W. Shakespeare, "The Venetian Merchant": a summary

In this article we will describe the work "The Venetian merchant". The summary of the play written in Shakespeare in 1600 will begin as follows. Antonio, a Venetian merchant, is in unreasonable sadness. Friends of his, Salanio and Salarino, try to explain her 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 appearance of Bassanio - the closest friend and relative of Antonio, accompanied by Lorenzo and Graziano. Salanio and Salarino leave. Graziano, a joker, tries to amuse Antonio, but he does not succeed. The merchant says that the world is a scene where everyone has a role, and Antonio's role is sad. Lorenzo and Graziano are removed.

Bassanio asks Antonio for money

Then describes the conversation between two friends Shakespeare ("The Venetian merchant"). The summary of his next. Bassanio alone with his friend admits that he was completely without funds because of his carefree lifestyle, and therefore again forced to ask for money from Antonio in order to go to the estate of Portia, located in Belmonte. Portia is a rich heiress, and Bassanio is passionately in love with her virtue and beauty, and is confident of the success of matchmaking. Antonio does not have any 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 she can neither reject nor choose the groom by her will. Her husband will be the one who, choosing from three boxes (lead, silver and gold), guesses which of them is her portrait. The maid begins to list the various candidates - Portia ridicules each of them. Only about Bassanio - a warrior and a scientist who visited her father once, she remembers with tenderness.

Treaty between Antonio and Shylock

In the meantime, Bassanio in Venice asks to lend the merchant Shylock 3 thousand ducats under the guarantee of Antonio for three months. Shylock knows that his whole condition is entrusted to the sea. He, in conversation with the emerging protagonist, whom he hates for contempt for usury and his people, reminds him of the innumerable insults to which his Venetian merchant subjected him. The summary will not describe all the details of this meeting. Since Antonio does not lend without interest, Shylock, in order to win friendship with him, will also give a loan without interest. It takes only a comic pledge - a pound of meat merchant, which he can cut out as a penalty from any part of the body of Antonio. He is delighted with the kindness and joke of the usurer. Bassanio also has a bad feeling and therefore asks his friend not to conclude this deal. However, Shylock says that from such a pledge it will not be of any use to him anyway. A friend of his reminds that ships will come long before the time of payment.

The Prince of Morocco arrives at Portia's house in order to select a casket. He takes an oath, as the conditions of the test require: not to woo 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 continuously jokers, as William Shakespeare mentions in the work "The Venetian Merchant". Lancelot, having met his blind father, plays him for a long time, after which he tells about his intention to go to the servants to Bassanio, who is known for his generosity. He agrees to take on the service of Lancelot, and also to go with Graziano to Belmont. The servant in the house of Shylock bids farewell to Jessica, the daughter of her former master. They exchange jokes with each other. Jessica's father is ashamed. The lancelot is called to convey secretly to Lorenzo, the girl's lover, a letter describing the escape plan. Jessica, taking with her the jewels and money of her father, disguised as a page, secretly leaves with the help of Salarino and Graziano from Lorenzo. Graziano and Bassanio hurry to sail to Belmont with a fair wind.

The attempt of the Prince of Morocco

Prince of Morocco in Belmonte chooses a gold box. In his opinion, a precious pearl can not be placed in another frame. However, it contains edifying verses and a skull, and not a portrait of the beloved. The prince is removed.

Salanio and Salarino in Venice mock at the wrath of Shylock, who learned that his daughter had robbed him and fled with the Christian. At the same time, they are discussing that one of the ships belonging to Antonio sank in the English Channel.

Choosing the Prince of Aragon

The new challenger is in Belmont - 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 this 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. The reviews of Salanio and Salarino about Antonio indicate that they cherish friendship with this person. When Shylock appears before them, first Salanino and Salarino scoff at him, and then express their confidence that if the bill of Antonio is overdue, the usurer of his meat will not demand. Shylock in reply says that he disgraced him, hindered Shylock's affairs, inflamed his enemies. He promises to fulfill everything according to the contract.

Jessica is wasting her father's fortune

Salario and Salarino are leaving. Appears Tubal - a Jew, whom he sent to find his daughter, Shylock. However, he could not do this. He only retells to Shylock rumors about his daughter's childishness. The father is horrified by the losses incurred. Learning that Jessica had exchanged for the monkey the ring given to him by the deceased wife, Shylock sends her daughter a curse. One comforts him - rumors that Antonio is suffering losses. He is determined to put out his grief and anger on him.

Bassanio makes the right choice

Portia in Belmonte persuades to hesitate with the choice of Bassanio. In case of an error, she is afraid of losing it. The same one wants to immediately test his fate. Young people, exchanging witty phrases, admit to love each other. They bring caskets. Rejects silver and gold Bassanio, because the external shine is deceptive. The choice is a lead casket. Opening it, he finds a portrait of Portia, as well as a poetic greeting. Bassanio and Portia are preparing for the wedding, and with them - Graziano and Nerissa, fell in love with each other. Portia gives her fiance a ring, and also takes an oath with him to keep this decoration as a pledge of their mutual love. A similar gift is made by Nerissa Graziano.

Letter from Antonio

Lorenzo and Jessica come, as well as the messenger who brought the letter that the Venetian merchant wrote. The summary of Antonio's letter is as follows. He reports that all his ships were lost, and he himself was ruined, the bill of exchange to the usurer expired, and he demands payment of a terrible penalty. In the letter, Antonio also asks his friend not to blame himself for his misfortunes and come to see him before his death. Portia insists that Bassanio go immediately to help Antonio, offering any money for the life of his friend Shylock. Graziano and Bassanio go to Venice.

Shylock revels in a thirst for revenge, because the law is now on his side. Antonio realizes that it is impossible to break it, so he is ready for his imminent death. The merchant dreams of only one thing - to see before his death Bassanio.

Portia's act

Portia in Belmonte entrusts Lorenzo his estate, and she herself leaves with her servant supposedly to pray to 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 provide Portia with a man's dress and papers.

Over Jessica laughed Lancelot because of the adoption of that Christianity. Lanchelot, Jessica and Lorenzo exchange joking remarks among themselves. They seek to outdo these witches of the play "The Venetian Merchant" in the wit of each other. Quotations from the work are very interesting. In the play, there are several similar scenes depicting the wit of the heroes in verbal fights.

Trial

Shylock enjoys a triumph in court. Nothing can soften the cruelty of this usurer - neither calls for mercy, nor offers from Bassanio to pay double the amount of debt. Shylock refers in response to reproaches against the law and reproaches the Christians in return for having slavery. The judge asks to consult with Dr. Bellario before making a final decision. Antonio and Bassanio, the heroes of the work "The Venetian Merchant," the content of which in the summary you read, try to cheer each other. Each of them is ready to be sacrificed. The scribe enters, under the guise of which the disguised Nerissa hides. Referring to ill health, Bellario, in her letter, recommends for the conduct of the process of her young, but very intelligent colleague - Dr. Balthazar (disguised Portia). The girl tries first to propitiate 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. The one in despair. He is able to sacrifice everything for him, even his wife, if only it would save Antonio's life. Graziano for his part is ready for the same. But Shylock only condemns the fragility of Christian marriages. He wants to get down to business.

Continues his work Shakespeare ("Venetian merchant"). The following is the summary of the further developments in the lawsuit. "Judge" at the last moment stops Shylock in order to remind that he should take only the meat of a merchant, while not spilling a single drop of blood. In addition, take it should be exactly a pound.

If Shylock violates these conditions, according to the law he faces a brutal punishment. Then the usurer agrees that instead he is paid a triple sum of debt. But the judge is against, as there is not a word about it in the bill. Shylock is ready to receive only payment of a debt, but again - a refusal. In addition, for the attempt on the citizen of the republic under the Venetian laws, he must give half the assets to him, and the second should be sent to the treasury as a fine. The life of the criminal himself depends on the mercy of the judge. However, Shylock refuses to ask for indulgence. Nevertheless, life is preserved to him, replacing the penalty with requisition. Antonio, by generosity, refuses the half that he has been given, with the proviso that she will be bequeathed to Lorenzo after the death of Shylock. The guilty merchant must accept Christianity and all his property bequeath to his son-in-law and his daughter. In despair, Shylock agrees. Imaginary judges as a reward entice the rings of fooled husbands.

Jessica and Lorenzo in Belmonte on a lunar night are ordered to play musicians in the garden. They are preparing for the return of their masters.

A scene in the garden

The next scene concludes the events of the work "The Venetian Merchant." The play ends with a conversation in the garden. Nerissa and Portia meet there with their husbands at night. It turns out that they lost their rings. Wives say that they were given to women. Men justify, but all in vain. Portia and Nerissa, continuing the rally, promise to share the bed with the judge, only to return the presents. After that they show the rings and confess in the drawing. Antonio Portia gives a letter stating that all his ships are intact. Nerissa also gives Jessica and Lorenzo an act by which Shylock gives them his wealth. Everyone goes to the house to find out the details of the adventures of Nerissa and Portia.

So ends his work "The Venetian merchant" Shakespeare. This play is very interesting. In a concise statement, we acquainted the reader with it. However, our task does not include a story about the peculiarities of such a work as the "Venetian merchant". Analyze it, try to conduct yourself.