Il mercante di Venezia: analisi

IL MERCANTE DI VENEZIA ANALISI

Il mercante di Venezia di William Shakespeare.

Plot. Bassanio asks Antonio, a Venetian merchant, some money to court Portia, a wealthy heiress who lives in the city of Belmont. Antonio agrees, but is unable to give him the sum of money because his own money is all invested in a number of trade ships that are still at sea. To please Bassanio, Antonio decide to ask money to Shylock, a Jewish moneylender. Shylock nurses a long-standing grudge against Antonio, who has made a habit of berating Shylock and other Jews for their usury, the practice of loaning
money at exorbitant rates of interest, and who undermines their business by offering interest-free loans. Although Antonio refuses to apologize for his behavior, Shylock acts agreeably and offers to lend Bassanio three thousand ducats with no interest.
Shylock adds, however, that should the loan go unpaid, Shylock will be entitled to a pound of Antonio’s own flesh. Despite Bassanio’s warnings, Antonio agrees.

Il mercante di Venezia: analisi e riassunto

IL MERCANTE DI VENEZIA TEMI IN INGLESE

Than Bassanio and his friend Graziano leave for Belmont, where Bassanio intends to win Portia’s hand.
Portia can’t marry anybody, apart from the corageus one that will exceed the test of the three caskets. In Venice, Shylock is furious to find that his daughter has run away, but rejoices in the fact that Antonio’s ships are rumored to have been wrecked and that he will soon be able to claim his debt. Bassanio immediately picks the correct casket, which is made of lead. Shylock ignores the many pleas to spare Antonio’s life, and a trial is called to decide the matter. The duke of Venice, who presides over the trial, announces that he has sent for a legal expert, who turns out to be Portia disguised as a young man of law. Portia asks Shylock to show mercy, but he remains inflexible and insists the pound of flesh is rightfully his. Bassanio offers Shylock twice the money due him, but Shylock insists on collecting the bond as it is written.

Il mercante di Venezia: analisi, trama e personaggi

IL MERCANTE DI VENEZIA RIASSUNTO ATTO PER ATTO

Portia examines the contract and, finding it legally binding, declares that Shylock is entitled to the merchant’s flesh. Shylock ecstatically praises her wisdom, but as he is on the verge of collecting his due, Portia reminds him that he must do so without causing Antonio to bleed, as the contract does not entitle him to any blood. Trapped by this logic, Shylock hastily agrees to take Bassanio’s money instead, but Portia insists that Shylock take his bond as written, or nothing at all. Portia informs Shylock that he is guilty of conspiring against the life of a Venetian citizen, which means he must turn over half of his property to the state and the other half to Antonio.