By William Shakespeare
How does one win the hand of the beautiful Portia? It is simple, just choose the correct casket (chest). There are only three options, can it be that hard? Obviously so, as suitors come and go in their hopes of success.
Enter Bassanio. He too covets Portia, but from a purer love and a poorer fortune. To follow his heart, he must first find the money to journey to Belmont. Antonio, the Merchant of Venice and the truest of friends, is willing to underwrite this quest. Antonio is expecting (literally) his ships to come in, so he borrows the money from Shylock, the crafty and despised Jewish moneylender, to give to his friend.
Shylock, who hates Antonio, loans the money on one condition: If the loan is not repaid within the agreed-upon time, he can extract a pound of the Merchant’s flesh.
Shakespeare buoys our hopes on two fronts, but will both be dashed? The Merchant of Venice is love and friendship and revenge.
