Download The Merchant of Venice Free Audiobook and Listen to the Classic Comedy
The Merchant of Venice Audiobook Free Download
If you are looking for a classic drama that combines comedy, romance, tragedy, and controversy, then you should check out The Merchant of Venice by William Shakespeare. This play, written in the late 16th century, tells the story of a young Venetian nobleman who borrows money from a Jewish moneylender to woo a wealthy heiress, but ends up risking his life when he fails to repay the debt. Along the way, you will encounter a diverse cast of characters, such as a witty heroine, a loyal friend, a cunning villain, a foolish prince, and a wise judge.
the merchant of venice audiobook free download
In this article, we will give you an overview of the plot, themes, style, sources, reception, and adaptations of The Merchant of Venice. We will also show you how to download the audiobook version of this play for free, so that you can enjoy listening to it anytime and anywhere. Whether you are a student, a teacher, or a casual reader, you will find something interesting and useful in this article.
The Plot of The Merchant of Venice
The main plot of The Merchant of Venice revolves around Bassanio, a young Venetian gentleman who is in love with Portia, a rich heiress from Belmont. Bassanio needs money to travel to Belmont and impress Portia, who has to marry according to her father's will. The will states that Portia can only marry the man who chooses the right casket out of three options: gold, silver, and lead. Bassanio asks his friend Antonio, a wealthy merchant, for a loan. Antonio agrees, but he does not have enough cash at hand because all his money is invested in his ships at sea. He decides to borrow money from Shylock, a Jewish moneylender who hates Antonio for his anti-Semitic remarks and his practice of lending money without interest.
Shylock agrees to lend Antonio three thousand ducats for three months, but he demands a pound of Antonio's flesh as collateral if Antonio fails to repay on time. Antonio accepts this condition, confident that his ships will return before the deadline. Bassanio sets off for Belmont with his friend Gratiano. On his way, he meets Lorenzo, another friend who elopes with Jessica, Shylock's daughter. Jessica converts to Christianity and steals some jewels and money from her father.
In Belmont, Bassanio chooses the lead casket, which contains Portia's portrait and a scroll that declares him the winner of her hand. Portia gives Bassanio a ring as a token of her love and makes him promise never to lose it or give it away. Gratiano also falls in love with Nerissa, Portia's maid, and they get married as well. Meanwhile, Antonio receives a letter that informs him that all his ships are lost and that Shylock is demanding his pound of flesh. Bassanio and Gratiano rush back to Venice to help Antonio, leaving their rings with their wives.
In Venice, Shylock rejects all offers of money to spare Antonio's life and insists on his bond. The case goes to court, where the Duke of Venice presides. He asks for a lawyer to judge the case, and a young man named Balthazar appears. Balthazar is actually Portia in disguise, who has followed Bassanio to Venice with Nerissa, who is disguised as her clerk. Balthazar argues that Shylock can take Antonio's flesh, but not his blood, and that if he sheds any drop of blood or takes more or less than a pound of flesh, he will be punished by the law. Shylock realizes that he has been outwitted and agrees to take the money instead, but Balthazar says that he has forfeited his bond and his property by attempting to kill a Venetian citizen. The Duke spares Shylock's life, but orders him to give half of his wealth to Antonio and the other half to the state. He also forces him to convert to Christianity and to leave his estate to Jessica and Lorenzo after his death. Antonio agrees to give up his share of Shylock's wealth if Shylock allows Jessica and Lorenzo to inherit it immediately. He also asks for his pound of flesh as a joke, but then gives it back to Shylock on the condition that he never speaks to him again.
Bassanio and Gratiano thank Balthazar for saving Antonio's life and offer him money and gifts, but he refuses and asks for their rings instead. They reluctantly give them up, not knowing that Balthazar is Portia. Portia and Nerissa return to Belmont before their husbands and pretend that they have been at home all along. They accuse their husbands of being unfaithful for giving away their rings, but then reveal their true identities and their roles in the trial. They forgive their husbands and give them back their rings. They also learn that Antonio's ships have arrived safely after all. The play ends with a happy reunion of all the couples, except for Shylock, who is left alone and miserable.
The Themes and Symbols of The Merchant of Venice
The Merchant of Venice is a play that explores many themes and symbols, such as justice, mercy, prejudice, love, friendship, money, religion, law, and appearance versus reality. Some of the most important ones are:
Justice versus mercy: The play contrasts the harshness of justice with the kindness of mercy, especially in the trial scene where Shylock demands his legal right to take Antonio's flesh, while Portia appeals to his human compassion to spare him. The play also shows how justice can be manipulated by clever arguments and technicalities, while mercy can be more noble and generous.
Prejudice versus tolerance: The play exposes the bigotry and intolerance that exist between different groups of people, such as Christians and Jews, Venetians and foreigners, men and women. The play also challenges some of the stereotypes and prejudices that these groups hold against each other, such as Shylock being a greedy and cruel usurer, or Portia being a passive and obedient lady.
Love versus money: The play contrasts the value of love with the value of money, both in terms of material wealth and emotional attachment. The play shows how money can be a source of happiness or misery, depending on how it is used or abused. The play also shows how love can be sincere or superficial, depending on how it is expressed or tested.
Religion versus morality: The play questions the relationship between religion and morality, especially in terms of Christianity and Judaism. The play shows how religion can be used as a justification for good or evil actions, such as Antonio lending money without interest or Shylock demanding his pound of flesh. The play also shows how religion can be influenced by culture and tradition, such as Jessica converting to Christianity or Shylock following the Jewish law.
Law versus equity: The play examines the role of law and equity in society, especially in terms of civil and criminal cases. The play shows how law can be rigid and inflexible, while equity can be flexible and fair - in terms of justice and mercy. The play shows how law can be applied strictly or leniently, depending on the authority and discretion of the judge. The play also shows how equity can be more humane and reasonable than law, especially in cases where the law is unfair or inadequate.
Appearance versus reality: The play explores the difference between appearance and reality, both in terms of physical and psychological aspects. The play shows how appearance can be deceptive or misleading, such as the caskets, the rings, or the disguises. The play also shows how reality can be hidden or revealed, such as the true nature of the characters, their motives, or their feelings.
The Style and Language of The Merchant of Venice
The Merchant of Venice is a play that showcases Shakespeare's mastery of style and language, both in terms of form and content. The play uses a variety of literary and rhetorical devices, such as:
The Merchant of Venice by William Shakespeare free audio book
Listen to The Merchant of Venice online for free
Download The Merchant of Venice LibriVox recording
The Merchant of Venice free mp3 download
The Merchant of Venice audio drama free download
The Merchant of Venice full cast audio book free
The Merchant of Venice unabridged audio book free
The Merchant of Venice audiobook free streaming
The Merchant of Venice audiobook free trial
The Merchant of Venice audiobook free with subtitles
The Merchant of Venice audiobook free YouTube
The Merchant of Venice audiobook free Spotify
The Merchant of Venice audiobook free Audible
The Merchant of Venice audiobook free Apple Books
The Merchant of Venice audiobook free Google Play
The Merchant of Venice audiobook free Amazon
The Merchant of Venice audiobook free Kindle
The Merchant of Venice audiobook free PDF
The Merchant of Venice audiobook free ePub
The Merchant of Venice audiobook free M4B
The Merchant of Venice audiobook free CD
The Merchant of Venice audiobook free torrent
The Merchant of Venice audiobook free zip file
The Merchant of Venice audiobook free online library
The Merchant of Venice audiobook free Internet Archive
The Merchant of Venice audio book summary and analysis free download
The Merchant of Venice audio book review and ratings free download
The Merchant of Venice audio book quotes and themes free download
The Merchant of Venice audio book characters and plot free download
The Merchant of Venice audio book study guide and notes free download
The Merchant of Venice audio book questions and answers free download
The Merchant of Venice audio book essays and criticism free download
The Merchant of Venice audio book adaptations