William Shakespeare
Bibliography
Course Hero. "The Merchant of Venice Study Guide." Course Hero. 27 Feb. 2017. Web. 24 Sep. 2023. <https://www.coursehero.com/lit/The-Merchant-of-Venice/>.
In text
(Course Hero)
Bibliography
Course Hero. (2017, February 27). The Merchant of Venice Study Guide. In Course Hero. Retrieved September 24, 2023, from https://www.coursehero.com/lit/The-Merchant-of-Venice/
In text
(Course Hero, 2017)
Bibliography
Course Hero. "The Merchant of Venice Study Guide." February 27, 2017. Accessed September 24, 2023. https://www.coursehero.com/lit/The-Merchant-of-Venice/.
Footnote
Course Hero, "The Merchant of Venice Study Guide," February 27, 2017, accessed September 24, 2023, https://www.coursehero.com/lit/The-Merchant-of-Venice/.
Bassanio asks Antonio for 3,000 ducats so he will look rich when he courts Portia.
Act 1, Scene 1Portia entertains suitors who try to win her hand in marriage by solving her father's riddle.
Act 1, Scene 2To get a loan for Bassanio from Shylock, Antonio stakes a pound of his own flesh as collateral.
Act 1, Scene 3Bassanio prepares to leave for Belmont, hires Launcelot Gobbo, and agrees to take Gratiano with him.
Act 2, Scene 2Jessica and Lorenzo elope; Jessica takes with her as much of her father's fortune as she can carry.
Act 2, Scene 6The Prince of Morocco attempts to solve Portia's father's riddle and fails.
Act 2, Scene 7Shylock is seen in the city lamenting the loss of his daughter and his money.
Act 2, Scene 8The Prince of Arragon fails to solve Portia's father's riddle; Portia welcomes Bassanio.
Act 2, Scene 9Bassanio solves Portia's father's riddle; Gratiano declares his intention to marry Nerissa.
Act 3, Scene 2Antonio defaults and Shylock wants his pound of flesh; Bassanio and Gratiano return to Venice.
Act 3, Scene 2Disguised as Balthazar, Portia finds a loophole in the loan contract that saves Antonio's life.
Act 4, Scene 1Shylock loses his fortune and is forced to convert to Christianity for trying to kill Antonio.
Act 4, Scene 1As Balthazar, Portia asks Bassanio for his wedding ring as payment, which he gives her.
Act 4, Scene 2At Belmont Portia shows Bassanio the ring and pretends to have cheated on him with Balthazar.
Act 5, Scene 1The couples reconcile when Portia reveals her disguise; Antonio learns his ships have returned.
Act 5, Scene 1| Scene | Summary |
|---|---|
| Act 1, Scene 1 | Salarino and Solanio, two Venetian merchants, notice their friend Antonio has been out of sorts lately. Antonio has sent... Read More |
| Act 1, Scene 2 | Portia tells her servant and friend Nerissa of her frustration and weariness at the suitors who have swarmed her home se... Read More |
| Act 1, Scene 3 | Bassanio negotiates with Shylock, a Jewish moneylender, to borrow 3,000 ducats for three months in Antonio's name. Shylo... Read More |
| Act 2, Scene 1 | The Prince of Morocco greets Portia upon his arrival at Belmont, saying "Mislike me not for my complexion" and telling h... Read More |
| Act 2, Scene 2 | Launcelot Gobbo works for Shylock as a servant, but he is debating whether or not to leave his job and seek a new master... Read More |
| Act 2, Scene 3 | Jessica bids Launcelot Gobbo goodbye as he prepares to leave her father's service. She tells him he has been a source of... Read More |
| Act 2, Scene 4 | Lorenzo makes plans with Gratiano, Salarino, and Solanio to "slink away in supper time" and disguise themselves to prepa... Read More |
| Act 2, Scene 5 | Launcelot brings Shylock an invitation to Bassanio's dinner, and Shylock tells Launcelot he will be able to judge the di... Read More |
| Act 2, Scene 6 | Gratiano and Salarino meet Lorenzo outside Shylock's house, speaking about the wonders of love to pass the time because ... Read More |
| Act 2, Scene 7 | The Prince of Morocco undertakes the challenge left by Portia's father. He is to choose between three "caskets" or chest... Read More |
| Act 2, Scene 8 | Salarino and Solanio meet in the city square to review recent events. They have seen Bassanio set sail with Gratiano, bu... Read More |
| Act 2, Scene 9 | The Prince of Arragon attempts the challenge of choosing between the three caskets to find Portia's portrait and win her... Read More |
| Act 3, Scene 1 | Salarino and Solanio reflect on the news that another of Antonio's ships has been reported lost in "the Goodwins." They ... Read More |
| Act 3, Scene 2 | Portia wants Bassanio to wait a few days before he undertakes her father's challenge, fearing he might choose wrong and ... Read More |
| Act 3, Scene 3 | Shylock and Salarino accompany Antonio to jail. Shylock mocks Antonio for lending money without interest. Antonio wants ... Read More |
| Act 3, Scene 4 | With Bassanio and Gratiano on their way to Venice, Portia makes her own preparations to depart Belmont. Lorenzo thanks h... Read More |
| Act 3, Scene 5 | Launcelot and Jessica talk in the gardens at Belmont, and Launcelot tells Jessica she should hope Shylock isn't really h... Read More |
| Act 4, Scene 1 | Shylock and Antonio appear before the Duke of Venice. Shylock demands fulfillment of the letter of their contract, and A... Read More |
| Act 4, Scene 2 | Portia instructs Nerissa to go to Shylock's home and have him sign the deed that gives his property to Jessica and Loren... Read More |
| Act 5, Scene 1 | Jessica and Lorenzo enjoy the moonlight in Belmont and compare the night—and themselves—with doomed lovers from classica... Read More |
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