Beautiful Stories from Shakespeare I by Edith Nesbit Stories from Shakespeare I by Edith Nesbit    

Lesson 27: The Merchant of Venice

Performer: Librivox - Denny Sayers


Antonio was a rich and prosperous merchant of Venice. His ships were on nearly every sea, and he traded with Portugal, with Mexico, with England, and with India. Although proud of his riches, he was very generous with them, and delighted to use them in relieving the wants of his friends, among whom his relation, Bassanio, held the first place.

Now Bassanio, like many another gay and gallant gentleman, was reckless and extravagant, and finding that he had not only come to the end of his fortune, but was also unable to pay his creditors, he went to Antonio for further help.

"To you, Antonio," he said, "I owe the most in money and in love: and I have thought of a plan to pay everything I owe if you will but help me."

"Say what I can do, and it shall be done," answered his friend.

Then said Bassanio, "In Belmont is a lady richly left, and from all quarters of the globe renowned suitors come to woo her, not only because she is rich, but because she is beautiful and good as well. She looked on me with such favor when last we met, that I feel sure that I should win her away from all rivals for her love had I but the means to go to Belmont, where she lives."

"All my fortunes," said Antonio, "are at sea, and so I have no ready money; but luckily my credit is good in Venice, and I will borrow for you what you need."

There was living in Venice at this time a rich money-lender, named Shylock. Antonio despised and disliked this man very much, and treated him with the greatest harshness and scorn. He would thrust him, like a cur, over his threshold, and would even spit on him. Shylock submitted to all these indignities with a patient shrug; but deep in his heart he cherished a desire for revenge on the rich, smug merchant. For Antonio both hurt his pride and injured his business. "But for him," thought Shylock, "I should be richer by half a million ducats. On the market place, and wherever he can, he denounces the rate of interest I charge, and--worse than that--he lends out money freely."

So when Bassanio came to him to ask for a loan of three thousand ducats to Antonio for three months, Shylock hid his hatred, and turning to Antonio, said--"Harshly as you have treated me, I would be friends with you and have your love. So I will lend you the money and charge you no interest. But, just for fun, you shall sign a bond in which it shall be agreed that if you do not repay me in three months' time, then I shall have the right to a pound of your flesh, to be cut from what part of your body I choose."
'Shylock and Jessica'

"No," cried Bassanio to his friend, "you shall run no such risk for me."

"Why, fear not," said Antonio, "my ships will be home a month before the time. I will sign the bond."

Thus Bassanio was furnished with the means to go to Belmont, there to woo the lovely Portia. The very night he started, the money-lender's pretty daughter, Jessica, ran away from her father's house with her lover, and she took with her from her father's hoards some bags of ducats and precious stones. Shylock's grief and anger were terrible to see. His love for her changed to hate. "I would she were dead at my feet and the jewels in her ear," he cried. His only comfort now was in hearing of the serious losses which had befallen Antonio, some of whose ships were wrecked. "Let him look to his bond," said Shylock, "let him look to his bond."

Meanwhile Bassanio had reached Belmont, and had visited the fair Portia. He found, as he had told Antonio, that the rumor of her wealth and beauty had drawn to her suitors from far and near. But to all of them Portia had but one reply. She would only accept that suitor who would pledge himself to abide by the terms of her father's will. These were conditions that frightened away many an ardent wooer. For he who would win Portia's heart and hand, had to guess which of three caskets held her portrait. If he guessed aright, then Portia would be his bride; if wrong, then he was bound by oath never to reveal which casket he chose, never to marry, and to go away at once.

The caskets were of gold, silver, and lead. The gold one bore this inscription:--"Who chooseth me shall gain what many men desire;" the silver one had this:--"Who chooseth me shall get as much as he deserves;" while on the lead one were these words:--"Who chooseth me must give and hazard all he hath." The Prince of Morocco, as brave as he was black, was among the first to submit to this test. He chose the gold casket, for he said neither base lead nor silver could contain her picture. So be chose the gold casket, and found inside the likeness of what many men desire--death.

After him came the haughty Prince of Arragon, and saying, "Let me have what I deserve--surely I deserve the lady," he chose the silver one, and found inside a fool's head. "Did I deserve no more than a fool's head?" he cried.

Then at last came Bassanio, and Portia would have delayed him from making his choice from very fear of his choosing wrong. For she loved him dearly, even as he loved her. "But," said Bassanio, "let me choose at once, for, as I am, I live upon the rack."

Then Portia bade her servants to bring music and play while her gallant lover made his choice. And Bassanio took the oath and walked up to the caskets--the musicians playing softly the while. "Mere outward show," he said, "is to be despised. The world is still deceived with ornament, and so no gaudy gold or shining silver for me. I choose the lead casket; joy be the consequence!" And opening it, he found fair Portia's portrait inside, and he turned to her and asked if it were true that she was his.

"Yes," said Portia, "I am yours, and this house is yours, and with them I give you this ring, from which you must never part."

And Bassanio, saying that he could hardly speak for joy, found words to swear that he would never part with the ring while he lived.

Then suddenly all his happiness was dashed with sorrow, for messengers came from Venice to tell him that Antonio was ruined, and that Shylock demanded from the Duke the fulfilment of the bond, under which he was entitled to a pound of the merchant's flesh. Portia was as grieved as Bassanio to hear of the danger which threatened his friend.

"First," she said, "take me to church and make me your wife, and then go to Venice at once to help your friend. You shall take with you money enough to pay his debt twenty times over."

But when her newly-made husband had gone, Portia went after him, and arrived in Venice disguised as a lawyer, and with an introduction from a celebrated lawyer Bellario, whom the Duke of Venice had called in to decide the legal questions raised by Shylock's claim to a pound of Antonio's flesh. When the Court met, Bassanio offered Shylock twice the money borrowed, if he would withdraw his claim. But the money-lender's only answer was--
'Trial Scene' by Sir James Linton

"If every ducat in six thousand ducats,

Were in six parts, and every part a ducat,

I would not draw them,--I would have my bond."

It was then that Portia arrived in her disguise, and not even her own husband knew her. The Duke gave her welcome on account of the great Bellario's introduction, and left the settlement of the case to her. Then in noble words she bade Shylock have mercy. But he was deaf to her entreaties. "I will have the pound of flesh," was his reply.

"What have you to say?" asked Portia of the merchant.

"But little," he answered; "I am armed and well prepared."

"The Court awards you a pound of Antonio's flesh," said Portia to the money-lender.

"Most righteous judge!" cried Shylock. "A sentence: come, prepare."

"Tarry a little. This bond gives you no right to Antonio's blood, only to his flesh. If, then, you spill a drop of his blood, all your property will be forfeited to the State. Such is the Law."

And Shylock, in his fear, said, "Then I will take Bassanio's offer."

"No," said Portia sternly, "you shall have nothing but your bond. Take your pound of flesh, but remember, that if you take more or less, even by the weight of a hair, you will lose your property and your life."

Shylock now grew very much frightened. "Give me my three thousand ducats that I lent him, and let him go."

Bassanio would have paid it to him, but said Portia, "No! He shall have nothing but his bond."

"You, a foreigner," she added, "have sought to take the life of a Venetian citizen, and thus by the Venetian law, your life and goods are forfeited. Down, therefore, and beg mercy of the Duke."

Thus were the tables turned, and no mercy would have been shown to Shylock had it not been for Antonio. As it was, the money-lender forfeited half his fortune to the State, and he had to settle the other half on his daughter's husband, and with this he had to be content.

Bassanio, in his gratitude to the clever lawyer, was induced to part with the ring his wife had given him, and with which he had promised never to part, and when on his return to Belmont he confessed as much to Portia, she seemed very angry, and vowed she would not be friends with him until she had her ring again. But at last she told him that it was she who, in the disguise of the lawyer, had saved his friend's life, and got the ring from him. So Bassanio was forgiven, and made happier than ever, to know how rich a prize he had drawn in the lottery of the caskets.

    Beautiful Stories from Shakespeare I by Edith Nesbit Stories from Shakespeare I by Edith Nesbit    

Lesson 27: The Merchant of Venice

Performer: Librivox - Denny Sayers

Directions

Study the assigned Shakespeare story over the week.

Over the week:

  • Read or listen to the story.
  • Review the synopsis.
  • Study the vocabulary words.
  • Complete the enrichment activities.

Synopsis

Antonio, merchant of Venice, becomes very rich by trading goods with his sailing ships. Antonio's extravagant friend, Bassanio, goes into debt and asks Antonio for money for a plan to woo a rich lady and pay his creditors. All of Antonio's wealth is at sea with his ships, but he decides to borrow some money as his sailing ships will soon return. Antonio approaches Shylock, a rich money lender, for the loan. Shylock offers to lend Antonio the money for three months without charging interest. Shylock, who has been treated horribly by Antonio, tells Antonio if the money is not paid back in the three months, he will take a pound of Antonio's flesh. Confident his ships are returning in a month, Antonio signs the bond. Bassanio takes the money and travels to woo Portia, the lovely rich lady. Any suitor wishing to win Portia's hand in marriage has to guess which of three caskets, one gold, one silver, and one lead, holds her portrait. Princes have chosen unwisely, but Bassanio chooses the lead casket, finds Portia's portrait, and wins Portia's hand. Soon after Bassanio learns that Antonio's ships are wrecked, leaving Antonio financially ruined and unable to repay Shylock. Portia marries Bassanio, gives him more than enough money to pay Antonio's debt to Shylock, and Bassanio returns to Venice. Portia follows after Bassanio, disguising herself as a judge. Antonio and Shylock go to court over the unpaid debt, with Portia serving as judge. When Shylock refuses to accept money as repayment, Portia rules that Shylock can have Antonio's flesh, as long as he does not spill a single drop of Antonio's blood and takes exactly a pound, an impossible feat. Portia rules that Shylock, a foreigner, lose his fortune for trying to take the life of Antonio, a Venetian citizen.

Vocabulary

Merchant: A person or company involved in wholesale trade, especially one dealing with foreign countries or supplying merchandise to a particular trade.
Suitor: A man who pursues a relationship with a particular woman, with a view to marriage.
Cur: A contemptible man.
Ducat: A gold coin formerly used in most European countries.
Pound: A unit of weight in general use.
Flesh: The soft substance consisting of muscle and fat that is found between the skin and bones of an animal or a human.
Bond: A legal agreement by which a person is committed to make payment to another.
Woo: Try to gain the love of someone, especially with a view to marriage.
Casket: A small ornamental box or chest for holding jewels, letters, or other valuable objects.
Rack: An instrument of torture consisting of a frame on which the victim was stretched by turning rollers to which the wrists and ankles were tied.

Enrichment

Activity 1: Recite the Story Information

  • Before and after reading or listening to the story, recite aloud the title and author of the play.

Activity 2: Narrate the Story

  • After reading or listening to the story, narrate the events aloud in your own words.

Activity 3: See the Playwright and Poet William Shakespeare

  • Study the controversial 'Cobbe portrait' below, which may be a real-life portrait of Shakespeare.
  • The portrait contains the Latin phrase 'Principum amicitias!' which means 'The alliances of princes!'

Activity 4: Map the Play

  • Parts of the play take place in Venice, Italy.
  • Find Venice on the map of Italy.
  • Find the location of Venice on the map of Europe.
  • Point to the location of Italy on the map of the world.

Activity 5: Can You Find It?

During the week, zoom in to study the illustration, 'Trial Scene,' by Sir James Linton. Find the following:

  • Shylock
  • Knife
  • Antonio
  • Bassanio
  • Portia

Activity 6: Discuss Shylock's Deal and Portia's Ruling

  • Antonio was cruel to Shylock (spitting on him, disrespecting him), because Shylock was a money lender engaged in usury (charging interest on loans). Historically, some religions and their adherents held that usury was a sin.
  • Do you think Antonio was right to be cruel to Shylock for engaging in usury?
  • Do you think Antonio's decision to borrow Shylock's money and risk a pound of his own flesh was wise?
  • Do you think Shylock was right to pursue his demand for a pound of Antonio's flesh when Antonio failed to pay him back in time?
  • Do you think Shylock deserved to lose all of his money?

Activity 7: Rehearse the Play Scenes   

  • Use your theater, props, and characters to rehearse the two abbreviated scenes on pages 116-117 of 'Third Grade Shakespeare Theater Pages.'

Activity 8: Hold Opening Night

  • Enact a live performance for family members and/or friends.
  • Instructors may need to prompt children to say their lines.
  • Important Note – Keep your actors, actresses, and set props safe for future productions.

References

  1. 'William Shakespeare.' Wikipedia. Wikipedia.org. n.p.
  2. 'Cobbe portrait.' Wikipedia. Wikipedia.org. n.p.