Merchant Of Venice Essay – A Short Summary Of The Play
The Merchant of Venice essay can only be complete if it records the famous phrase, “pound of flesh” from William Shakespeare’s Merchant of Venice. One of his most engrossing and witty plays, it starts with Antonio, one of the central characters, is a dejected mood. He is a Christian merchant and trader with investments in various ventures. While he is unhappy and sits down brooding, his friend Bassanio pays him a visit to ask for a loan. Antonio decides to take Bassanio to Shylock, a very shrewd moneylender who is always looking for the extra bit he can squeeze off those who come to him for loans. After a lot of convincing, Shylock agrees to give Bassanio a loan of 3,000 ducats. He puts in a very odd condition. Antonio has to pledge a pound of his flesh as security for the loan.
Antonio does not think twice before agreeing to the condition, as he does not take the condition very seriously. Shylock has other intentions, and it was not honorable. Bassanio wanted the money as he was very keen on marrying Portia, who lived in Belmount. Portia’s father has decided on a very neat but practical trick to test suitors who wanted to marry his daughter. They had to open one of three chests. The chest that contained Portia’s photograph would be the right one to choose. The gold casket has the inscription “Who chooseth me shall gain what men desire.” The silver casket bore the inscription “Who chooseth me shall get as much as he deserves.” Both these did not have Portia’s photograph. Merchant of Venice essays can depicts the twists and turns the story takes through intrigue.
Antonio has lost all his wealth as his ships have sunk. Just before this mishap, Shylock’s daughter, Jessica falls in love with Lorenzo and runs away with him with her father’s money. This happens when Shylock was invited to Bassanio’s house. On learning that his daughter had eloped with his money, he feels Antonio is responsible and bears a grudge against him. Meanwhile, Bassanio arrives at Belmount and chooses the casket on which was inscribed “Who chooseth me must give and hazard all he hath.” It contains Portia’s photograph, and he is the chosen one to marry Portia. Shylock sees his chance for revenge and asks Antonio to return the loan or honor his claim for a pound of flesh. This catch phrase can be used in a Merchant of Venice essay at several places for effect.
On learning Antonio’s fate, Bassanio leaves for Venice with Grazano who accompanied him to Belmount. Portia and her friend Nerissa follow disguised as men. The court is convened to try the case. Shylock is adamant and wants his pound of flesh as revenge. Portia enters as Dr. Balthasar to preside over the case. The shrewd Dr. Balthasar implicates Shylock with intricacies of law and traps him with the condition that he can have his pound of flesh but should not shed even a drop of blood. Unable to fulfill this condition, he agrees to all the conditions put down, including willing his wealth to Lorenzo. Merchant of Venice essays always end on a happy note. Shylock does not eventually get his pound of flesh.
