Shakespeare in Plain English
The Merchant of Venice · Comedy · c. 1596

The Merchant of Venice in Plain English

A merchant borrows money he cannot repay, and signs a bond that puts a pound of his own flesh at stake. Every scene has the original text and a clear modern translation, side by side, line by line.

Act 1 3 scenes

Scene 1 Venice. A street. Antonio is sad and cannot say why. Bassanio asks him for a second loan to go courting an heiress. Scene 2 Belmont. A room in Portia's house. Portia cannot choose her own husband, and takes the suitors apart one by one while she waits. Scene 3 Venice. A public place. Shylock lends the money interest-free, on one condition he calls a joke: a pound of Antonio's flesh.

Act 2 9 scenes

Scene 1 Belmont. Portia's house. The Prince of Morocco defends the colour of his skin before anyone has mentioned it. Scene 2 Venice. A street. Lancelet Gobbo decides the devil gives friendlier advice than his conscience, and finds a new master. Scene 3 Venice. Shylock's house. Jessica calls her own home hell, and names the price of marrying Lorenzo in a single line. Scene 4 Venice. A street. Lorenzo reads Jessica's letter aloud and lists what she will be bringing with her. Scene 5 Venice. Before Shylock's house. Shylock goes out to supper knowing he is not wanted, and tells Jessica to lock the doors. Scene 6 Venice. Before Shylock's house. The elopement. Jessica drops her father's valuables into the street, then goes back in for more. Scene 7 Belmont. Portia's house. Morocco picks the gold casket and finds a skull. Portia waits until he has gone to say what she thinks. Scene 8 Venice. A street. Two Venetians gossip. One of them performs Shylock's grief as a party piece, and the boys have taken it up. Scene 9 Belmont. Portia's house. Arragon argues that rank should be earned, then claims he has earned her. He gets a fool's head.