The Merchant of Venice is a kind of love story plus a true friendship stroy written by our great English dramatist William Shakespeare.
The heroin of the drama is Portia and his hero is Basanio. Antonio is also the protagonist who's the Merchant of Venice and the whole story revolves around him.
The Trial episode, The Ring Episode and The Bond episode are the important part to be focused.
It's one of the great works of Shakespeare and so you must read it
I'm sure you're gonna love it.
Good luck!