Act 1 Scene 1

The play opens with Antonio, a Venetian merchant, sharing with his friends Salerio and Solanio that he feels ‘sad’, but does not know why. His friends suggest that he is either worried about his ships, which are ‘tossing on the ocean’ and full of valuable goods, or that he is ‘in love’. Antonio rejects both of these ideas and Salerio and Solanio leave when Bassanio, (Antonio’s ‘noble kinsman’) arrives. Bassanio admits to Antonio that he has run out of his own money and is in need of resources so that he can go to Belmont and woo Portia, an heiress. Antonio commits to helping Bassanio and promises that he will find someone to lend him the money, which he will then give to Bassanio.

Act 1 Scene 2

In Belmont, the heiress Portia and her waiting woman and friend Nerissa discuss the intriguing ‘lottery’ that Portia’s father devised before his death. Portia is unable to choose her own husband and instead any suitor wishing to marry Portia must pick one of three caskets. One is made of lead, one of silver and one of gold. If the suitor chooses the casket that holds a portrait of Portia, then they win her hand in marriage. Portia and Nerissa discuss the men who have recently visited Belmont on this quest and Portia wittily dismisses them all as unappealing, until Nerissa reminds her of when she once met ‘a Venetian, a scholar and a soldier’, who both ladies agree is ‘the best deserving a fair lady’.

Act 1 Scene 3

Back in Venice, Bassanio meets Shylock, a Jewish moneylender, from whom he asks for a loan of ‘three thousand ducats for three months’. In return, Antonio shall be ‘bound’ to repay the loan. In an aside to the audience, Shylock admits that he hates Antonio for numerous reasons. When Antonio arrives, Shylock reminds him of how badly he’s been treated by Antonio in the past (‘you call me misbeliever, cut-throat dog’), although he does agree to lend Antonio the money.

However, if Antonio does not repay him by the appointed day then Shylock will cut off a pound of Antonio’s flesh. Bassanio doesn’t want his friend to agree to this, although Antonio is confident that his ships will have returned ‘a month before the day’ and so he’ll be able to repay Shylock. Antonio agrees to ‘seal unto this bond’.

Act 2 Scene 1

In Belmont, the Prince of Morocco tries to woo Portia and asks her not to disregard him on account of his dark ‘complexion’. Portia reminds the Prince that she cannot choose her own husband, but instead she will be won by whoever succeeds in the task left by her father. The Prince asks her to lead him to the caskets immediately. Portia tells him that they will go after dinner and that before he chooses he must swear to never marry anyone at all if he chooses the wrong casket.

Act 2 Scene 2

‘The Clown’, Lancelet Gobbo, delivers a speech in which he admits that he is considering running away from his master, Shylock. He says Shylock is a ‘fiend’ and a ‘kind of devil’. He comes to the conclusion that he ‘will run’, but is stopped by the arrival of Old Gobbo, his blind father. Old Gobbo asks Lancelet for directions towards Shylock’s house. Lancelet plays a trick on his father by pretending to be someone else, giving Gobbo the wrong directions and pretending that Lancelet is dead. When he finally reveals to his father who he is, Gobbo shares his decision to leave Shylock.

Bassanio then enters and Lancelet asks if he can serve him instead. Bassanio has already agreed to this previously, but he confirms it and also agrees to let his friend Gratiano come to Belmont on the condition that he tames his usually wild and rude behaviour.

Act 2 Scene 3

Shylock’s daughter Jessica says goodbye to Lancelet, who she is very sorry to see leave. She asks him to deliver a letter to Lorenzo, who she knows is having supper at Bassanio’s later and gives him some money. Lancelet bids her a tearful farewell. Jessica then admits that she is ‘ashamed’ to be her father’s daughter and that she hopes her beloved Lorenzo will stick to his promise of marrying her so she can become ‘a Christian' and his ‘loving wife’.

Act 2 Scene 4

Lorenzo and his friends (Salerio, Solanio and Gratiano) discuss their plan to disguise themselves as masquers and help Jessica to escape from Shylock’s house. Lancelet delivers Jessica’s letter to Lorenzo, who gives Lancelet money and asks him to tell Jessica that he ‘will not fail her’. Lorenzo shares the contents of Jessica’s letter with Gratiano, which says she’ll be dressed as a page and has money and jewels that she’ll bring with her.

Act 2 Scene 5

Shylock instructs Lancelet to use his eyes to be the ‘judge’ of the difference between himself and Bassanio before calling for Jessica. He informs her that he is going out for supper, gives her the keys to the house and tells her to ‘look to [his] house’ and ‘lock up [his] doors’. Shylock is aware that a masque will be taking place that night, but he also there is some ‘ill a-brewing’ as he dreamt ‘of money bags tonight’, which he considers to be a bad omen.

Act 2 Scene 6

Gratiano and Salerio arrive at Shylock’s house, as instructed by Lorenzo. They are concerned that he is late since they think lovers are usually particularly punctual as they are keen to ‘seal love’s bonds’. When Lorenzo eventually arrives he calls up for Jessica, who appears disguised as a boy. She is embarrassed about her clothes, but Lorenzo reassures her that it doesn’t matter and she needs to come straight away. She throws down a casket of money, before going to fetch more ducats and then exits with Lorenzo and Salerio. Antonio arrives and finds Gratiano. Antonio tells Gratiano that he must sail to Belmont with Bassanio tonight as ‘the wind is come about’.

Act 2 Scene 7

In Belmont Portia shows the three caskets to the Prince of Morocco. He must choose either the gold one (which bears the inscription ‘who chooseth me shall gain what many men desire’), the silver (with the inscription ‘who chooseth me shall get as much as he deserve’) or the lead (‘who chooseth me must give and hazard all he hath’). He deliberates and then picks the gold. When he unlocks the casket the Prince discovers a skull and a scroll with the warning ‘all that glisters is not gold.’ He is so ‘grieved’ that he leaves immediately.

Act 2 Scene 8

Salerio tells Solanio that Bassanio and Gratiano have left on a ship and that he is sure that Lorenzo is not on it. Solanio describes how Shylock and the Duke of Venice went to search Bassanio’s ship, but arrived too late. He also scathingly reports Shylock’s response to the discovery of Jessica’s elopement, who he says cried ‘My daughter! O, my ducats! O, my daughter!’ in the streets. Solanio expresses his hope that Antonio returns Shylock’s money on time as he’s worried that ‘he shall pay’ if not. Salerio’s concern stems from the news that a ship possibly holding some of Antonio’s goods has been lost at sea.

Act 2 Scene 9

The Prince of Aragon is in Belmont to try and win Portia’s hand in marriage. She shows him the three caskets and reminds him of the terms of the challenge. The Prince considers the options and picks the silver one. When he opens the casket he discovers ‘the portrait of a blinking idiot’ and swiftly takes his leave.

A messenger arrives and tells Portia that ‘a young Venetian’ is at the gate and that he has brought ‘gifts of rich value’. Both Portia and Nerissa are curious to see who it is and Nerissa hopes that it is Bassanio.

Act 3 Scene 1

Solanio and Salerio discuss the news that another of Antonio’s ships has been lost. Shylock arrives and accuses them of being complicit in Jessica’s elopement. They insult him and ask if he has heard the news about Antonio’s ‘loss at sea’. Shylock cares only that Antonio will ‘look to his bond’. Salerio doubts that Shylock will go through with taking Antonio’s flesh and asks what it would be ‘good for?’

Shylock replies with ‘to bait fish’ and once again explains how terribly Antonio has treated him in the past, which leads him to ask ‘what’s his reason?’ and point out that although he is of a different religion to Antonio, he also has ‘hands, organs, dimensions, senses, affections, passions’ and is just as much of a human being as a Christian; ‘if you prick us do we not bleed?’ One of Antonio’s messengers then arrives to summon Solanio and Salerio. Shylock and Tubal discuss the ring Jessica now has, which belonged to her late mother. Shylock tells Tubal how valuable it is to him.

Act 3 Scene 2

Back in Belmont, Bassanio is about to choose one of the caskets, but Portia asks him to ‘pause a day or two’ so that she won’t ‘lose [his] company’ if he chooses wrong. She admits that she could teach him how to pick the correct casket, but is reluctant to do so as then she would be ‘forsworn’. Bassanio is desperate to make his choice immediately since the present state of uncertainty is as torturous as being ‘upon the rack’. Portia calls for music to play whilst Bassanio makes his decision. Bassanio deliberates and then opts for the lead casket, in which he discovers Portia’s portrait. Both Portia and Bassanio are overjoyed that he chose correctly. Portia kisses him and gives him a ring, which if he loses will ‘presage the ruin of [his] love’. Gratiano then asks Bassanio if he is allowed to marry as he has fallen in love with Nerissa. Bassanio agrees to the match.

Lorenzo, Jessica and Salerio then arrive and give Bassanio a letter. In the letter Bassanio discovers that all of Antonio’s ‘ventures failed’ and he explains to Portia that he had no wealth of his own, but borrowed money from Antonio, his ‘dearest friend’. Salerio and Jessica explain that Shylock is now determined to ‘have Antonio’s flesh’. Portia offers to pay Shylock double what Antonio owed and after hearing Antonio’s letter, urges Bassanio to travel swiftly to his friend.

Act 3 Scene 3

Antonio is in jail and Shylock obsessively repeats that he will have his bond. Solanio doubts that the Duke will let Shylock go ahead with claiming the pound of flesh, but Antonio is convinced that ‘the Duke cannot deny the course of law’. He sends Solanio away and prays that Bassanio will come and visit him.

Act 3 Scene 4

Lorenzo tells Portia how ‘true a gentlemen’ Antonio is and that if she knew him, she’d be even prouder of her willingness to help him. Portia replies that since Antonio and Bassanio are so close, in her eyes she is saving Bassanio if she saves Antonio. She then announces that she has decided to withdraw to a monastery ‘to live in prayer and contemplation’ with Nerissa until both of their husbands return. She says that Lorenzo and Jessica can take the place of herself and Lord Bassanio at Belmont while she is away.

After Lorenzo and Jessica leave, Portia instructs Balthasar to deliver a letter to her cousin, Doctor Bellario, in Mantua and to bring back the ‘notes and garments’ that Bellario gives to him. Balthasar leaves with the letter and Portia reveals to Nerissa that they will dress up as men and go to Venice.

Act 3 Scene 5

Lancelet teases Jessica, saying that he’s scared that she has inherited the sins of her father and that she is ‘damned’. He expresses his hope that she’s in fact not Shylock’s daughter but Jessica points out that that would make her a ‘bastard’ and then she might inherit the sins of her mother, making her ‘damned by both father and mother’. Jessica points out that she thinks she’ll be ‘saved’ by her husband as she’s now become a Christian, like him.

Lorenzo arrives and interrupts their conversation, announcing that Lancelet has got a woman pregnant before instructing him to get dinner ready. Lorenzo asks Jessica what she thinks of Portia and she expresses her admiration for Portia.

Act 4 Scene 1

In a court in Venice, the Duke expresses his regret that Antonio is ‘come to answer’ such an ‘inhumane wretch’ but Antonio says he understands that ‘no lawful means’ will help him escape. Bassanio offers to pay Shylock double the amount he lent to Antonio but Shylock refuses and claims that he just wants justice.

The Duke announces that he has sent for ‘Bellario, a learned doctor’, to judge the case. Nerissa, disguised as male lawyer’s clerk, arrives and gives a letter to the Duke. The letter says that Bellario is too sick to come, but that he is sending a ‘young doctor of Rome’ called Balthasar to oversee the trial. Portia then arrives, disguised as Balthasar. She delivers a speech on how mercy cannot be forced before stating that ‘there is no power in Venice’ which will be able to override Shylock’s bond and Shylock is delighted. However, Portia then draws attention to the fact that there is no mention of blood in the bond and that if Shylock causes Antonio to lose even ‘one drop of Christian blood’ then his ‘lands and goods’ will be confiscated by the state of Venice. Shylock realises that it will be impossible to take the flesh without blood and offers to ‘let the Christian go’ if he receives money instead. Portia refuses this deal and declares that Shylock can have his bond or nothing else.

Shylock realises that he has been defeated and wishes to leave, but Portia won't let him go. She announces that ‘in the laws of Venice’ if any alien is proved to have tried to kill one of its citizens then their goods will be seized and one half will be given to the victim and the other half will go to ‘the privy coffer of the state’. Moreover, the Duke will decide if the offender lives or dies. The Duke of Venice declares that he will let Shylock live but that half of his wealth must be given to Antonio and the other half will go to the state. Antonio says if Shylock converts to Christianity and leaves his wealth to Jessica and Lorenzo when he dies, then he can keep his half. Shylock agrees and departs.

The Duke asks ‘Balthasar’ to join him for dinner, but Portia refuses. The Duke tells Antonio that he must reward ‘Balthasar’, but Portia refuses all money, asking for Bassanio's ring as a reward instead. Bassanio does not recognise Portia and refuses to hand it over telling ‘Balthasar’ that it was a gift that he vowed never to ‘sell, nor give, nor lose’. Antonio then persuades Bassanio to give ‘Balthasar’ the ring.

Act 4 Scene 2

Still dressed in their disguises, Portia asks Nerissa to deliver the legal documents to Shylock. Gratiano catches up with Portia and gives her Bassanio’s ring (thinking she is ‘Balthasar’ the lawyer). Nerissa then tells Portia that she’s going to see if she can persuade Gratiano to give her his ring, even though she had made him swear to keep it when she initially gave it to him.

Act 5 Scene 1

Lorenzo and Jessica are in Belmont. They talk about famous classical lovers as they look at the moonlit sky. They then learn that Portia and Bassanio are both on their way back, separately. Portia and Nerissa get there first and instruct Lorenzo to tell everyone that they never left Belmont. Bassanio and Gratiano then arrive, along with Antonio and others. Portia welcomes her husband home and Bassanio introduces her to Antonio. Nerissa and Gratiano instantly start arguing about the ring that Nerissa gave to Gratiano and which she has noticed he no longer has.

Gratiano then reveals that Bassanio also gave his ring away and Portia declares that she will not share a bed with Bassanio until she sees the ring again. Bassanio tries to get Portia to understand why he gave it away, but she continues to scold him for being unfaithful. Antonio attempts to intervene to get Portia to sympathise with Bassanio. She then gives him ‘another’ ring, which tells him to look after ‘better than the other’. Bassanio realises that it is the same ring that he gave away. Nerissa then gets out her ring before Portia confesses that ‘Portia was the doctor’ and Nerissa was the clerk. She also gives Antonio a letter which tells him that three of his ships have made it safely into the harbour. Nerissa shares the news that Jessica and Lorenzo will receive Shylock’s wealth when he dies. Portia and Nerissa seem to forgive their husbands and the play concludes with Antonio alive and wealthy once more.