The Merchant of Venice

Set in Venice and Portia's home in Belmont the play moves from a fraught mix of cosmopolitan bustle and casual antisemitism to a fairy tale land of riddles, music and poetry . At the play's all the main characters enter the idyllic world of Belmont in a happy ending which is nevertheless tainted by memories of Portia's rejected suitors and Sherlock's earlier exit. Such ambiguity was brought out notably in 2010 performance at New Shakespeare in the park just one of many performances of this popular Shakespeare play perhaps now best known through the AI Pacino film of 2004. The Merchant of Venice is a 16th century play written by William Shakespeare in which a merchant in Venice named Antonio defaults on a large loan provided by a Jewish money lender Sherlock. It is believed to have been written between 1569 and 1599. Although classified as a comedy in the first Folio and sharing certain aspects with Shakespeare's other romantic comedies the play is most remembered for it's dramatic scenes and it is best known for Sherlock and his famous Hath not a Jew eyes? speech on humanity. Also notable is Portia's speech about the quality of mercy. Bassanio a young Venetian of noble rank wishes to woo the beautiful and wealthy heiress Portia of Belmont. Having squandered his estate he needs 3000 ducats to subsidise his expenditures as a suitor. Bassanio approaches his friend Antonio, a wealthy merchant of Venice who has previously and repeatedly bailed him out. Antonio agrees but since he is cash poor his ships and merchandise are busy at sea to Tripolis, the Indies, Mexico and England he promises to cover a bond if Bassanio can find a lender so Bassanio turns to the Jewish money lender Sherlock and names Antonio as the loan's guarantor. Antonio has already antagonized Sherlock through his out spoken antisemitism and because Antonio's habit of lending money without interest forces Sherlock to charge lower rates. Sherlock is a first reluctant to grant the loan, citing a***e he has suffered at Antonio's hand. He finally agrees to lend the sum to Bassanio without interest upon one condition:if Antonio were unable to repay it at the specific date Sherlock may take a pound of Antonio's flesh. Bassanio does not want Antonio to accept such a risky condition Antonio is surprised by what he sees as the money lenders generosity and he signs the contract. With money in hand Bassanio leaves for Belmont with his friend Gratiano who has asked to accompany him. Gratiano is a likeable young man but he is often flippant overly talk active and tactless. Bassanio warns his companion to exercise self- control and the two leave for Belmont. Meanwhile in Belmont Portia is a wash with suitors. Her father left a well stipulating that each of her suitors must choose correctly from one of three caskets made of gold, silver and lead respectively. Whoever picks the right casket with Portia's hand. The first suitor the Prince of Morocco chooses the gold casket interpreting it's slogan who chooseth me shall get as gain what many men desire as referring to Portia. The second suitor the conceited Prince of Aragon chooses the sliver casket which proclaims who chooseth me shall get as much as he deserves as he believes he is full of merit.