The Venetian merchant Antonio is in a difficult financial situation. To help his friend Bassanio, who is campaigning for the heiress Portia, he goes, although in mutual disgust, to the Jewish money lender Shylock to borrow money from him. If Antonio can not repay the debt Shylock is allowed to cut a pound of meat out of Antonio's body. That is the deal.—Ulf Kjell Gür