The-Merchant-of-Venice威尼斯商人梗概及简介

TheMerchantofVeniceByDongYueMarchthe24th1Backgroundinformation2Maincharacters3Synopsis/Plot4ThemeTheMerchantofVeniceisaplaybyWilliamShakespeare,believedtohavebeenwrittenbetween1596and1598.ThoughclassifiedasacomedyandsharingcertainaspectswithShakespeare‘sotherromanticcomedies,theplayisperhapsmostrememberedforitsdramaticscenes.BackgroundinformationAntonio–amerchantofVeniceBassanio–Antonio'sfriend;suitortoPortiaLorenzo–friendofAntonioandBassanio,inlovewithJessicaPortia–arichheiressShylock–arichJew,moneylender,fatherofJessicaJessica–daughterofShylock,inlovewithLorenzoDukeofVenice–VenetianauthoritywhopresidesoverthecaseofShylock'sbondMainCharactersDukeofVeniceAntonioShylockJessicaLorenzoPortiaBassanioDaughterandFatherLoversCoupleFriendsSaveBeatPresidesoverhiscaseMainCharactersSynopsisBassanio,ayoungnobleman,wishestowoothebeautifulheiressPortiaofBelmont.Heturnsforhisfriend,Antonio,for3,000ducatsashisexpenditures.Antonio,whohaspreviouslyandrepeatedlybailedhimoutagrees,butsinceAntonioiscash-poor–hisshipsandgoodsarebusyatsea–hepromisestocoverabondifBassaniocanfindalender,soBassanioturnstotheJewishmoneylenderShylockandnamesAntonioastheloan'sguarantor.ShylockagreestolendthesumtoAntoniowithoutinterestupononecondition:ifAntonioisunabletorepayitatthespecifieddate,ShylockmaytakeapoundofAntonio'sflesh.SynopsisSynopsisMeanwhileinBelmont,Portiaisawashwithsuitors.Herfatherleftawillstipulating,eachofhersuitorsmustchoosecorrectlyfromoneofthreecaskets–oneeachofgold,silverandlead.Ifhepickstherightcasket,hegetsPortia.ThetwosuitorsbeforeBassaniohavefailed.Luckily,withthehelpofPortia’shousehold,Bassaniochoosestheleadcasket,winningPortia'shand.SynopsisSynopsisAtVenice,Antonio'sshipsarereportedlostatsea.Thisleaveshimunabletosatisfythebond.AntoniohasalreadymadeanenemyofShylockthroughhisoutspokenantisemitism,andalsobecauseAntonio'shabitoflendingmoneywithoutinterestforcesShylocktochargelowerrates.ShylockisevenmoredeterminedtoexactrevengefromChristiansafterhisdaughterJessicahadfledhomeandelopedwiththeChristianLorenzo.SynopsisSynopsisHerecomestheclimax.ShylockrefusesBassanio'sofferof6,000ducats.HedemandshispoundoffleshfromAntonio.ThewitPortiadisguisesasayounglawyerappearsatthecourtoftrialanddefeatsShylock‘scrueldemandbyorderingtheJewtoremoveonlytheflesh,nottheblood.Shealsotellshimthathemustcutpreciselyonepoundofflesh,nomore,noless.Defeated,ShylockconcedestoacceptingBassanio'sofferofmoney.PortiathencitesalawunderwhichShylock,asaJew,havingattemptedtotakethelifeofacitizen,hasforfeitedhisproperty,halftothegovernmentandhalftoAntonio,leavinghislifeatthemercyoftheDuke.TheDukeimmediatelypardonsShylock'slife.AntonioasksforhisshareinusetoLorenzoandJessica.SynopsisSynopsisBassaniodoesnotrecognisehisdisguisedwife,butofferstogiveapresenttothesupposedlawyer.PortiarequestshisringandAntonio'sgloves.BassaniogivestheringonlyaftermuchpersuasionfromAntonio,asearlierhepromisedhiswifenevertolose,sellorgiveit.AtBelmont,Portiatauntandpretendtoaccuseherhusbandbeforerevealingsheisreallythelawyerindisguise.Afteralltheothercharactersmakeamends,AntoniolearnsfromPortiathatthreeofhisshipswerenotstrandedandhavereturnedsafelyafterall.ThemeThoughintheplayShakespeareobviouslymeanttoexaltthefriendshipbetweenAntonioandBassanioandtoidealizePortiaasaheroineofgreatbeauty,witandloyalty,yetwhenShylocktheusurercomplainsofhissufferingfromracialdiscriminationandreligiouspersecution,thepoetshowshisfullsympathyfortheoppressedJew.Thankyou