What is The Merchant of Venice by Shakespeare?

Answer 1

The Merchant of Venice is a play by William Shakespeare, one of his best-known early plays. It involves a double plot: the first involves a young man called Bassanio who wants to marry the wealthy heiress Portia. The successful suitor must first pass a test which is to guess which of three chests Portia's picture is hidden in. He guesses right and they are married. The second plot arises because Bassanio is too poor to go courting Portia. He calls upon his friend Antonio, the Merchant of Venice in the title, who is in a little cash flow bind, but who agrees to borrow the money for Bassanio. He borrows the money from Shylock, a Jewish moneylender. Now, Shylock and Antonio dislike each other intensely and Antonio has behaved very rudely to Shylock in the past. Nevertheless, Shylock agrees to lend the money, and without interest, provided that Antonio will agree that if the loan is not repaid on time, Shylock may cut a pound of flesh from Antonio's body. Antonio expects to be able to pay, so he agrees, but he is wrong and is taken to court by Shylock, who expects to get the pound of flesh he bargained for, and kill his enemy Antonio in the process. Unfortunately Portia dresses up as a lawyer and finds a loophole which saves Antonio and destroys Shylock.