By William Shakespeare

Introduction

Shakespeare

William Shakespeare was born in Stratford-upon Avon 1564. He is the most famous writer of plays in the English language, so it is perhaps surprising that we really know very little about his life. He probably went to the grammar school in Stratford, and so it is likely that he had a good education, especially in Latin.

The next thing we know is that he married Anne Hathaway in 1582, and they had three children: Suzanna (born in 1583), and a boy and a girl (Hamlet and Judith born at the same time in 1585.

After that, we know nothing until 1592, when he was already writing successful plays in London. We don’t know when he went there. By 1597, Shakespeare had ( made enough money as a writer and actor to buy New Place, the largest house in Stratford. He may have retired to New Place in 1610, but he continued to write plays. The last play he wrote was Henry VIII in 1612. The company were performing that play at the Globe Theatre on 20 June 1613 when the theatre was burnt to the ground.

Shakespeare died at Stratford on 23 April 1616.

The Merchant of Venice

Antonio and Bassanio

A merchant called Antonio lived in Venice. Everyone in Venice liked Antonio because he was a good man. He had many ships which traded with other countries. At the time of our story, his ships were all at sea.

The friend whom Antonio loved the most was called Bassanio. When Bassanio's father died, he left his son a lot of money. But Bassanio soon spent it all; he became poor and very unhappy.

One day Bassanio told Antonio that he was in love with Portia, a rich and beautiful lady who lived at Belmont, near Venice. Portia's father left her all his money on his death, so she was very rich. Bassanio was sad because he could never ask Portia to marry him while he himself had no money. He knew that many rich young men were going to Belmont to try to marry Portia. So he asked Antonio to lend him three thousand ducats (the money of Venice at that time).

"I haven't any money just now," Antonio replied. "All my money and goods are at sea. I am waiting for my ships to return. Find someone who knows me and will lend money to me. Then I will get the money and lend it to you so that you can go to Belmont and marry Portia."

Shylock

Bassanio went to a man who lent money. The money lender's name was Shylock. Shylock had a lot of money,

but he loved it too much. He used to lend his money merchants and then make them pay back much more they had borrowed. Therefore the merchants of Venice did not like Shylock. Antonio used to warn other merchants about Shylock.

Shylock had never liked Antonio.

"Antonio is kind and will lend his money to anyone he said. "He never makes people pay him back more than they borrowed. He makes things difficult for me."

When Bassanio asked Shylock to lend him three thousand ducats for three months, Shylock knew Antonio would soon be in his power!

“I shall never forgive Antonio," he said to himself. “I shall not be happy till I have caught him."

"You do not like the way I make my money," Shylock told Antonio when they met. "You have called me a dog and treated me like a dog. Now you come to me to ask for money. Does a dog have money? Can a dog lend a person three thousand ducats? Shall I bow to you and thank for treating me like a dog? And shall I lend you money?”

But Antonio was not afraid.

"If you lend me money," he replied, "don't lend it to me as you would lend it to a friend. Lend it to me as you would lend it to an enemy. If I can't pay you back, you can make me suffer for it."

"I want to be your friend," said Shylock. "I shall forget what has happened in the past and lend you the money.” Then he pretended to laugh. "Let us play a game: if you don't pay back the money at the end of three months, ”he said, "you must promise to give me a pound of your flesh, you must allow me to cut the flesh from your body."

Antonio laughed too and agreed to this: he did think that Shylock really meant what he said. But Bassanio

was afraid. He said, "I think Shylock will do what he says. I don't want you to get money from Shylock."

"Don't be afraid," said Antonio. "In two months my ships will return and bring me plenty of money."

So Antonio borrowed the money from Shylock and gave it to Bassanio.

The three boxes

Before he died, Portia's father thought of a way to find a good husband for his daughter. He thought, "I am afraid that many young men will want to marry Portia because she is rich. So I shall leave three small boxes one box made of gold, another made of silver, and the third made of lead. The man who wants to marry Portia must choose the right box."

Portia and her servant Nerissa were talking about all the young men who had come to try to win Portia. A servant came into the room.

"A prince has come from Africa," he said.

Portia showed the prince all the boxes, and the prince carefully read everything that was written on each box.

On the gold box were the words: "The man who chooses me shall get what many men wish for."

On the silver box were the words: "The man who chooses me shall get as much as he ought to get."

And on the lead box were the words: "The man who chooses me must give, and must be ready to lose everything he has."

"My picture is inside the right box," said Portia. "Choose!"

The prince studied the words on all three boxes: he said, "All the world wishes for gold; all the world wishes for Portia, so I choose the gold box."

The prince took the key from Portia and opened box. But he was surprised when all he saw inside was the head of a dead man and a piece of paper. On the paper was written: "All that shines brightly is not gold.”

The prince left with a sad heart and Portia was please to see him go.

Bassanio visits Portia

Then a French prince came. He was very proud so he chose the silver box: "The man who chooses me shall get as much as he ought to get." The proud prince said I am a great man: so I ought to get all that I wish for. He opened the box; in it he found a picture of a fool's head. There was also a piece of paper in the box. It said, "There are many fools covered in silver." The prince said, "I have been a fool!" and he went away.

A servant came to Portia and said, "A young man from Venice is coming to try to win you." This young man was

of course, Bassanio.

There were many servants with Bassanio. There was also a man called Gratiano. Gratiano was both a servant and a friend of Bassanio.

Portia had fallen in love with Bassanio. She said "Please wait a day or two before you begin to choose, if you choose the wrong box, I shall see no more of you. I could teach you how to choose the right box, but I have promised not to do that."

Bassanio said, "No. Let me choose now. I can't bear wait."

Bassanio chooses

Bassanio looked at the gold and silver boxes. He thought "Those things which seem beautiful from the outside are

not always beautiful inside. The lead box does not promise to give me anything. It tells me that I should be ready to give all that I have to the woman whom I love. So I choose this."

He opened the lead box, and in it he saw Portia's picture. Then he read the paper which was in the box: "If you are pleased with this, turn to your lady and kiss her."

Bassanio turned to Portia and said, "Dear lady, will you be mine?"

"I wish," answered Portia, "that I were a thousand times more beautiful and ten thousand times richer; then I might be good enough for you. I give you myself, and all that is mine."

She took a ring off her finger and gave it to him.

"Take this ring," she said. "When you lose it, or give it away, that will be the end of our love."

"When this ring leaves my hand," answered Bassanio, "then life will have left me. I shall be dead."

As Portia and Bassanio stood talking about their love for each other, Gratiano and Nerissa came up to them. Nerissa said, "We wish you joy in your marriage. Gratiano and I are to be married, too."

A letter from Antonio

Just as the four happy people were arranging to be married, three friends arrived from Venice with a letter from Antonio. Bassanio opened the letter and began to read it.

Portia looked at Bassanio's face. She was sure that something very bad had happened. She said, "I am half of you, and I must have half of anything which troubles you. Tell me what it is."

Bassanio read the letter:

Dear Bassanio, My ships are all lost Now I have no money, so I cannot pay Shylock. I must give him a pound of my flesh. If do that, it will certainly be the end of my life. Therefore please forget about the money that you borrowed from me. All I wish now is to see you before I die.

The kind Portia told Bassanio to go at once to his friend. But she wanted Bassanio to marry her before he went.

Then he would be able to take her money and pay Shylock.

So as soon as they were married, Bassanio hurried off to Venice to see his dear friend, Antonio.

When Bassanio and Gratiano had gone, Portia thought of a way to save Antonio. She decided to go to Venice herself. Portia had a good friend who was a famous judge. asked him to lend her all his judge's clothes and notes. Then she put on the clothes and pretended to be a judge. Her maid, Nerissa, was dressed like a judge's manservant.

Then Portia and Nerissa set out for Venice.

Antonio in danger

Shylock was very angry with Antonio. One of Antonio’s friends had run away with Shylock's beautiful daughter. They were in love with each other and they had run away to get married. They had also taken some of Shylock’s money and jewels.

Shylock was so angry that he ran through the streets of Venice. He shouted to everyone about his daughter and the money that she had taken. All the little boys in Venice followed him and laughed at him.

"His jewels, his daughter, and his money," they shouted.

When the angry Shylock heard that Antonio's ships were lost at sea, he was very pleased. He knew that now he could kill Antonio.

Antonio asked Shylock to give him another chance to pay. But Shylock would not listen to him.

"Guard him well," Shylock said to the man who was taking Antonio to prison. "Don't ask me to forgive him. Don't talk to me about mercy and forgiveness. I won't have mercy: I'll take my pound of flesh from him."

The brave Antonio did not again ask Shylock for mercy, for he knew that Shylock meant to kill him. All Antonio wished for now was to see his friend Bassanio once more.

The court

Antonio was taken to court, and the trial began. The Duke of Venice said to Shylock, "Have mercy on Antonio”

"I have been promised my pound of flesh," Shylock answered. "Antonio is my enemy: I hate him."

Bassanio said, "Do all men kill those things that they hate?"

"It is useless trying to talk to Shylock," said Antonio "Don't wait any longer. Pass judgement on me and give Shylock what he wants."

"I'll pay you six thousand ducats in return for the three thousand ducats that Antonio borrowed," said Bassanio.

"If you offered me six times the amount that you just offered," said Shylock, "I would still take my pound of flesh. Give me my pound of flesh!"

"How can you hope for mercy yourself when you show none?" asked the duke.

"I have done nothing wrong and I fear no judgement Shylock replied. "Give me my pound of flesh!"

As the duke was wondering what to do, Portia entered the large room, dressed like a judge. Bassanio did not know that it was Portia. Nerissa was with her, dressed like a young man.

Portia took her seat as judge.

"Are you Antonio? - And is this your agreement with Shylock?"

"It is."

"Then," said Portia, "Shylock must be merciful: he must have mercy on Antonio."

"Why must I have mercy on him?" said Shylock.

Portia answered:

"Mercy falls like the gentle rain from the sky upon the earth. It blesses him who gives it, and him who receives it. Kings have mercy in their hearts. And God has mercy: he had mercy upon us. We all pray to God for mercy: so we should learn to show mercy to others. Do you still ask for this pound of flesh?"

"I ask for what is mine by law!" answered Shylock.

"Oh, wise young judge!"

Bassanio said, "I offer ten times the amount of money that Antonio has borrowed. Please change the law a little so that we may save Antonio."

"We cannot change a law," answered Portia. "If one law is changed, then other men will later want to change other laws."

"Oh, wise young judge!" cried Shylock.

Portia said, "Let me see this agreement, this promise of Antonio to you."

"Here it is!" answered Shylock, giving her the paper.

"Yes," she said. "By law Shylock may have a pound of flesh to be cut off by him nearest to Antonio's heart. Be merciful! Let me destroy this paper. - No? Then, Antonio, be ready; and Shylock, take your knife."

"Oh, learned judge! Oh, wise young man cried Shylock.

"Have you brought anything to weigh the flesh Portia asked Shylock.

"Yes," answered Shylock. "I have everything ready here.”

"Do you wish to say anything?" Portia asked Antonio.

"Only a little," replied the brave Antonio. “Goodbye Bassanio. Don't be sad for me. Tell your wife about me and how much I loved you. If Shylock cuts deep enough, I'll pay him back with all my heart."

"I love you more than my own life, more than my wife and more than all the world," cried Bassanio. "I would gladly lose everything. in order to save you."

"Your wife wouldn't like that offer if she were present,” said Portia.

Then Gratiano, who liked to do everything that Bassanio did, spoke about his own wife.

"I have a wife, whom I love very much," he said. "But I wish that she were dead and in heaven. Then she would be able to ask God to help Antonio."

Nerissa laughed quietly when she heard her husband.

"It is good that you make this wish when she is not here," she said to Gratiano. "If she were present, there would be trouble at your home."

Not one drop of blood

"We are wasting time," said Shylock.

"Take your pound of flesh," said Portia. "The law allows it and the court gives it to you."

As Shylock began to move towards Antonio, Portia spoke again.

"Wait!" she said. "There is something else. Antonio has promised to give you a pound of his flesh. But he has not promised to give you any of his blood. If you let one drop of his blood fall, you will lose all your land and all your money."

"Oh, learned judge! Oh, wise young man!" cried Gratiano.

"Is that the law?" asked Shylock.

"You shall see the law," replied Portia. "You wanted judgement; so you shall get judgement - more than you wanted."

"I will take the money," said Shylock. "Give me three times more than Antonio borrowed from me.

"Here it is," Bassanio cried out, full of joy.

But Portia stopped him. "Wait!" she said. "Shylock would not take the money earlier. All he wanted was his pound of flesh. That is all he can have now: no more, no less, just one pound - and not one drop of blood."

Shylock turned to leave the court.

"Beg for mercy”

Portia had still not finished with Shylock.

"Wait, Shylock," she said. "The law of Venice says that if anyone tries to kill one of the people of Venice, every-thing that he owns shall be taken away from him. One half of his money and goods shall be given to the city of Venice and the other half shall be given to the person he has tried to kill. Your life is now at the mercy of the duke, so fall on your knees and beg for mercy."

"I shall not kill you," the great duke said. "But half of your money is now Antonio's. You must give the other half to the city of Venice."

"Take my life too!" cried Shylock. "My money and goods are as dear to me as life itself. When you take those away from me, you take also my life."

"I shall be happy to give up my part of Shylock's money," said Antonio. "Shylock must promise to leave the money on his death to his daughter and her husband."

Shylock promised.

"Let me go home," he said. "I am not well." Then the duke set Antonio free.

The rings

Antonio and Bassanio were left alone with Portia: they were full of thanks to her. They tried to give her money, but Portia would take nothing at all.

"Dear sir," said Bassanio. "Please take something so that you may remember us. We know that you do not want us to pay you, but we wish to give you something in order to show our thanks to you.

Portia pretended suddenly to notice a beautiful ring on Bassanio's finger. It was the ring that she had given to Bassanio in Belmont.

"Give me your ring," she said. "I shall wear it so that I can always remember you.

Bassanio had promised to wear the ring for ever.

"This ring," he said, "is too poor a present to give to you.

"I'll take nothing else," said Portia.

"I'll give you the best ring in Venice," said Bassanio. "But I can't give you this ring. My wife gave it to me. She made me promise never to sell it, nor to give it away, nor to lose it."

"If your wife knew what I have done for you, she wouldn't want you to keep the ring," said Portia, as she walked away angrily.

Let the judge have the ring," said Antonio. "He should have much more than a ring after all he has done for us”

Bassanio thought again about the ring. He felt that he must show his deep thanks to the young judge and knew that Antonio was right. At last he changed his mind and sent Gratiano after Portia with the ring.

When Gratiano brought the ring to Portia, he met Nerissa again. The two ladies were still dressed like men so he did not know who they really were.

Nerissa had also given Gratiano a ring in Belmont. She said quietly to Portia, "I'll see if I can get my husband's ring that he too promised to keep for ever!"

Gratiano and Nerissa

Portia and Nerissa returned to Belmont, and Bassanio andAntonio came after them.

As soon as Bassanio arrived, he took Antonio to Portia and told her about everything that had happened. While the three of them were talking, Nerissa and Gratiano began to quarrel.

"A quarrel already?" asked Portia. "What's the matter?"

"It's only about a poor little ring that Nerissa gave me”, replied Gratiano.

Gratiano tried to laugh about it, but Nerissa pretend to be very unhappy.

"You promised me that you would wear it until you died," cried Nerissa.

"I gave it to a young man," Gratiano said. "He was only a boy, no taller than you. He was the servant of the wise judge and he asked me for it."

Portia was enjoying this, but she did not laugh! She said solemnly, "It was wrong of you to give away your ring,

Gratiano. You promised to wear it for ever. I also gave my husband a ring. He would never give it away for all the money in the world."

The happy ending

Gratiano said, "Bassanio gave his ring away, too. He gave his ring to the wise young judge; and then the boy, the judge's servant, wanted mine."

Portia turned to Bassanio. "You have broken your promise to me!" she said. "I shall never love you until I see the ring again."

"I gave the ring to a judge who wouldn't take the three thousand ducats I offered him. He had just saved the life of my dearest friend. What else could I do?"

"I pray you to forgive him," said Antonio. "I once lent my body so that Bassanio could come to marry you. I

should be dead now if the young judge hadn't saved me. I

promise you, upon my life, that Bassanio will always be a good husband to you."

"Then," replied Portia, "give him this ring and tell him to keep it better than the other."

"It's the same ring that I gave to the wise young judge!" cried Bassanio.

"And I was that young judge," said Portia. "And here is my servant, that little boy! Nerissa was my servant!"

But that was not all. Portia gave Antonio a letter. The letter told Antonio that three of his ships had just returned safely to Venice.

"Come," said Portia. "It is almost morning, and I am sure that we all have many more questions to ask and answer. Let us go in and we will answer all things fully."

"Let it be so," said Gratiano. "Come, young servant of the wise judge or would you rather be my wife?"

The end