"Cliff Notes - Merchant of Venice, The" - читать интересную книгу автора (Cliff Notes)

THE MERCHANT OF VENICE: THE PLOT

Antonio, a rich Venetian merchant, has lent a good deal of money to
his best friend Bassanio, a charming and carefree young man with a
tendency to live beyond his means. Bassanio has fallen in love with
a beautiful heiress, Portia of Belmont, and he has reason to believe
that she loves him too. If only he could marry Portia, Bassanio
tells Antonio, his money problems would be solved, and he would be
able to pay back all the money he owes. But Bassanio needs still
more money to travel to Belmont and court Portia in suitable style.
Antonio is not particularly worried about being repaid, and he wants
to help Bassanio for friendship's sake. Since all of his capital is
invested in ships' cargoes, he has no cash on hand at the moment,
and therefore suggests that Bassanio borrow the money. Antonio
promises to put up the collateral for the loan.

Bassanio strikes a deal with Shylock, a rich Jewish moneylender, to
borrow three thousand gold ducats for three months. Shylock proposes
an unusual contract: He will charge no interest on the loan, but if
the money is not repaid in time, Antonio will have to give Shylock a
pound of his own flesh! Shylock pretends that he means this part of
the bargain as a joke. In reality, since he has been the victim of
Antonio's prejudice, he is nursing a deep and bitter grudge against
the merchant. Antonio, a generous and optimistic man, does not
understand the depths of Shylock's hatred and cannot imagine that
his business would fail and that he would have to pay this bond.
Besides, he will have more money than he needs within a few weeks.
He agrees to the bizarre terms of the loan.

In the meantime, we see Portia of Belmont with her maid Nerissa,
discussing the arrangements for her marriage that have been set up
under her late father's will. Portia, we learn, will not be allowed
to choose a husband for herself. Instead, her suitors will have to
choose among three small chests, or caskets--one made of gold, one
of silver, and one of lead. The first suitor to pick the chest with
Portia's picture in it will win her hand in marriage and her entire
fortune. The losers must promise to remain single for the rest of
their lives, not to reveal to anyone their incorrect choice, and to
leave immediately.

In Act II of the play, two suitors try their luck with this test.
The first, the proud and exotic Prince of Morocco, picks the gold
casket. Inside the casket, he finds a skull and a scroll which warns
that "all that glisters is not gold." Obviously, he has made the
wrong choice. A second suitor, the haughty Prince of Arragon
(Arragon = arrogant?), chooses the silver casket. He has won nothing
but a portrait of a grinning idiot.