Summaryof The Merchant of Venice 中英文对照.docVIP

Summary[edit] Bassanio, a young?Venetian?of noble rank, wishes to woo the beautiful and wealthy heiress?Portia?of Belmont. Having squandered his estate, he needs 3,000?ducats?to subsidise his expenditures as a suitor. Bassanio approaches his friend?Antonio, a wealthy merchant of Venice who has previously and repeatedly bailed him out. Antonio agrees, but since he is cash-poor – his ships and merchandise are busy at sea – he promises to cover a bond if Bassanio can find a lender, so Bassanio turns to the Jewish moneylender Shylock and names Antonio as the loans guarantor. Antonio has already made an enemy of Shylock through his outspokenantisemitism, and also because Antonios habit of lending money without interest forces Shylock to charge lower rates. Shylock is at first reluctant to grant the loan, citing abuse he has suffered at Antonios hand, but finally agrees to lend the sum to Antonio without interest upon one condition: if Antonio is unable to repay it at the specified date, Shylock may take apound?of Antonios flesh. Bassanio does not want Antonio to accept such a risky condition; Antonio is surprised by what he sees as the moneylenders generosity (no usance – interest – is asked for), and he signs the contract. With money at hand, Bassanio leaves for Belmont with his friend Gratiano, who has asked to accompany him. Gratiano is a likeable young man, but is often flippant, overly talkative, and tactless. Bassanio warns his companion to exercise self-control, and the two leave for Belmont and Portia. Meanwhile in Belmont, Portia is awash with suitors. Her father left a?will?stipulating each of her suitors must choose correctly from one of three caskets – one each of gold, silver and lead. If he picks the right casket, he gets Portia. The first suitor, the luxurious Prince of Morocco, chooses the gold casket, interpreting its slogan Who chooseth me shall gain what many men desire as referring to Portia. The second suitor, the conceited Prince of Arragon, chooses