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THE MERCHANT OF VENICE

SCENE 3: Venice, A Public Place 

In this scene from The Merchant of Venice, Shylock, a Jewish moneylender, agrees to give Bassanio three thousand ducats (a type of money) for three months. Bassanio tells Shylock that Antonio will back him up if he can’t pay, but Shylock is worried because Antonio's money is tied up in business ventures that could fail. Even though he has doubts, Shylock finally accepts Antonio's guarantee and asks to meet him.

When Antonio arrives, Shylock secretly admits that he hates Antonio. Shylock doesn't like Antonio because he is a Christian and doesn't charge interest when he lends money. This makes it harder for Shylock to do his job as a moneylender, since Shylock makes a profit by charging high interest. Shylock is also angry because Antonio has insulted him in public many times. Antonio tells Shylock that he usually doesn’t borrow or lend money but is making an exception to help his friend Bassanio.

During their conversation, Antonio criticizes Shylock’s business of charging interest on loans, but Shylock defends it as a way to make a living. While calculating the interest, Shylock recalls the insults Antonio has thrown at him, even calling him a “dog” and spitting on his Jewish clothing. Antonio says he will probably insult Shylock again, and he wants the loan to be made as between enemies. That way, Shylock will have a reason to demand a harsh punishment if Antonio doesn’t repay the money.

Shylock, pretending to be friendly, says he will lend the money without interest. However, as a joke (or so it seems), Shylock says that if Antonio doesn’t repay the loan on time, he must give Shylock a pound of his flesh. Bassanio tells Antonio not to accept this strange deal, but Antonio is confident that his ships will return soon with enough money to repay the debt. Shylock dismisses Bassanio’s worries, asking what he could possibly gain from Antonio’s flesh. As Shylock goes to sign the agreement, Antonio thinks Shylock is suddenly being kind and generous, but Bassanio is still suspicious. Antonio reassures him that the ships will return within two months, and they’ll be able to pay the loan easily.

ACT 2 

SCENE 1: Belmont, A Room In Portia's House 

In this scene from *The Merchant of Venice*, the Prince of Morocco arrives in Belmont to try and win Portia’s hand in marriage. He asks Portia not to judge him based on his dark skin and assures her that he is just as brave and strong as any European man. Portia replies that it doesn’t matter what she prefers, because her father’s will set up a system where her suitors must pick from three chests. This makes all suitors, including the prince, equally worthy.

The prince talks about his courage and heroic deeds, then asks Portia to take him to the chests so he can make his choice. Portia reminds him that if he chooses the wrong chest, he must promise never to marry anyone. The prince agrees, and Portia takes him to dinner.

SCENE 2: Venice, A Street 

In this scene from *The Merchant of Venice*, Launcelot Gobbo, who is a servant of Shylock, is unsure whether to stay with his master or run away. One part of him, which he calls the "fiend" or devil on his shoulder, wants to leave, while his conscience (his inner sense of right and wrong) tells him to stay because he is an honest person. Launcelot doesn’t have specific reasons to complain but feels uneasy because his master is Jewish, whom he refers to as "a kind of devil."

Just as Launcelot decides to run away, his father, Old Gobbo, who is blind, appears and asks for directions to Shylock’s house, as he wants to find his son. Since Old Gobbo doesn’t recognize him, Launcelot decides to trick his father by giving him confusing directions and telling him that Launcelot is dead. When Launcelot finally reveals the joke, Old Gobbo has trouble believing that the man in front of him is really his son. However, Launcelot eventually convinces his father of his identity.

Launcelot then tells his father that he wants to leave Shylock and work for Bassanio instead. At that moment, Bassanio enters, and Launcelot and his father ask him to take Launcelot on as a servant. After a little confusion, Bassanio agrees. Bassanio then meets his friend Gratiano, who wants to join him on his trip to Belmont. Bassanio agrees, but only if Gratiano promises to behave better than usual, as he tends to be wild. Gratiano promises to be on his best behavior, and the two men prepare to celebrate before their journey.
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