The Merchant of Venice

Roles

• Portia - Young Adult (20-35), Female

About this piece

Portia urges Bassanio to delay choosing between the chests

Summary

Bassanio, a gentleman from Venice, asks his kinsman and friend Antonio, a Venitian merchant, for a loan so that he can court Portia, a woman from Belmont he has fallen in love with. Having all his money locked in investments, Antonio suggests to visit Shylock, a Jewish moneylender he is not in best terms with. Antonio hates Jews and always criticizes them for their usury. As a revenge, Shylock agrees to lend Bassanio some money with the condition that if he fails to pay him back then he will be entitled to a pound of Antonio's flesh. In the meanwhile Portia has to deal with several suitors she is not interested in. Her father has decided to give his daughter's hand in marriage to the first suitor that manages to pick a chest containing her portrait out of three chests. Lancelot Gobbo, Shylock's servant, decides to leave his master and work for Bassanio, who accepts him as his servant. Bassanio and his friend Graziano leave for Belmont after having helped their friend Lorenzo to escape with Jessica, Shylock's daughter. Shylock is infuriated at first but then rejoices for the fact that the ships Antonio has invested in have capsized and therefore he won't be able to repay his debt. Shylock plans to request a pound of his flesh. After two suitors, the Prince of Morocco and the Prince of Aragon, fail to choose the right casket, Bassanio arrives in Belmont ready to try to win her hand. In this monologue, in ACT II, Scene 2, Portia urges Bassanio not to rush into it since if he chooses the wrong one then they will never be together.

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