Resumo de The Merchant Of Venice - William Shakespeare

The Merchant of Venice is a tragicomedy set in sixteenth century Venice. A

tale of love, friendship, trust, betrayal, mercy, hatred and revenge told
with

equal shares of high drama and hilarity, you could say Sir William was

keeping everyone in his Elizabethan audience happy. None more so
than

Queen Elizabeth herself. Shakespeare?s unsympathetic characterization
of the

central character Shylock, a Jewish money lender, came just two years
after

the Queen had her Jewish physician executed suspecting he had been

plotting to kill her. It did not matter that it turned out the case was

completely fabricated; it rekindled anti-Semitic feeling in England and

increased the popularity of the play.

The plays main plot revolves around a bizarre bond entered into by
Antonio

who borrows money from Shylock on behalf of his beloved friend
Bassanio to

aid him on a quest for love. Antonio, a Christian merchant opposed to
usury,

and Shylock have had many uncivilized encounters in the past. Shylock

recounts these before setting out the terms of the bond?if the money
is not

paid back within three months, he shall exact a pound of Antonio?s
flesh from

nearest his heart. Antonio assures Bassanio that he will be reaping the

rewards of many ventures at sea shortly, and he enters the bond.
Bassanio

sets sail for Belmont, the estate of the fair Lady Portia who is the central

character in the second main plot. Upon dying her father put the choice
of

whom she should marry firmly out of her hands by devising a task for
any

suitor to pass in order to win her hand in marriage. They must choose
to

open one of three caskets, made of gold, silver, and lead, one of which

contains her portrait. The honest young Bassanio chooses rightly and
marries

Portia.

Meanwhile back in Venice, Shylocks beautiful daughter Jessica has
eloped

with a Christian who is associated with Antonio and his friends. She has
also

taken all his money and jewels. As he unravels, taken by rage and grief,
news

begins to filter through in Venice that one of Antonio?s ships has sunk

abroad. This brightens Shylocks outlook as he begins to focus on the
bond,

and the possibility of it being carried through. It becomes clear at this
point

that he no longer wants the money, but is seeking his pound of flesh.

All of this leads to one of the most tension filled dramatic scenes in the

history of theatre as Antonio and Shylock face each other in front of
senior

figures in Venice and are told that the law is on Shylocks side. They
appeal for

mercy on Antonio?s behalf, but none is forthcoming. It looks like all is
lost as

Antonio bares his breast for Shylock to begin his gruesome task when
the

audience is rescued from this tragic ending by the fair lady Portia
dressed as

a young lawyer who points out that there is no mention of blood in the
bond.

She states that if Shylock can exact one pound of flesh without spilling
a drop

of blood he may do so. Shylock is beaten. The law he was so eager to
uphold

is turned upon him, and he has no answer. Order and calm are restored,
and

the play ends with a little mischief to send the audience home happy
once

more.

The Merchant of Venice is very funny and thought provoking, and gives
an

excellent insight into the ill feeling between Jews and Christians in the

1500?s.

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