The Merchant of Venice

The title of the book is The Merchant of Venice

Both suitors leave empty- handed having rejected the lead casket because of the base ness of it's material and the uninviting nature of it's slogan who chooseth me must give and hazard all the hath. The last suitor is Bassanio whose Portia wishes to succeed having met him before. As Bassanio ponders his choice members of Portia's household sing a song that says that fancy is engend'red in the eyes. At Venice Antonio's ship are reported lost at sea so the merchant cannot repay the bond. Sherlock has become more determined to exact revenge from christians because his daughter Jessica eloped with the christian Lorenzo and converted. She took a substantial amount of Sherlock's wealth with her as well as a turquoise ring which Sherlock had been given by his late wife Leah. Sherlock has Antonio brought before court. At Belmont Bassanio receives a letter telling him that Antonio has been unable to repay the loan from Sherlock , Portia and Bassanio many as to Gratiano and Portia's hand maid Nerissa. Bassanio and Gratanio leave her Venice with money from Portia to save Antonio's life by offering the money to Sherlock. Unknown to Bassanio and Gratanio Portia sent her servant Balthazar to seek the counsel of Portia's cousin Bellario a lawyer at Padua. The c****x of the play is set in the court of the Duke of Venice. Sherlock refuses Bassanio's offer of 6000 ducats twice the amount of the loan. He demands his pound of flesh from Antonio. The Duke wishing to save Antonio but unable to nullify a contract refers the case to a visitor. He identifies himself at Balthazar a young male doctor of the law bearing a letter of recommendation to the Duke from the leaned lawyer Bellario. The doctor is Portia in disguise and the law clerk who accompanies her in Nerrissa also disguised as a man. As Balthazar Portia in a famous speech repeatedly asks Sherlock to show mercy advising him that mercy is twice blest: It blesseth him that gives and him that takes. However Sherlock adamantly refuses any compensations and insists on the pound of flesh.

As the court grants Sherlock his bond and Antonio prepares for Sherlock's knife Portia deftly appreciates Sherlock argument for specific performance. She says that the contract allows Sherlock to remove only the flesh not the blood of Antonio. Thus if Sherlock were to shed any drop of Antonio's blood his lands and goods would be forfeited under Venetian laws. She tells him that he must cut precisely one pound of flesh no more no less she advises him that if the scale do turn. But in the estimation of a hair Thou diest and all thy goods are confiscate.