TheMerchantofVenice威尼斯商人梗概和簡(jiǎn)介課件

TheMerchantofVeniceByDongYueMarchthe24th

1Backgroundinformation2Main

characters3Synopsis/Plot4

ThemeTheMerchantofVenice

isaplaybyWilliamShakespeare,believedtohavebeenwrittenbetween1596and1598.ThoughclassifiedasacomedyandsharingcertainaspectswithShakespeare‘sotherromanticcomedies,theplayisperhapsmostrememberedforitsdramaticscenes.Background

information

Antonio–amerchantofVeniceBassanio–Antonio'sfriend;suitortoPortiaLorenzo–friendofAntonioandBassanio,inlovewithJessicaPortia–arichheiressShylock–arichJew,moneylender,fatherofJessicaJessica–daughterofShylock,inlovewithLorenzoDukeofVenice–VenetianauthoritywhopresidesoverthecaseofShylock'sbondMainCharactersDukeofVeniceAntonioShylockJessicaLorenzoPortiaBassanioDaughterandFatherLoversCoupleFriendsSaveBeatPresidesoverhiscaseEnemyMainCharactersSynopsis

Bassanio,ayoungnobleman,wishestowoothebeautifulheiressPortiaofBelmont.Heturnsforhisfriend,Antonio,for3,000ducatsashisexpenditures.Antonio,whohaspreviouslyandrepeatedlybailedhimoutagrees,butsinceAntonioiscash-poor–hisshipsandgoodsarebusyatsea–hepromisestocoverabondifBassaniocanfindalender,soBassanioturnstotheJewishmoneylenderShylockandnamesAntonioastheloan'sguarantor.ShylockagreestolendthesumtoAntoniowithoutinterestupononecondition:ifAntonioisunabletorepayitatthespecifieddate,ShylockmaytakeapoundofAntonio'sflesh.SynopsisSynopsis

MeanwhileinBelmont,Portiaisawashwithsuitors.Herfatherleftawillstipulating,eachofhersuitorsmustchoosecorrectlyfromoneofthreecaskets–oneeachofgold,silverandlead.Ifhepickstherightcasket,hegetsPortia.ThetwosuitorsbeforeBassanio

havefailed.

Luckily,withthehelpofPortia’shousehold,Bassaniochoosestheleadcasket,winningPortia'shand.

SynopsisSynopsisAtVenice,Antonio'sshipsarereportedlostatsea.Thisleaveshimunabletosatisfythebond.AntoniohasalreadymadeanenemyofShylockthroughhisoutspokenantisemitism,andalsobecauseAntonio'shabitoflendingmoneywithoutinterestforcesShylocktochargelowerrates.

ShylockisevenmoredeterminedtoexactrevengefromChristiansafterhisdaughterJessicahadfledhomeandelopedwiththeChristianLorenzo.

SynopsisSynopsis

Herecomestheclimax.ShylockrefusesBassanio'sofferof6,000ducats.HedemandshispoundoffleshfromAntonio.ThewitPortiadisguisesasayounglawyerappearsatthecourtoftrialanddefeatsShylock‘scrueldemandbyorderingtheJewtoremoveonlytheflesh,nottheblood.Shealsotellshimthathemustcutpreciselyonepoundofflesh,nomore,noless.Defeated,ShylockconcedestoacceptingBassanio'sofferofmoney.PortiathencitesalawunderwhichShylock,asaJew,havingattemptedtotakethelifeofacitizen,hasforfeitedhisproperty,halftothegovernmentandhalftoAntonio,leavinghislifeatthemercyoftheDuke.TheDukeimmediatelypardonsShylock'slife.Antonioasksforhisshare"inuse"toLorenzoandJessica.SynopsisSynopsis

Bassaniodoesnotrecognisehisdisguisedwife,butofferstogiveapresenttothesupposedlawyer.

PortiarequestshisringandAntonio'sgloves.BassaniogivestheringonlyaftermuchpersuasionfromAntonio,asearlierhepromisedhiswifenevertolose,sellorgiveit.

AtBelmont,Portiatauntandpretendtoaccuseherhusbandbeforerevealingsheisreallythelawyerindisguise.Afteralltheothercharactersmakeamends,AntoniolearnsfromPortiathatthreeofhisshipswerenotstrandedandhavereturnedsafelyafterall.Theme

ThoughintheplayShakespeareobviouslymeanttoexaltthefriendshipbetweenAntonioandBassanioandtoidealizePortiaasahero