The Merchant of Venice
Shakespeare is Britain's the most outstanding Renaissance masters.Shakespeare's play, "The Merchant of Venice" explored the timeless topic of money and love. Money is the world's most valuable things .There is something even more precious than money? Rich and moving story of family ties, witty dialogue, the plot turn, exaggerated the circumstances of Comedy, romance and legend is full of color. Is intertwined with friendship, love, love the world and lead us to understanding what is important in life.
The play tells a story that happens in Italy. A moneyless young Venetian, Bassanio, is making preparations to propose to Portia, a rich beauty of Belmont. He needs money and appeals to his friend Antonio, a merchant of Venice, for help. But Antonio?s money is invested in ships at sea. To help Bassanio in his courtship, he borrows money from Shylock the Jewish usurer. Shylock, who has been insulted by Antonio and other Christians, however, agrees to lend the money on the condition that if the loan is not paid in time, he may cut a pound of flesh from Antonio?s body. With this money, Bassanio goes to Belmont and succeed in the marriage with Portia. But news comes that Antonio?s ship sank and can?t return on time so he cannot pay the loan. Shylock demands his pound of flesh. The case is brought before the court. Antonio is in danger. At the critical moment, a young doctor of law arrives at the court. He appeals to Shylock for mercy with a moving speech, but in vain. Then the doctor admits the validity of Shylock?s claim, but warns him, under pain of death, that he must fulfill the every letter of his bond, taking no more and no less than one pound of flesh, and spilling no drop of blood. Seeing himself thus cornered, the Jew has no choice but to obey the verdict of the court. To everyone?s surprise, the young doctor of law who saves the life of Antonio is Portia in disguise. Finally they live together happily. The story has a happy ending in theory. But I don?t think the end is really happy and is a kind of “grave comedy”.
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