5th one in Jiahe’s 2021
When I was a little girl, I read this story in some books. The most impressive part is how to gain a pound of flesh without a drop of blood. And once read this part you cannot help thinking how intelligent the lawyer is! The evil soul never win the kind one, the person with a kind heart always gets what he want and who he want married to.
This story has a good reputation worldwide. Of course, it happened in Venice, the greatest trade center at that time. Antonio was a successful merchant of Venice, owning several big ships that were traveling around the India, England, Mexico and so on. His friend Bassanio loved Portia who was a rich heiress, and wanted to marry her. So Bassanio asked Antonio to lend him three thousand ducats supporting him to marry Portia. Unfortunately Antonio’s money all on the cargos that were shipped to different areas. He got no penny in his pocket. Therefore Antonio asked Shylock’s help.
Shylock was a very rich Jew merchant, having a lot of jewels. The conflicts between Antonio and Shylock happened quite often, because they disliked each other very much. So when Antonio’s requirement was presented, Shylock agreed, but with a very tough condition on the bond - he would take a pound of Antonio’s flesh if he couldn’t get the money back in three months.
During the period which Bassanio visited Portia, one of Antonio’s friends Lorenzo carried Shylock’s daughter Jessica escaped out of Venice. And Jessica stole his father many jewels and gold. It mattered very much, for Shylock thought fortunate as his whole life. Then Shylock blamed Antonio more due to Lorenzo is a friend of him.
Bassanio was very lucky and opened the right casket, then he married to Portia. Meanwhile Antonio’s ships were announced destroyed on the ocean, and he was bankrupt. Then he would never pay off the loan from Shylock. Shylock hated Antonio so much that he asked the Duke of Venice to verdict Antonio. He doesn’t want any money back, only a pound of flesh of Antonio.
Bassanio was hurried to Venice, hoping to rescue his friend life. And Portia arranged another plan to rescue. On the court, the lawyer who is pretended by Portia required Shylock can take the flesh from Antonio, but couldn’t get even a drop of blood. Shylock found that’s impossible to get Antonio’s flesh, then transferred to get money back. However, Portia cited the law of Venice that Shylock would opt to die or lose all of his fortune due to his evil plan to kill Antonio.
At last, Duke of Venice declared that half of Shylock’s fortune belong to citizens and half goes to Antonio. But Antonio promised he will put his half on the trust, and return it to Jessica after Shylock die.
This story is a comedy, so obviously you can see everyone has a good ending. Antonio’s ships returned back with a great fortune, Bassanio married to Portia, even Lorenzo had a happy life with Jessica.
According to this story, we can see kindness is the most precious character. Can save you, can comfort you. If you are not a big guy, try to be the kind one at least.
