Super Short Summary

The Merchant of Venice by William Shakespeare follows the story of Bassanio, a nobleman seeking to marry heiress Portia, who borrows money from his friend Antonio. Antonio, a merchant, secures a loan from Shylock, a Jewish moneylender, with the condition of forfeiting a pound of flesh if not repaid. Antonio defaults, leading to a court case where Portia, disguised as a lawyer, cleverly saves Antonio and forces Shylock into harsh terms. The play includes anti-Semitic themes.