Video narration
Could a loan meant to help a friend put someone's life at risk? In Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice, Antonio borrows money from Shylock to help a friend who needs it. The bond they make carries a frightening condition: if Antonio cannot repay, Shylock can claim a pound of his flesh. Then Antonio cannot pay. Shylock demands what the bond promises. A favor becomes a life-or-death courtroom fight, and the familiar phrase "pound of flesh" suddenly has a brutal meaning. Portia enters the trial disguised as a lawyer and finds a way to save Antonio. But the victory is not simple. The play's portrayal of Shylock is bound up with anti-Jewish prejudice, which matters when you judge the outcome. Yes: Antonio's borrowed favor nearly costs him his life, until Portia saves him in court. But is a clever legal victory the same as mercy?