Venice Merchant

Author: Shakespeare
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2001-01-01
Features: The Merchant of Venice is one of Shakespeare's four great comedies, written around 1596. The play depicts a penniless noble young man named Bassanio in Venice, who borrows money from his friend Antonio to propose to Portia, the heiress of a wealthy merchant. Because Antonio's ships have not yet arrived, he is forced to borrow from the Jewish moneylender Shylock and signs a contract: if he does not repay on time, Shylock is entitled to cut a pound of flesh from Antonio. Bassanio and Portia fall in love at first sight, but Antonio's ships encounter an accident and do not return, and he will be punished by having a pound of flesh cut off when the debt is due. Portia bravely disguises herself as a lawyer and goes to Venice to save Antonio. In court, Portia uses her remarkable intelligence to refute Shylock and win the case.