The Merchant of Venice by William Shakespeare. Written approximately 1596–1598. Studied at KS3 and GCSE.
The play has two intertwined plots. In Venice, the merchant Antonio borrows money from the Jewish moneylender Shylock for his friend Bassanio. Shylock, who is mistreated by Antonio and the Venetian Christians, agrees to the loan — but the bond states that if Antonio cannot repay, Shylock may cut a pound of flesh from Antonio's body. In Belmont, Bassanio woos the wealthy Portia, who can only marry the man who chooses the correct casket (gold, silver or lead) in a riddle set by her dead father.
Bassanio chooses the lead casket — the correct one — and wins Portia's hand. They marry. Portia's servant Nerissa marries Gratiano. Portia and Nerissa give their new husbands rings as tokens of love and test them later.
Antonio's ships are reportedly lost at sea; he cannot repay the debt. Shylock — whose daughter Jessica has eloped with a Christian, taking his money and jewels — is in no mood to show mercy. He demands his pound of flesh in court. Portia arrives disguised as a young lawyer and argues that Shylock may take exactly a pound of flesh but cannot spill a drop of blood and must cut precisely one pound — no more, no less. Shylock cannot comply. He is stripped of half his wealth and forced to convert to Christianity.
News arrives that Antonio's ships have come safely to port. The play ends with the married couples reunited in Belmont.
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