The Merchant of Venice - Play Summary

Visit us at www.gradesaver.com/merchant-o... to read the full video transcript and our study guide for this classic play, which includes a full list of characters, themes, and much more.
The Merchant of Venice, by Shakespeare, opens with Antonio, a Christian merchant, in a depressed state. His friends try to cheer him up, suggesting that perhaps he’s worried about his ships at sea. Then, Antonio’s dear friend Bassanio, an aristocrat who has lost all of his money, comes to ask Antonio for a monetary loan, so that he, Bassanio, can travel to Belmont to woo a wealthy heiress named Portia.
Antonio and Bassanio clearly have a deep and loving friendship. While Antonio cannot give Bassanio the money directly, he offers to use his good credit to get a loan for his friend. Bassanio finds Shylock, a Jewish moneylender, and convinces him to give a loan of three thousand ducats. In a rather unusual twist, Shylock agrees not to charge the Christian men interest, but instead makes a strange proposal: If Antonio cannot pay back the money, Antonio will give Shylock a pound of his own flesh. Antonio accepts the terms of the contract, or “bond.”
Meanwhile, in Belmont, Portia is melancholy. Her father, now dead, decreed that all of Portia’s suitors must partake in a test. The suitors are presented with three caskets: one of gold, one of silver, and one of lead. One contains a portrait of Portia within it; the suitor to choose this casket will have permission to marry her. First, the Prince of Morocco comes to woo Portia and picks the gold casket; inside he finds a skull, symbolizing the way gold hides corruption. The next suitor, the Prince of Aragon, selects the silver casket which bears an inscription stating that it will “give a man what he deserves.” Inside is a picture of an idiot.
Back in Venice, Shylock’s daughter, Jessica has made a plan to run away with a Christian man, Lorenzo. They plan to escape one night when Shylock will be out. Shylock instructs Jessica to lock the house well as there will be masquers and music in the street that night. Once he leaves, Lorenzo arrives with two friends, standing below Jessica’s upstairs window. She appears dressed as a boy, tosses a chest of ducats down to them, and then runs away with them.
When Shylock discovers that his daughter has run away with his ducats, his devastation overwhelms him. Meanwhile, there are rumors that many of Antonio's ships have sunk or been lost at sea. Shylock begins to revel in the idea that he will exact his pound of flesh from Antonio, in revenge for the many insults Antonio has dealt him throughout the years.
Meanwhile, Bassanio has arrived in Belmont with his friend Graziano. Portia remembers Bassanio as the dashing soldier with whom she fell in love several years earlier. Bassanio selects the lead casket and finds Portia’s picture inside. After Portia gives him a ring to seal their engagement, Graziano informs them that he and Portia’s maid, Nerissa, wish to be married as well.
Bassanio receives a letter from Antonio stating he cannot repay Shylock and must forfeit a pound of flesh. Portia tells Bassanio to take six thousand ducats-twice the original amount owed-and return to Venice where he can pay Shylock and cancel the contract. After Bassanio and Graziano have left, unbeknownst to them, Nerissa and Portia depart for Venice disguised as men. Jessica and Lorenzo will watch over Belmont while they are gone.
Back in Venice, in a court of justice, the Duke pleads with Shylock to forgive the contract and let Antonio go free. Shylock refuses, even when Bassanio offers the higher payment. The court then waits for a doctor of the law to arrive. Nerissa enters the court and hands the Duke a letter stating a Doctor Bellario has sent an educated young doctor in his place.
Portia enters disguised as the young Doctor “Balthasar.” Portia tries to persuade Shylock to spare Antonio’s life through an appeal to “mercy.” When Shylock won’t budge, Portia grants him his pound of flesh. Shylock holds a knife ready to cut into Antonio's breast.
Suddenly Portia stops him. He may have his pound of flesh, she says, but not a single drop of blood, and the flesh must weigh exactly one pound-no more and no less, or Venice can confiscate his lands and goods. Shylock, clearly unable to comply, backs down, saying he will accept three times the original amount owed to him.
But Portia refuses and presses on. In demanding Antonio’s flesh, Shylock was prepared to take his life. If any foreigner conspires against the life of a Venetian, half his wealth is to be given to the man against whom he conspired, half is taken by the state, and the Duke can have the conspirer put to death. At this point, the Duke pardons Shylock’s life and Antonio tells the court he will forgive the fine of half of Shylock's wealth provided Shylock converts to Christianity.

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[@samridhi1257]

Exactly bro

[@abrahamvarkey944]

True

[@bestcodingwithnityam3901]

me too

[@DieMentor]

And they have only 40 k subs, they very ungrateful veiwers (I am one of them)

[@evinseashlin5775]

So truee

[@thedude8380]

A very comprehensive ; detailed summary. Good work bro👍

[@GGHighlights.]

Thanks so much for the video and extremely great and simple explanation. You did a great job and made my understanding of this book easier!

[@weslieberman4009]

"deep and loving friendship"

[@bharathbhushan7258]

This is really great 👏 Thank you very much ☺

[@KittyPkth]

Thanks so much for this video because i didn't understand about The Merchant of Venice story when i have exam tmr but now i did understand the story so i don't have to worry anymore.

[@vanyoky1191]

One of my favorites in my high school literature class.

[@scruf1897]

Thank you for this video!

[@beckywambaka7354]

I came here because I just don't understand what goes on in my literature class anymore

[@SassyGangster]

same

[@Mpcy789]

😂 fact

[@naodsolomon-ql8np]

Same

[@AdityaGupta-hw5ot]

Thanks for making the illustration easy, it's easier to make a drawing of it

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You experience of explaining is very nice sir 👍 👌 😍 👏 😘 .

[@ankz724]

Brilliant summary i find the story very profound and its complexing plot twist at the end really just shakes my dabloons thanks so much for this summary it really helped alot.

[@samuelbinghamnewmarket1981]

This is for english test. this helped me a lot thanks

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Anyone else here just before the mocks

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[@mdesahaqueali9105]

"Merchant of Venice " -A sick thinking of Williams Shakespeare.

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thank you now i can do my english exam easily

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Last minute review, this helped, thx

[@Rajesh_Singh15]

Well explained

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You can do it!

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how did it go

he blew it@@khakishark

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@@khakishark it went good but the summary of merchant of venice wasn't there 🥲🥲🥲

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THANKS ALOT ❤

[@Sneaker_King13]

Thank you :)

[@AantonioT]

Awesome video 👍

[@floraally8346]

Thank you

[@eroslove3570]

This vedio made it easier to better understand the story

[@sjm8510]

Shakespeare’s way to scream Jews will not replace us.

[@akshibansal419]

Thx for this video i will score A+in my exam because of you only
Thx
The people who think the same
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It's good, comprehensive

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thank you for this explain

[@bobsmith3291]

Explanation *

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nice video bro

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thanks

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[@user-el2kz8wn4s]

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[@TheDylls]

People nowadays be like: "How you get fooled into a contract for a pound of your flesh, dumbass?! Unrelated, have you ever thought of becoming your own boss by selling supplements?" 😅❤

[@arahmansdq4939]

Superb

[@Emaaz-ts4ib]

Thank you so much i have a exam tomm …🤞

[@amirmirza8467]

Shylock has been undone completely 😂

[@sunithaprakash6684]

Thank you ❤️
What's your name bro

[@samairaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa]

Tooo many characters my brain aint braining

[@mmphooo1]

thank youuu

[@ankanarpitmitra5418]

Thank you sir,

[@zannlvy]

thank u thank u thank u thank u thank u

[@user-bq3jk2wb2p]

just got casted as portia i need to learn this asap

[@Wsup_ivi]

The only Shakespeare play in which the protagonist is the most uninteresting character

[@BerserkerSloth]

The only character I cared about was Shylock. Everyone else is a total scumbag tbh lol

[@Maxogrady]

THis is so interesting!

[@fozlurrahaman4695]

Wednesday 1st February i have my boards and now i am watching it..

[@aubreyravenl]

poor shylock

[@user-vx1pm8tr8u]

Really it's good

[@trilogiedelarche]

Obviously all of those who commented before actually read the play for themselves...😁

[@shelbyl15]

I know the narrator!

[@kaiumeda3690]

Now cover Huckleberry Finn / The Absolutely True Diary of a Part Time Indian / Comedy of Errors / The Hobbit / 12th Night

[@dr7ex]

My teacher told me to watch this and my name is also poshya😍
(Our names are different)

[@theve666]

Good

[@user-js9vg9kr1y]

Shakespeare knew it
"it wasn't Abdool*
Peace

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Bro, change your name to life saver

[@GradeSaver]

💀

[@shaunijackson6397]

This is home work

This is a funny story. I wish it was a Guy Ritchie movie

[@ihavenoname7599]

4:50 Portia said zoom

[@toddunctious614]

Now do The Merchant of Venice 2.
That's where a recently converted Shylock subverts the Catholic Church.

[@MK1953J1]

Take a 💀 with you bro but I frickin ❤ u

[@user-jf1uj9mh9j]

Please make me wish in the exam after 10 minutes 😢

[@aayushbhati2782]

I love happy ending

[@electro_sykes]

Here for an assignment

[@kajusss]

I have an English exam in 17 mins 😭

[@orereo2328]

How'd it go

[@SFXedits]

Any elps students here before the exams?

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i best past my test

[@ghosty710]

Like If you are Icse class X students. 😄

[@LeighObvyBSTRY]

Im done bruh

[@codycrossman]

This made me realize why Shylock has been used as a derogatory term. Holy smokes does bigotry run deep. 😮

[@user-sf9en6sg7h]

I like how the prince of Morocco is black in this when he would clearly be Caucasian in real life.

he is black in the play, and they make fun of him because of his color

[@Faisaldegrt]

🧃

[@adamsulaiman639]

apa aku belajar pada darjah 5

[@Contramundum429]

Shylock was wicked. I hope he really converted.

[@Daksh-uy7yu]

I request justice for antonio.. why is he unmarried

[@alobaidius6606]

Shylock represents Israel

[@elliotvoros9199]

moral of the story: L jude 🤡

[@Dhanvitham]

You madey day lol

[@sigma7208]

what a boring story

[@otex_yt321]

You are boring 😂💀

[@geromlili2548]

So boring story

[@hrh9437]

You are bad who agree?

[@onlignebridge4224]

This play was deliberately buried under the stupid romance of Romeo and Juliet. Now, we can understand the Israelis blood thirsty mentality.

[@TheAbbasyolcu]

I like that story, because Shekspir tears j.. w.. s mask

[@Contramundum429]

Shylock was wicked. I hope he really converted.

[@Emaaz-ts4ib]

He did

[@ThePsho]

Thank god for the crusades /s