SceneFiend library
The Merchant of Venice
By William Shakespeare - Stage play
Roles
- Shylock
- Antonio
- Bassanio
About this piece
Antonio and Shylock reach a macabre agreement over a loan
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 this scene Bassanio approaches Shylock for a loan. Shylock sees this as an opportunity to get even with Antonio, who has many times cursed him and humiliated him. Shylock suggests to make the loan without interest. However, if he fails to repay the loan, then he will have to forfeit a pound of his flesh...
Tone
Use cases
Library metadata only. SceneFiend never includes script text here - pick up the published version to rehearse.
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