Book Review: Merchant Of Venice By William Shakespeare

Hello everyone in the hive book club. I hope you're all doing well and enjoying the weather wherever you are. Welcome to my blog.

William Shakespeare is the most prominent writer in the history of English Literature. Although he wasn't the first writer to publish a book, nor was he the first poet to write a poem, his works are arguably the best of them all. The first time I heard the name "William Shakespear '' was when I was in elementary school. The author of the book cited his name. As I mentioned above, William Shakespeare isn't the first writer. Infact, he isn't the first professional writer. The university wits are regarded to be the first professional writing group which came into existence during the Elizabethan period. Before this time, writers took writing as their hobby (they did it for fun), but the university wits came and started writing as their profession. The university wits are a group of seven members namely; Christopher Marlowe, Thomas Nashe, Thomas Lodge, Robert Green, George Peele, Thomas Kud and one other John. Some of these guys were graduate of Oxford University while others graduated from Cambridge. Since these guys started writing before William Shakespeare, he copied some of their writing styles.

William Shakespeare (1564) started writing during the Elizabethan period. He is still making rounds in the literary world even after his demise. I love his writing techniques, I'm sure every other book lover also loves his writing techniques. I enjoy reading his books and his poems, too (especially the sonnets). The first time I read one of William Shakespeare's books was when I was in Senior Secondary School 1. Othello a tragic play.

In this article, I'll be reviewing a book authored by William Shakespeare titled Merchant Of Venice. Merchant of Venice was published in 1600. The genre of the book is comedy.

Plot Summary

The play opens with Antonio and Bassanio (both are major characters in the play). Antonio is worried/sad. Although he denies that he isn't yearning for love, Bassanio believes love is the reason why he is in a depressed state. Bassanio asks Antonio to loan him some money to get married to "the woman of his dreams' '. Antonio, although wealthy, is unable to grant the loan because all his money is in his ships on sea. Instead of refusing, Antonio offers to use his reputation to get a loan.

Bassanio meets Shylock, a Jewish moneylender. He asks him to grant a loan using Antonio's reputation as collateral. Things took an interesting twist when Shylock demanded something else instead of charges. Antonio will pay with a pound of his flesh if he is not able to return the loan before the deadline. Antonio accepts even when Bassanio tells him not to. Bassanio takes the money and visits Portia, the woman whom he wants to marry. Portia, a wealthy woman, is unmarried because of her father's strict decree. Before his demise, her father decreed that Portia's suitors must solve a puzzle in order to get married to her. 3 caskets: one is made of gold, the other is made of silver and the last is made of lead. Whoever chooses the one that contains Portia's picture gets to marry her. A lot of rich people including Morocco and Aragon tried to solve the puzzle, but they all ended up failing.

Jessica, Shylock's daughter, falls in love with Lorenzo. Jessica is tired of living like a prisoner in her father's house, so she plans with Lorenzo to escape. When Shylock discovers that his daughter has escaped with his money, he blames Antonio and vows to take revenge on him. Rumors are spreading that Antonio's ships (the ships which he promised to pay the loan with) have been lost at sea. Shylock is happy about the rumor because he wants to take his pound of flesh.

Bassanio reaches Belmont and sees Portia. Portia remembers him as a soldier whom she met several years back. Bassanio (with Portia's help) successfully solves the puzzle. Portia gives him a ring to mark their engagement.

News gets to Bassanio that all Antonio's ships have been lost in sea and that Shylock is ready to take a pound of flesh out of his body, as bargained. Bassanio becomes worried. Antonio is in an intense situation because of him. He tells portai who in turn gives him thrice of the loan. Bassanio hurries back to Venice. Portia and her maids lady, Nerrisa, comes up with a plan to save Antonio. They disguise as men and goes to Venice.

Antonio and Shylock have been arrested and are now in court before the Duke of Venice. Shylock doesn't want an apology, all he wants is to get revenge by taking the pound of flesh from Antonio's body. Nerrisa and Portia come in, disguised as men. Nerrisa hands a letter over to the Duke of Venice. Dr Baltharsar (disguised as Portia) has come and is ready to preside over the case. Bassanio offers to pay 3 times of the loan (six thousand ducats) but Shylock still refuses.

After trying everything possible, Portia (Dr Baltharsar) tells Shylock to go ahead and cut the pound of flesh. Before he proceeds, she asks him if he has something to measure the pound of flesh (to make sure he doesn't take more than a pound) Shylock replies that he has. Again, Portia asks if he has a surgeon that'd suppress the blood and Shylock replied that the contract didn't provide for a surgeon. Portia then tells him to take the pound of flesh without a drop of blood since the contract didn't also indicate that. Shylock, seeing that he has bitten himself, tries to forget all about revenge and take the money which Bassanio offered him at first. Portia refuses and tells him that he must carry out the contract. Shylock begs the court to forget about the pound of flesh and leave him with his money. Portia, again, refuses. She tells him that he conspired to take the life of venetian and that has not only lost the case, but half of his property must be given to Antonio and the other half must be given to the state.

ALL IMAGES IN THIS POST ARE MINE.

Thanks for reading.