The Merchant of Venice
| Language | en |
|---|---|
| First published | 1997-11-01 |
| Rights | Public domain in the USA. |
| Gutenberg ID | #1114 |
Description
"The Merchant of Venice" by William Shakespeare is a play written between 1596 and 1598. When Antonio, a Venetian merchant, defaults on a loan provided by the Jewish moneylender Shylock, dire consequences loom. The debt was taken to help Antonio's friend Bassanio woo the wealthy Portia. Shylock's contract demands a shocking penalty: a pound of Antonio's flesh. Though classified as a comedy, the play is best remembered for its dramatic courtroom scenes and Shylock's famous speeches exploring humanity, mercy, and discrimination. (This is an automatically generated summary.)