmont. The central character is Antonio, a wealthy merchant who borrows 3,000 ducats from the Jewish moneylender Shylock in order to help his friend Bassanio court the beautiful heiress Portia. To secure the loan, Shylock insists on a bond that allows him to extract a pound of Antonio's flesh if the loan is not repaid on time. Meanwhile, in Belmont, Portia is being courted by several suitors. To determine her future husband, her late father's will has established a test involving three caskets (gold, silver, and lead) from which the suitors must choose correctly. Bassanio, who is truly in love with Portia, successfully chooses the lead casket and wins her hand in marriage. Back in Venice, Antonio's ships are reported lost at sea, and he is unable to repay the debt to Shylock. Shylock is determined to extract the pound of flesh as per their bond, even when offered multiple times the amount of the loan. This leads to a legal dispute, and Portia, disguised as a male lawyer, intervenes in the trial. She cleverly argues that Shylock is entitled to the flesh but not a drop of Antonio's blood. This forces Shylock to withdraw his demand, and he is later punished for attempting to take a citizen's life. In a subplot, Portia's maid Nerissa disguises herself as a lawyer and helps her mistress's new husband, Bassanio, and his friend Gratiano resolve a ring-giving misunderstanding that had arisen during their respective trials. In the end, the play concludes with the harmonious resolution of these plotlines. Bassanio, Antonio, and their friends return to Belmont, where they discover the identities of the disguised Portia and Nerissa. The play ends on a note of forgiveness and reconciliation as the characters celebrate their newfound happiness. "The Merchant of Venice" is a complex work that delves into themes of mercy and justice, love and prejudice, and the capacity for transformation and forgiveness in human relationships. It remains a significant piece of literature that continues to spark discussions and debates about its portrayal of societal issues.

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