in The Merchant of Venice (The Jew of Venice) — Shakespeare, William
Metadata
Play
The Merchant of Venice (The Jew of Venice)
Author
Shakespeare, William
Year (catalogued)
1600
First performance
1596
Decade
1600s
Genre
Comedy
Play type
Adult Professional
Company
Lord Chamberlain's (Hunsdon's) Men
Speech prefix(es)
Duk. | Duke.
Words
379
Characters
2041
Typicality
0.46 (cosine to cluster centroid)
TCP id
A68727
BritDrama no.
1047
Cluster
Cluster 14 — Law & judgment
Important excerpts
No keyword-matching excerpt could be extracted (the cluster label doesn't share vocabulary with this character's speech).
Full speech
How shalt thou hope for mercy rendering none? Upon my power I may dismiss this Court, unless Bellario a learned Doctor, whom I have sent for to determine this Come here to day? Bring us the letters? call the Messenger? Came you from Padua from Bellario? This letter from Bellario does commend a young and learned Doctor to our Court: Where is he? With all my heart: some three or four of you go give him courteous conduct to this place, mean time the Court shall hear Bellarios letter. Your Grace shall understand, that at the receipt of your letter I am very sick, but in the instant that your messenger came, in lo ving visitation was with me a young Doctor of Room, his name is Balthazer: I acquainted him with the cause in continued ̄ trouersie between the Jew and Anthonio the Merchant, we turned over many books together, he is furnished with my opinion, which bettered with his own learning, the greatness whereof I cannot enough come mend, comes with him at my importunity, to fill up your graces request in my stead. I beseech you let his lack of years be no im pediment to let him lack a reverend estimation, for I never knew so young a body with so old a head: I leave him to your gracious acceptance, whose trial shall better publish his commendation. You hear the learned Bellario what he writes, and here I take it is the doctor come. Give me your hand, come you from old Bellario? You are welcome, take your place: are you acquainted with the difference that holds this present question in the Court. Anthonio and old Shylocke, both stand forth. That thou shalt see the difference of our spirit I pardon thee thy life before thou ask it: for half thy wealth, it is Anthonios, the other half comes to the general state, which humbleness may driven unto a fine. He shall do this, or else I do recant the pardon that I late pronounced here. Get thee gone, but do it. Sir I entreat you home with me to dinner. I am sorry that your leisure serves you not. Anthonio, gratify this gentleman, for in my mind you are much bound to him.
Plot summary
Plot — The Merchant of Venice (The Jew of Venice)
Bassanio plans to woo the heiress Portia, hoping that, if successful, her wealth will get him out of debt. His friend and principal creditor, the melancholy merchant Antonio, agrees to finance the venture, but all his money is tied up in commercial activity. He seeks a loan from the Jew Shylock, who himself raises the money by borrowing from his co-religionist Tubal. ===== PAGE 342 ===== 342 |. 1047. The Merchant of Venice Shylock is resentful of Antonio’s attacks on him for taking interest on loans, but frames a ‘merry bond’ which will entitle him only to a pound of Antonio’s flesh should the money not be repaid on the due date. Lancelot Gobbo leaves Shylock’s service and is hired by Bassanio, who is planning a going-away feast. Lancelot brings a letter from Shylock’s daughter Jessica to Lorenzo, whom she wishes to marry. Shylock is invited to the supper, and, while he is away, Lorenzo helps Jessica to escape from her father’s house; afterwards, it is unclear whether Shylock is more distressed by the loss of his daughter or the money she took with her. Bassanio leaves for Belmont, accompanied by Gratiano. Portia’s marital prospects are regulated by the will of her dead father: her suitors must choose which of three caskets contains her picture, and she may only wed the suitor who gets it right, while suitors who get it wrong must remain unmarried ever after. The Prince of Morocco chooses the golden casket, signifying a much-desired object, but gets only a death’s head. The Prince of Aragon chooses silver, signifying the suitor’s desert, and gets a fool’s head. Bassanio chooses lead, signifying that the suitor must risk everything, and gets Portia. She gives him a ring, which he promises never to remove. oo Rumours circulate in Venice that Antonio is ruined by the loss of all his ships. Unable to pay his debt to the vindictive Shylock, he writes to Belmont for Bassanio’s help. Lorenzo also comes to Belmont with Jessica, and, leaving her household in their care, Portia. secretly follows her new husband to Venice. Having acquired a disguise and a testimonial from a lawyer kinsman, she takes part in the hearing of Antonio’s case before the Duke. Shylock refuses either to accept the repayment of his money or to be merciful; but Portia points out that the bond entitles him to take no blood with his pound of flesh. Having plotted to kill a Venetian citizen, his life and goods are forfeit, but he is spared, on condition that he becomes a Christian and makes over…