Show Plot Merchant of Venice

Author: William Shakespeare

Time Period: late 16th century

Setting:  Venice, Italy, and Belmont, a wealthy country estate

Summary:  Bassanio needs money to woo Portia. He asks his friend Antonio (a wealthy merchant) for a loan. Antonio borrows 3,000 ducats from Shylock, a Jewish moneylender whom Antonio frequently insults for practicing usury.  Shylock agrees to an interest-free loan with a dark humorous condition: if Antonio cannot repay it on the exact day, Shylock may cut a pound of flesh from any part of Antonio’s body he chooses.  When Antonio’s ships are rumored lost at sea, he defaults on the loan.  Shylock demands his pound of flesh in court.  Portia disguises herself as a young male lawyer, and defeats Sherlock by a legal loophole.