The Merchant of Venice

Genre: Comedy, Drama

Setting: Renaissance Venice
Characters:
Portia- wealthly, her father set up a contest to choose her husband, later
saves Antonio from losing a pound of his flesh to Shylock
Nerissa- Portias maid
Antonio-rich trader, anti-Semite, allows Bassanio to borrow 3,000 ducats off
of Shylock on a bond, in exchange for a pound of his flesh
Bassanio-Antonios friend and Portias husband, borrows 3,000 ducats from
Shylock on Antonios credit
Shylock-Jewish moneylender, hated by everyone, bitter, demands a pound of
flesh from Antonio when he cant pay back the bond, eventually has to
convert to Christianity and give al his wealth to Jessica and Lorenzo
Jessica-Shylocks daughter, runs away with his money and marries Lorenzo
Lancelet-Shylocks servant, leaves him to work for Bassanio
Conflicts and Plot Summary:
Bassanio is poor and needs Antonio to help him woo Portia. Antonio can
only turn to Shylock, who is Jewish and thus hated. Antonio has to sign
away a pound of his flesh as a guarantee on Bassanio's loan. Bassanio finally
gets a go at Portia, but he's got to pick the right casket.
Antonio's not good for the money and is going to be killed.
Jessica has run away. Portia has to postpone marital bliss to
save Antonio. And Shylock seems hell-bent on having
Antonio's flesh instead of his money back.
Shylock is put out in the street. Bassanio and Graziano break
faith by giving away their rings, and the women rush home.

 When they arrive home, Portia and Nerissa play a joke on

them about the rings, Antonios ships return, and everyone
has a happy ending- except for Shylock.
Themes: anti-semitism, mercy vs. justice, duties in a relationship
(think essay that we had to do)