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The Merchant of Venice Full Play Summary. Antonio, a Venetian merchant, complains to his friends of a melancholy that he cannot explain. His friend Bassanio is desperately in need of money to court Portia, a wealthy heiress who lives in the city of Belmont. Bassanio asks Antonio for a loan in order to travel in style to Portia’s estate.
- Act 4: Scene 1, Lines 1–163
A summary of Act 4: Scene 1, Lines 1–163 in William...
- Key Facts
Setting (place) Venice and Belmont, Italy. Protagonist There...
- No Fear Translation
The Merchant of Venice, William Shakespeare, scene summary,...
- Full Play Analysis
The Merchant of Venice is essentially a play about property:...
- Shylock
Although critics tend to agree that Shylock is The Merchant...
- Portia
SparkNotes Plus subscription is $4.99/month or $24.99/year...
- Scene II Summary & Analysis
A summary of Act 4: Scene 1, lines 397–453 & Scene 2 in...
- Quick Quiz
Test your knowledge on all of The Merchant of Venice....
- Act Iii, Scenes I–Ii
A summary of Act 3: Scenes 1 & 2 in William Shakespeare's...
- Suggestions for Further Reading
Auden, W. H. “Brothers & Others.” In The Dyer’s Hand and...
- Act 4: Scene 1, Lines 1–163
May 20, 2024 · The Merchant of Venice, comedy in five acts by William Shakespeare, written about 1596–97 and printed in a quarto edition in 1600 from an authorial manuscript or copy of one. Bassanio, a noble but penniless Venetian, asks his wealthy merchant friend Antonio for a loan so that Bassanio can undertake a journey to woo the heiress Portia .
- David Bevington
Read our short The Merchant of Venice summary to help you understand the play and characters. Shakespeare’s The Merchant of Venice is a much loved – and studied – play, set in Venice, Italy. The main themes are justice, mercy, revenge, love, and friendship, and though much of the subject matter is rather dark, it is regarded as one of ...
The Merchant of Venice Summary. Antonio, an antisemitic merchant, takes a loan from the Jew Shylock to help his friend to court Portia. Antonio can't repay the loan, and without mercy, Shylock demands a pound of his flesh. The heiress Portia, now the wife of Antonio's friend, dresses as a lawyer and saves Antonio. More detail: 3 minute read.
At Belmont, the Prince of Morocco arrives to try his luck at the riddle of the caskets. He chooses incorrectly (gold), and leaves in defeat. Meanwhile, in Venice, Lorenzo, a friend of Bassanio's, has fallen in love with Shylock's daughter, Jessica. One night, when Shylock goes out, Jessica steals a large sum of money from her father and elopes ...
Launcelot Gobbo, Shylock’s servant, decides to leave him, telling his father about his plan. Lorenzo, with the help of Solanio, Salerio and Gratiano, plot to help Jessica, Shylock’s daughter, to escape. While Shylock is out dining with Antonio, Jessica and Lorenzo elope with some of Shylock’s money. Meanwhile Portia is unhappy with her ...
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Overview. The Merchant of Venice by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written between 1596 and 1599, is a compelling play that navigates the intersections of comedy and drama. The story unfolds in the bustling city of Venice, revolving around the antisemitic Christian merchant Antonio, who seeks a loan from the Jewish moneylender ...
