"Bassanio is a young Venetian man-about-town. He has fallen for the rich and beautiful Portia, but needs a loan to enable him to court her suitably."
"He approaches his good friend Antonio, who is a rich Venetian merchant. Antonio agrees to help, but unfortunately all his money is tied up in trading ventures."
" "
"However Antonio guarantees the loan which Bassanio arranges with Shylock, a Jewish usurer (money-lender)."
"Confident that his ships will return safely, Antonio agrees to a bizarre bond that he will forfeit a pound of his flesh if the loan is not repaid."
6
"Meanwhile, Portia is being courted by many others, but her dead father has decreed that she may only marry the man who chooses, from gold, silver and lead caskets, the one that contains her picture."
"The Prince of Morocco is first to choose and fail, followed by the Prince of Arragon."
" "
"Bassanio, who has been accompanied to Portia's home at Belmont by his friend Gratiano, chooses the leaden casket, thus winning Portia's hand. Gratiano has also been wooing and is successful in winning Nerissa, Portia's maid."
" "
"Another friend arrives at Belmont in the form of Lorenzo, who has run off with Shylock's daughter Jessica."
6
"At the same time, news comes from Venice that all Antonio's ships have been lost, and that Shylock is demanding the forfeit."
"Bassanio and Gratiano hastily marry their new-found loves before rushing back to Venice to help and comfort Antonio."
" "
"Secretly, Portia and Nerissa disguise themselves as a lawyer and his clerk and also go to Venice."
"In a dramatic court-room scene, Portia turns the tables on Shylock, saving Antonio's life and ruining Shylock."
"Still unrecognized, she asks and receives from the reluctant Bassanio, his wedding ring, and Nerissa plays the same trick on her new husband."
4
"Back at Belmont, Lorenzo and Jessica share a romantic scene as they wait for their friends' return."
" "
"Portia and Nerissa tease their husbands for their 'infidelity' in giving up the rings, before they reveal the disguise they had adopted."
"The play ends happily with the three loving couples and Antonio, entering Portia's house to discuss further the amazing events."
