Act 1:

Scene 1: The scene opens with Antonio, expressing his feelings of depression to his fellow mates salonio and salario. They suggest that he is worried about his ships out at sea and that he is in love yet he denies both of these theories. Bassanio then begs Antonio to lend him money to woo the fair maiden Portia.

Scene 2:
In Belmont, Portia is complaining to her servant Nerissa about her fathers will for her marriage. This includes a casket test in which suitors must choose the correct one to marry her or they shall remain unmarried for the rest of their lives. Portia ridicules all of the suitors whom have come already and she remembers bassanio.

Scene 3:
Shylock lends 3000 ducats to bassanio to woo Portia. Shylock reveals his hatred for Antonio because he is Christian and because he lends money without charging interest.

Act 2:

Scene 1: The prince of morrocco arrives to take the casket test. Portia ridicules him for his skin color but it does not stop him.

Scene 2:  Lancelot, Shylock's servant, debates whether or not he should run away from his master because he is Jewish. Old Gobbo, his blind father, appears as he attempts to run away and is tricked by Lancelot. Lancelot wishes to work for Bassanio and he accepts the offer. Bassanio then meets Gratiano to come with him to Belmont.

Scene 3: Jessica gives Lancelot a letter to deliver to Lorenzo on her behalf. She wishes to leave her father and marry Lorenzo thus converting to Christianity.

Scene 4: Salarino, Gratiano, Solanio, and Lorenzo come up with a plan to sneak Jessica out of her father's house by disguising her as Lorenzo's torchbearer. Lorenzo shares the letter with Gratiano and he is excited to carry out the plan.

Scene 5: Saylock tells Lancelot he will not have freedom to sleep and overeat with Bassanio. SHylock asked Jessica to lock the doors and not look out the window although she must disobey her father and look out the window for Lorenzo .

Scene 6: Gratiano and Salarino meet at Shylock's house and fear something has happened because Lorenzo is late, which is bizarre cause he is normally early. Jessica escapes and brings her jewels and gold. Antonio announces that Bassanio is headed for Belmont and Gratiano must join him.

Scene 7: Portia shows the prince of Morocco the test, 3 boxes, one gold, one lead, and one silver. The prince chooses the gold and there is a skeleton with a scroll with a poem ridiculing his failure.

Scene 8: There is a rumor that the ships have been capsized and Shylock is infuriated wanting revenge for his daughters disappearance.

Scene 9: The prince of Arrgon attempts the test and chooses the silver box where he finds a blinking idiot and once again a poem for his failure. A messenger arrives to tell Portia a young suitor from Venice has arrived.







Analysis of major characters:


Antonio: A merchant who is in love with his best friend Bassanio. He is very kind and wealthy causing him to get into trouble with Shylock.

Bassanio: Antonio's bestfriend who is foolish and wastes his money. He is a suitor to the fair maiden Portia and borrows money to woo her.

Shylock: Jewish moneylender who is hated upon by the Christians and seeks revenge.

Portia: Wealthy heir to the throne in Belmont. Suitors from all over the world attempt to marry her through the curse of her father's casket test.

Gratiano: Fellow Venetian whom is Bassanio's friend who joins him on his quest to woo Portia.

Jessica: Shylock's daughter who is embarassed by him and wishes to betray him and marry Lorenzo and convert to Christianity.

Lorenzo: Friends with all of the Venetians and aspires to marry Jessica

Nerissa: Portia's right hand woman.

Launcelot: Former servant of Shylock and current servant of Bassanio. He is the jokester of the play.

Salarino: Venetian whom is friends with the "squad". He helps Lorenzo marry Jessica.

Solanio: Venetian who accompanies Salarino.