The Merchant of Venice - Main concept.
Antonio and Bassanio are very good friend. There are the highest and deepest friendship between them.
Bossanio was badly in need of money to go Belmont and participate in the casket as he wants to marry Portia. Though bassanio was a bankrupt man, Antonio didn't decline to lend him money. Even Antonio's hand was empty because all his ships loaded with goods are on the way to sea. So, he had no cash on that condition.
For the sake of his friend he does not hesitate to loan money from a man whom he hates very much. Antonio is at enmity with Shylock and doesn't like him because of his character. Shaylock was a gombeen man as he lends money to people with high usurious. So, Antonio teases Shylock whenever he gets a change.
When Antonio went to lend money from him in this critical situation, Shylock got a change to take a revenge upon Antonio. Cruel Shylock laid a sinister condition unpon Antonio to cut one pound of flesh from his body as inscribed in a bond. Bassanio forbid Antonio because it was a risky deal. However, Antonio accepted the sinister condition of Shylock because he was sure to his economic capability when all of his ships would come back soon. But unfortunately his ships were sunk in the sea and he became pale what to do.
As a result, Antonio failed to pay the loan of shylock. Then Shylock files a case against Antonio. Shylock demands the execution of the bond and the crisis occurs in the drama.
Antonio was a venerable and pious Christian of Venice and moreover Venice is a state where law is executed to every letter. The repetition of Venice deepens upon the law to be maintained. So, judge can't take the risk of lossing the long established tradition for the honest treatment of law.So, Shylock got a privilege to cut one pound of flesh from Antonio's body.
At this critical situation Portia enters the court in the guise of a young lawyer, She offers no hope. She agrees that no power in Venice can change the bond. Shylock 1s exultant. He praises Portia's wisdom honouring her as a Daniel. She permits the Jew to cut off flesh from Antonio's body. There is an intense tension in the court. Just at that moment the decisive word comes out from her month:
"Tarry a little, there is something else."
Shylock is confounded as Portia insists on the point that there is no condition to shed blood. So, he will have to cut off flesh without dropping any drop ot blood. Then Shylock feels the situation. He wants to go away. His own life now lies at the mercy of the Duke.
