William Shakespeare

SUMMARYPresented by

Dr Mohammed Fahmy Raiyah

William Shakespeare

(1564-1616)

SUMMARIES

Antonio, a Venetian merchant, complains to his friends, Salarino and Solanio, that he feels sad and does not know why. His friend try to provide various explanations for Antonio’s sadness.

Salarino and Solanio suggest that his sadness must be due to his preoccupation with his trade and the fate of his ships. His ships are out there with goods; if they return safely, he'll be rich, but if they don't, he'll be in trouble.

Salarino says it is impossible for Antonio not to feel sad at the thought that his ship might sink and the consequent losses.

But Antonio assures his friends that his ships are not the cause of his sadness because his ventures do not depend on the safe passage of any one ship.

Solanio isn't satisfied and suggests that Antonio might be in love.

ACT I, SCENE 1

Venice

Enter ANTONIO, SALARINO, and SALANIO

ANTONIO In sooth, I know not why I am so sad:It wearies me; you say it wearies you;But how I caught it, found it, or came by it,What stuff 'tis made of, whereof it is born,I am to learn; 5And such a want-wit sadness makes of me,That I have much ado to know myself.

SALARINO Your mind is tossing on the ocean;There, where your argosies with portly sail,Like signiors and rich burghers on the flood,Or, as it were, the pageants of the sea,Do overpeer the petty traffickers,That curtsy to them, do them reverence,As they fly by them with their woven wings.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Stage directions

In sooth = In truth

Want-wit =IdiotAdo = trouble

Argosies = shipsPortly = dignified

Where your ships tower above thesmall boats

Antonio

Bassanio, Antonio’s kinsman, enters, walking with two friends Lorenzo and Gratiano. Salarino and Solanio bid Antonio farewell and depart.

Graziano has noticed that Antonio looks sad and suggests that the merchant worries too much about business and that the whole world does not deserve that much attention.

Antonio replies that the world for him is nothing more than a play and everyone plays a role; his role is a sad one.

ANTONIO Believe me, no: I thank my fortune for it, 15My ventures are not in one bottom trusted,Nor to one place; nor is my whole estateUpon the fortune of this present year:Therefore my merchandise makes me not sad.

SALARINO Why, then you are in love.

ANTONIO Fie, fie!

SALARINO Not in love neither? Then let us say you are sad,Because you are not merry: . . . .

GRATIANO You look not well, Signior Antonio;You have too much respect upon the world:They lose it that do buy it with much care: 75Believe me, you are marvellously changed.

ANTONIO I hold the world but as the world, Gratiano;A stage where every man must play a part,And mine a sad one.

GRATIANO Let me play the fool:With mirth and laughter let old wrinkles come,

marvellously =amazingly

Graziano exits with Lorenzo, leaving Bassanio and Antonio to talk.

Antonio asks about Bassanio's "secret pilgrimage" to see a lady.

Bassanio admits that although he already owes Antonio a lot of money from his earlier, more extravagant days, he has fallen in love with Portia, a rich heiress from Belmont, and hopes to win her heart. In order to propose to Portia, however, Bassanio says that he needs to borrow more money from Antonio.

Antonio replies that he cannot give Bassanio another loan, as all his money is tied up in business.

Antonio and Bassanio

ANTONIO Well, tell me now what lady is the sameTo whom you swore a secret pilgrimage,That you to-day promised to tell me of?

BASSANIO 'Tis not unknown to you, Antonio,How much I have disabled mine estate,By something showing a more swelling portThan my faint means would grant continuance: 125Nor do I now make moan to be abridgedFrom such a noble rate; but my chief careIs to come fairly off from the great debtsWherein my time something too prodigalHath left me gaged. To you, Antonio,I owe the most, in money and in love,And from your love I have a warrantyTo unburden all my plots and purposesHow to get clear of all the debts I owe.

ANTONIO I pray you, good Bassanio, let me know it;And if it stand, as you yourself still do,Within the eye of honour, be assured,My purse, my person, my extremest means,Lie all unlock'd to your occasions.

You know well how I wasted a lot of moneyIn the past by spending more than my income would allow.

Gagged = burdened

Warranty = permission

= to your needs

BASSANIO In Belmont is a lady richly left;And she is fair, and, fairer than that word,Of wondrous virtues: sometimes from her eyesI did receive fair speechless messages:Her name is Portia, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .O my Antonio, had I but the meansTo hold a rival place with one of them,I have a mind presages me such thrift,That I should questionless be fortunate!

ANTONIO Thou know'st that all my fortunes are at sea;Neither have I money nor commodityTo raise a present sum: therefore go forth;Try what my credit can in Venice do:That shall be rack'd, even to the uttermost,To furnish thee to Belmont, to fair Portia.Go, presently inquire, and so will I,Where money is, and I no question makeTo have it of my trust or for my sake.

ACT I, SCENE 2At Belmont, Portia complains to her woman-in-waiting,

Nerissa, that she's tired of the world. Nerissa points out that being rich doesn't mean that she is free from problems.

Portia can neither choose nor refuse a husband, but must instead follow her dead father's will. he set up a lottery to determine who Portia would marry. The lottery involves three chests – one gold, one silver, and one lead. Whoever chooses the correct chest gets Portia. But there is a penalty for those who choose wrongly; they have to swear never to marry anymore.

Nerissa is somehow convinced that whoever chooses rightly will truly love Portia, too. Portia asks Nerissa to list off each of the suitors so she can judge each one of them.

PORTIA . . . O me, the word 'choose!' I may neither choose whom I would nor refuse whom I dislike; so is the will of a living daughter curbed by the will of a dead father. Is it not hard, Nerissa, that I cannot choose one nor refuse none?

NERISSA Your father was ever virtuous; and holy men at their

death have good inspirations: therefore the lottery,that he hath devised in these three chests of gold,silver and lead, whereof who chooses his meaningchooses you, will, no doubt, never be chosen by anyrightly but one who shall rightly love. But whatwarmth is there in your affection towards any ofthese princely suitors that are already come?

PORT I pray thee, over-name them; and as thou namest

them, I will describe them; and, according to mydescription, level at my affection.

Nerissa lists the suitors who have come to guess—a Neapolitan prince, a Palatine count, a French nobleman, an English baron, a Scottish lord, and the nephew of the duke of Saxony, and Portia criticizes their many funny faults.

For instance, she says that the Neapolitan prince is too fond of his horse, the Palatine count is too serious, the Englishman has no proper manners and lacks any knowledge of Italian or any of the other languages Portia speaks, and the German suitor of drunkenness.

Each of these suitors has left without even attempting a guess for fear of the penalty for guessing wrong. This fact relieves Portia.

Both she and Nerissa remember Bassanio, who has visited once before, as the suitor most deserving and worthy of praise. A servant enters to tell Portia that the prince of Morocco will arrive soon, news that Portia is not at all happy to hear.

NERISSA Do you not remember, lady, in your father's time, aVenetian, a scholar and a soldier, that came hitherin company of the Marquis of Montferrat?

PORTIA Yes, yes, it was Bassanio; as I think, he was so called.

NERISSA True, madam: he, of all the men that ever my foolisheyes looked upon, was the best deserving a fair lady.

PORTIA I remember him well, and I remember him worthy ofthy praise.

Enter a Serving-manHow now! what news?Servant

The four strangers seek for you, madam, to taketheir leave: and there is a forerunner come from afifth, the Prince of Morocco, who brings word theprince his master will be here to-night.

ACT I, SCENE 3On the streets of Venice, Bassanio talks with

Shylock, a Jewish moneylender, to have a loan of 3000 ducats, on Antonio’s credit.

Bassanio assures Shylock that Antonio will guarantee the loan, but Shylock is doubtful because Antonio’s wealth is currently invested in business ventures that may fail. In the end, Shylock agrees to lend Bassanio the 3000 ducats.

Antonio arrives, and at that time Shylock speaks to himself in an aside, expressing his hatred of Antonio.

Shylock

SHYLOCK [Aside] How like a fawning publican he looks!I hate him for he is a Christian,But more for that in low simplicityHe lends out money gratis and brings downThe rate of usance here with us in Venice.If I can catch him once upon the hip,I will feed fat the ancient grudge I bear him.He hates our sacred nation, and he rails,Even there where merchants most do congregate,On me, my bargains and my well-won thrift,Which he calls interest. Cursed be my tribe,If I forgive him!

Gratis = freeof charge

Shylock remembers the many times that Antonio has cursed him, calling him a dog, and insulted him publicly for lending with interest. Antonio says that he might do so again, and insists that Shylock lend him the money as an enemy.

SHYLOCK

Signior Antonio, many a time and oftIn the Rialto you have rated meAbout my moneys and my usances:Still have I borne it with a patient shrug,For sufferance is the badge of all our tribe.You call me misbeliever, cut-throat dog,And spit upon my Jewish gaberdine,And all for use of that which is mine own.Well then, it now appears you need my help:Go to, then; you come to me, and you say'Shylock, we would have moneys:' you say so;You, that did void your rheum upon my beardAnd foot me as you spurn a stranger curOver your threshold: moneys is your suitWhat should I say to you? Should I not say'Hath a dog money? is it possibleA cur can lend three thousand ducats?' OrShall I bend low and in a bondman's key,With bated breath and whispering humbleness, Say this;'Fair sir, you spit on me on Wednesday last;You spurn'd me such a day; another timeYou call'd me dog; and for these courtesiesI'll lend you thus much moneys'?

Rated me: abused meSufferance:patient

suffering

= spit= stray dog

Assuring Antonio that he means to be friends, Shylock offers to make the loan without interest. Instead, he suggests, seemingly in jest, that Antonio forfeit a pound of his own flesh should the loan not be repaid in due time.

In spite of Bassanio's insistence that Antonio does not risk his flesh, Antonio is confident that he'll have the money before the debt is due.

ACT II, SCENE 1

In Belmont, the prince of Morocco arrives to attempt to win Portia’s hand in marriage. The prince asks Portia not to judge him by his dark complexion, assuring her that he is as valorous as any European man. the prince asks Portia to lead him to the caskets, where he may venture his guess. She reminds him that the penalty for guessing incorrectly is that he must remain unmarried forever. The prince accepts this stipulation, and Portia leads him off to dinner.

Prince of Morocco

ACT II, SCENE 2Launcelot Gobbo, a servant of Shylock’s,

struggles to decide whether or not he should run away from his master. He sees his Jewish master as “a kind of devil”. His father, Old Gobbo, enters. The old man is blind, and he asks how to get to Shylock’s house, where he hopes to find young Launcelot. Launcelot confesses to his father that he is leaving Shylock’s employment in the hopes of serving Bassanio. Just then, Bassanio enters and the two plead with him to accept Launcelot as his servant. Bassanio accepts the offer. Bassanio then meets Gratiano, who asks to accompany him to Belmont. The two men plan a night of merriment to celebrate their departure.

ACT II, SCENES 3 &4 Act 2, Scene 3

Shylock’s daughter Jessica bids Launcelot farewell and gives him a letter to deliver to Lorenzo. Alone, she regrets that she is Shylock’s daughter but takes heart in the prospect of marrying Lorenzo and converting to Christianity.

Act 2, Scene 4 On a street in Venice, Lorenzo, with Gratiano, Salerio,

and Solanio, are preparing for a MASQUE, when Launcelot arrives with the letter from Jessica. Lorenzo gives him a message for Jessica: he, Lorenzo, shall not fail her. Salerio and Solanio leave, and Lorenzo tells Gratiano that Jessica will elope with him that evening, disguising herself as Lorenzo’s torchbearer.

ACT II, SCENE 5 & 6

Act 2, Scene 5Launcelot delivers an invitation to dinner from

Bassanio to Shylock and hints to Jessica that Lorenzo is about to arrive.Act 2, Scene 6

Lorenzo, accompanied by Gratiano and Salerio,takes Jessica from Shylock’s house. Antonio enters and gives Gratiano the message that Bassanio is preparing to leave for Belmont, Portia’s estate.

ACT II, SCENE 7With Portia, Morocco reads the inscriptions on the

caskets. The gold one promises “what many mendesire”; the silver offers as much as the chooserdeserves; the lead warns that the chooser “mustgive and hazard all he hath.” Morocco rejects thelead as a plainly foolish choice and the silver asinadequate. He selects the gold casket but findsinside it a rhyme informing him that he has lost. Hedeparts, to Portia’s relief.

ACT II, SCENE 8Salerio and Solanio gossip about

Shylock’s hysterical discovery that Jessica has fled and taken much of his money. They reflect that Shylock’s anger will affect Antonio if he fails to repay his debt, and they worry that a rich Venetian ship, reported lost, may be one of his.

SALANIO I never heard a passion so confused,So strange, outrageous, and so variable,As the dog Jew did utter in the streets:'My daughter! O my ducats! O my daughter!Fled with a Christian! O my Christian ducats!Justice! the law! my ducats, and my daughter!A sealed bag, two sealed bags of ducats,Of double ducats, stolen from me by my daughter!And jewels, two stones, two rich and precious stones,Stolen by my daughter! Justice! find the girl;She hath the stones upon her, and the ducats.'

ACT II, SCENE 9The Prince of Arragon ventures to choose one of

the caskets to win Portia’s hand. He rejects thegold’s offer of “what many men desire” as thechoice of the foolish multitudes who value outwardappearance. Feeling that he is quite worthy, heelects the silver casket’s promise of as much as hedeserves. However, a rhyme inside the casketannounces his failure, and he leaves. A Messengerbrings word that a young Venetian intends to enterthe lottery of the caskets. Portia and Nerissa hopethat he will prove to be Bassanio.

ACT III, SCENE 1Solanio and Salerio discuss the rumored loss of

Antonio’s ship. Shylock appears and curses Jessica; he also rails against Antonio, vowing that he will collect his pound of flesh as revenge for Antonio’s anti-Semitism. Shylock observes that Jews are like Christians in bodily respects, and he will prove that their desire for revenge is also the same. A message from Antonio causes the gentlemen to depart, and Shylock’s friend Tubal arrives. Tubal reports that he has been unable to find Jessica, but he has heard of her extravagance with her father’s money. Shylock is frantic about his lost wealth, but Tubal also tells his friend that Antonio has suffered further losses and is said to be bankrupt. Shylock becomes overjoyed.

SHYLOCK . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . He hath disgraced me, andhindered me half a million; laughed at my losses,mocked at my gains, scorned my nation, thwarted mybargains, cooled my friends, heated mineenemies; and what's his reason? I am a Jew. Hathnot a Jew eyes? hath not a Jew hands, organs,dimensions, senses, affections, passions? fed withthe same food, hurt with the same weapons, subjectto the same diseases, healed by the same means,warmed and cooled by the same winter and summer, asa Christian is? If you prick us, do we not bleed?if you tickle us, do we not laugh? if you poisonus, do we not die? and if you wrong us, shall we notrevenge? If we are like you in the rest, we willresemble you in that. If a Jew wrong a Christian,what is his humility? Revenge. If a Christianwrong a Jew, what should his sufferance be byChristian example? Why, revenge. The villany youteach me, I will execute, and it shall go hard but Iwill better the instruction.

ruined

ACT III, SCENE 2Portia asks Bassanio to postpone choosing among the

caskets, for he must leave if he fails and she has fallen in love with him. Bassanio, however, cannot tolerate the suspense, and he proceeds to his selection. He rejects the gold and silver as representing false beauty and expensive show, and he opens the lead casket. Inside he finds Portia’s picture and a text confirming that he has won her hand. She gives him a ring, which he swears to wear until he dies. Gratiano and Nerissa reveal that they have also fallen in love, and a double wedding is proposed. Salerio arrives from Venice with Lorenzo and Jessica. He tells Bassanio that Antonio has lost all his vessels and that Shylock has said that he will demand the pound of flesh. Portia offers to pay Shylock many times over.

ACT III, SCENES 3, 4 & 5Act 3, Scene 3

Antonio, in the custody of a Gaoler, approaches Shylock, but the Jew will not speak to him; he angrily repeats his demand for the pound of flesh and departs. Antonio prepares to die; he hopes only to see Bassanio again.

Act 3, Scene 4Portia instructs her servant Balthasar to deliver a letter

to her cousin in Padua. He is then to meet her with the documents and clothing the cousin will give him. She tells Nerissa of her plan: They shall go to Venice disguised as men.

Act 3, Scene 5Launcelot, as a fool, impudently jests with Jessica and

Lorenzo, who then chat tenderly.

ACT IV, SCENE 1 The court of law in Venice convenes to try Antonio. The Duke expresses pity for Antonio and describes Shylock as an inhuman monster who has no mercy. Shylock then is summoned and asked to be merciful, but he refuses.

DUKE What, is Antonio here?

ANTONIO Ready, so please your grace.

DUKE I am sorry for thee: thou art come to answerA stony adversary, an inhuman wretchuncapable of pity, void and empty5From any dram of mercy.

ANTONIO I have heardYour grace hath ta'en great pains to qualifyHis rigorous course; but since he stands obdurateAnd that no lawful means can carry meOut of his envy's reach, I do opposeMy patience to his fury, and am arm'dTo suffer, with a quietness of spirit,The very tyranny and rage of his. (page131)

= an enemy

= ounce

= inflexible

SHYLOCK I have possess'd your grace of what I purpose; 35And by our holy Sabbath have I swornTo have the due and forfeit of my bond:If you deny it, let the danger lightUpon your charter and your city's freedom.You'll ask me, why I rather choose to haveA weight of carrion flesh than to receiveThree thousand ducats: I'll not answer that:But, say, it is my humour: is it answer'd?What if my house be troubled with a ratAnd I be pleased to give ten thousand ducatsTo have it baned? What, are you answer'd yet?. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . So can I give no reason, nor I will not,More than a lodged hate and a certain loathingI bear Antonio, that I follow thusA losing suit against him. Are you answer'd?

= told

= dead meat

= poisoned

The Duke announces that he has sent to a scholar from Padua for a legal opinion. Portia and Nerissa arrive, disguised as a lawyer (Balthasar) and his clerk, sent by the scholar. Portia interviews Shylock and Antonio.

PORTIA The quality of mercy is not strain'd,It droppeth as the gentle rain from heavenUpon the place beneath: it is twice blest;It blesseth him that gives and him that takes:'Tis mightiest in the mightiest: it becomes 185The throned monarch better than his crown;His sceptre shows the force of temporal power,The attribute to awe and majesty,Wherein doth sit the dread and fear of kings;But mercy is above this sceptred sway;It is enthroned in the hearts of kings,It is an attribute to God himself;And earthly power doth then show likest God'sWhen mercy seasons justice. Therefore, Jew,Though justice be thy plea, consider this,195That, in the course of justice, none of usShould see salvation: we do pray for mercy;. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

SHYLOCK My deeds upon my head! I crave the law,The penalty and forfeit of my bond. (Page 143)

= Mercy is not forced upon people.

= Mercy is a double blessing. It blesses the one who gives it and the one who receives it.

Scepter

Portia disguised as Balthasar

After Shylock repeatedly demands strict justice, she awards him his pound of flesh but prohibits him from shedding any blood, for blood is not mentioned in the bond.

PORTIA A pound of that same merchant's flesh is thine:The court awards it, and the law doth give it.

SHYLOCK Most rightful judge!

PORTIA And you must cut this flesh from off his breast:The law allows it, and the court awards it.

SHYLOCK Most learned judge! A sentence! Come, prepare!

PORTIA Tarry a little; there is something else.This bond doth give thee here no jot of blood;The words expressly are 'a pound of flesh:'Take then thy bond, take thou thy pound of flesh; 305But, in the cutting it, if thou dost shedOne drop of Christian blood, thy lands and goodsAre, by the laws of Venice, confiscateUnto the state of Venice.

GRATIANO O upright judge! Mark, Jew: O learned judge!

SHYLOCK Is that the law?

PORTIA Thyself shalt see the act:For, as thou urgest justice, be assuredThou shalt have justice, more than thou desirest. (page 151)

Realizing that he is beaten, Shylock says he will accept the money, but Portia rules that he shall have only the exact justice he has demanded: He may attempt to extract his bloodless flesh, or he may withdraw his suit, but he cannot claim the money. Shylock concedes defeat and is about to leave when Portia further rules that, as a non-Venetian who has attempted to take the life of a citizen, he is subject to the death penalty—unless the Duke pardons him—and to the confiscation of all his possessions. The Duke permits him to live, and Antonio suggests that he be allowed to keep half of his earthly goods in exchange for converting to Christianity and giving the other half to Lorenzo and Jessica. Shylock agrees to these terms.

The Paduan lawyer (Portia) refuses a fee but asks Bassanio for his ring as a token of thanks. He refuses, saying that it was a sacred gift from his wife, but he repents after she leaves, accusing himself of ingratitude. He sends Gratiano to give the ring to the lawyer.

ACT IV, SCENE 2 Gratiano gives the ring to Portia, who asks him todirect her clerk (Nerissa) to Shylock’s house to deliver the deed that the moneylender must sign. Nerissa tells Portia that she will contrive to get Gratiano to give her his ring as well.

ACT VLorenzo and Jessica enjoy the

moonlight and music at Belmont, joyfully comparing themselves to various famous lovers. Portia and Nerissa enter, followed by Bassanio, Gratiano, and Antonio. The women “discover” that their husbands no longer have their rings, and they reprimand them severely. Finally Portia reveals the truth, and the party moves indoors to celebrate their reunion.