The Merchant of Venice – by William
Shakespeare (Adapted by Charles Lamb)
📘 About the Story (Source &
Context)
- The story is adapted from William Shakespeare’s
famous play The Merchant of Venice by Charles and Mary Lamb
in their collection Tales from Shakespeare (1807).
- It simplifies Shakespeare’s original play into a short
narrative form suitable for students and general readers.
- The story combines romance, friendship, and justice
with a moral lesson about mercy and greed.
🧾
Summary of the Story
1.
The Bond of Friendship
Antonio, a kind and generous
merchant of Venice, is very close to his friend Bassanio, a young
Venetian nobleman who wishes to marry Portia, a wealthy heiress living
in Belmont.
Bassanio needs money to appear worthy of Portia’s hand, but Antonio’s wealth is
tied up in ships at sea.
To help his friend, Antonio borrows money from Shylock, a rich Jewish
moneylender.
2.
Shylock’s Cruel Bond
Shylock agrees to lend Antonio three
thousand ducats without interest — but with a strange condition:
👉 If Antonio fails to repay the loan
within three months, Shylock will claim a pound of flesh from Antonio’s body.
Antonio signs the bond, confident
his ships will return in time.
3.
Portia and the Caskets
Meanwhile, in Belmont, Portia’s late
father has arranged that her suitors must choose between three caskets —
gold, silver, and lead.
Only the one who chooses correctly will win her hand.
- The Prince of Morocco chooses the gold casket
(thinking it symbolizes what most men desire) but fails.
- The Prince of Arragon chooses the silver casket
and fails as well.
- Bassanio, guided by wisdom and
humility, chooses the lead casket and wins Portia.
4.
Antonio in Danger
Just as Bassanio and Portia are
united, bad news arrives:
All of Antonio’s ships have been lost at sea, and he cannot repay the bond.
Shylock insists on taking his pound of flesh in court.
5.
The Trial Scene
Bassanio rushes back to Venice to
save his friend.
Portia disguises herself as a young male lawyer named Balthazar and
travels to the court with her maid Nerissa, also in disguise.
In court, Shylock refuses all offers
of money, demanding his bond instead.
Portia appeals to his mercy, saying:
“The quality of mercy is not
strain’d;
It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven.”
But Shylock is unmoved.
6.
The Turn of Justice
Portia cleverly interprets the bond:
- Shylock may take his pound of flesh, but not a
single drop of blood, for that was not mentioned in the bond.
If he sheds blood, his property will be seized by the state.
Realizing he cannot possibly take
the flesh without spilling blood, Shylock is defeated.
He is forced to beg for mercy, which Antonio grants.
7.
The Ending
- Antonio is saved.
- Bassanio and Portia return happily to Belmont.
- Shylock is ordered to give up half his wealth and
convert to Christianity.
The story ends with the victory of mercy,
love, and justice over cruelty and greed.
👥 Main Characters
|
Character |
Description |
|
Antonio |
The “merchant of Venice”; kind,
selfless, and loyal to his friend Bassanio. |
|
Bassanio |
Antonio’s dear friend; noble,
romantic, and Portia’s suitor. |
|
Portia |
A wealthy and intelligent lady of
Belmont; symbolizes wisdom and mercy. |
|
Shylock |
A Jewish moneylender; greedy and
vengeful but also a tragic figure. |
|
Nerissa |
Portia’s maid and companion;
disguises herself as a lawyer’s clerk. |
|
Gratiano |
Friend of Bassanio; later marries
Nerissa. |
|
The Duke of Venice |
Presides over the trial;
represents law and justice. |
🏝️ Important Places
|
Place |
Description |
|
Venice |
The city of trade and law —
represents business, contracts, and justice. |
|
Belmont |
Portia’s home — represents love,
peace, and harmony. |
|
Court of Venice |
The setting of the dramatic trial
scene. |
💡 Themes and Ideas
- Friendship and Sacrifice – Antonio risks his life for
his friend Bassanio.
- Love and Marriage – Portia and Bassanio’s
relationship is based on true affection.
- Mercy vs. Justice – The central moral: mercy is
greater than revenge.
- Greed and Revenge – Shylock’s obsession with
revenge ruins him.
- Wisdom and Cleverness – Portia’s intelligence saves
Antonio.
- Prejudice and Humanity – The story also shows the
harsh treatment of Jews in Christian Venice.
🗝️ Important Quotations
- “The quality of mercy is not
strain’d;
It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven.” – Portia
👉 Mercy is natural and divine, not forced. - “A pound of flesh, to be by him
cut off nearest the merchant’s heart.” – Shylock
👉 Symbol of cruelty and revenge. - “All that glisters is not
gold.”
– Inscription on the gold casket
👉 Outer appearance can be deceptive.
📖 Meanings of Difficult Words
|
Word |
Meaning |
|
Ducats |
Gold coins (currency of Venice) |
|
Bond |
A legal agreement or contract |
|
Casket |
Small box or chest for holding
valuables |
|
Forfeit |
To lose something as a penalty |
|
Mercy |
Compassion or forgiveness |
|
Justice |
Fairness according to law |
|
Disguise |
To change appearance to hide
identity |
|
Compassion |
Sympathy for others’ suffering |
|
Usury |
Lending money at high interest |
|
Court |
Place where legal trials happen |
🟢
A. Short Answer Questions
1.
Who was the merchant of Venice?
Answer: Antonio was the merchant of Venice.
2.
Who was Bassanio?
Answer: Bassanio was Antonio’s close friend
and a nobleman of Venice who wanted to marry Portia.
3.
Who was Portia?
Answer: Portia was a rich and beautiful
heiress living in Belmont, known for her wisdom and kindness.
4.
Who was Shylock?
Answer: Shylock was a Jewish moneylender in
Venice who lent money to Antonio and demanded a pound of flesh as security.
5.
How much money did Antonio borrow from Shylock?
Answer: Antonio borrowed three thousand
ducats from Shylock.
6.
What was the condition of the bond between Shylock and Antonio?
Answer: If Antonio failed to repay the loan
within three months, Shylock could cut a pound of flesh from Antonio’s
body.
7.
Where did Portia live?
Answer: Portia lived in Belmont.
8.
How many caskets were there?
Answer: There were three caskets —
one of gold, one of silver, and one of lead.
9.
Which casket did Bassanio choose?
Answer: Bassanio chose the lead casket
and won Portia’s hand.
10.
What did Shylock want from Antonio when he failed to pay?
Answer: Shylock demanded a pound of flesh
from Antonio’s body as written in the bond.
11.
Who came to the court disguised as a lawyer?
Answer: Portia came disguised as a young
male lawyer named Balthazar.
12.
What quality did Portia appeal to in court?
Answer: Portia appealed to Shylock’s mercy.
13.
What was the trick Portia used to save Antonio?
Answer: Portia pointed out that Shylock
could take a pound of flesh but not a drop of blood, which made it
impossible for him to fulfill the bond.
14.
What happened to Shylock in the end?
Answer: Shylock lost the case, half of his
property was taken, and he was ordered to become a Christian.
15.
What lesson does the story teach?
Answer: The story teaches that mercy,
love, and friendship are greater than greed and revenge.
🟡
B. Medium Answer Questions
1.
Why did Antonio agree to Shylock’s cruel bond?
Answer: Antonio agreed to Shylock’s bond
because he wanted to help his dearest friend Bassanio marry Portia. Though the
condition was dangerous, Antonio was confident that his ships would return
before the payment was due. His selfless nature made him risk his life for
friendship.
2.
What was the test of the caskets and what did it symbolize?
Answer: Portia’s suitors had to choose
between three caskets — gold, silver, and lead. The correct casket contained
Portia’s portrait. It symbolized that true love values inner worth, not
outward appearance or wealth. Bassanio’s choice of the lead casket showed
his sincerity and wisdom.
3.
Describe Shylock’s character.
Answer: Shylock was a Jewish moneylender,
clever and wealthy but very cruel and vengeful. He hated Antonio and wanted
revenge on him for personal and religious reasons. However, his desire for
revenge destroyed him in the end, making him a tragic figure.
4.
How did Portia save Antonio’s life?
Answer: Disguised as a lawyer, Portia
argued that Shylock could take a pound of flesh but not a drop of blood, as
blood was not mentioned in the bond. This clever interpretation of the law made
it impossible for Shylock to harm Antonio, saving his life.
5.
What does “The quality of mercy is not strain’d” mean?
Answer: It means that true mercy cannot
be forced; it is natural and comes freely, like rain from heaven. Portia
says that mercy blesses both the giver and the receiver, and it is a divine
quality greater than strict justice.
6.
Why is the story called “The Merchant of Venice”?
Answer: The story is named after Antonio,
the merchant of Venice, around whom the plot revolves — his friendship with
Bassanio, his bond with Shylock, and the trial that decides his fate.
🔵 C. Long Answer Questions
1.
Explain the theme of friendship in “The Merchant of Venice.”
Answer:
Friendship is one of the main themes of the story. Antonio and Bassanio’s
friendship shows deep love and loyalty. Antonio is willing to risk his life to
help Bassanio marry Portia. Bassanio, in return, hurries back from Belmont to
Venice to save Antonio. Their friendship represents selflessness and sacrifice,
proving that true friendship stands above wealth and danger.
2.
Discuss the theme of mercy and justice as shown in the trial scene.
Answer:
The trial scene highlights the conflict between mercy and justice.
Shylock demands strict justice — a pound of flesh as written in the bond. Portia
pleads for mercy, explaining that mercy is a divine quality that blesses both
giver and receiver. Shylock’s lack of mercy leads to his downfall. The scene
teaches that mercy is more powerful and noble than revenge or law alone.
3.
What moral lessons do we learn from the story “The Merchant of Venice”?
Answer:
The story teaches several lessons:
- True friendship involves sacrifice (Antonio and
Bassanio).
- Greed and revenge destroy the one who harbors them
(Shylock).
- Outward appearance can be deceptive (“All that glisters
is not gold”).
- Mercy and kindness are more valuable than strict
justice.
Overall, the story reminds us that love, compassion, and wisdom lead to happiness, while hatred and greed lead to ruin.
4.
Write a character sketch of Portia.
Answer:
Portia is one of Shakespeare’s most admirable female characters. She is
beautiful, intelligent, and wise. Her father’s test of the caskets shows her
respect for family and law. Her cleverness in the court scene proves her quick
thinking and courage. She is not only noble and rich but also kind and
merciful, teaching Shylock the importance of forgiveness. Portia represents the
ideal of virtue, intellect, and humanity.
5.
How does the story reflect the triumph of good over evil?
Answer:
The story shows that goodness, mercy, and love triumph over cruelty, greed, and
revenge. Antonio’s honesty and friendship, Bassanio’s loyalty, and Portia’s
wisdom overcome Shylock’s cruelty. In the end, Antonio is saved, Bassanio is
happily married, and Shylock is punished. This proves that evil intentions
are always defeated by goodness and mercy.
