Shakespeare's play of the Merchant of Venice

"Shakespeare's play of 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 Jewish moneylender Shylock, the consequences threaten to be fatal. The bond's condition allows Shylock to claim a pound of Antonio's flesh. Though classified as a comedy, the play is remembered for its dramatic tension and Shylock's character, raising enduring questions about justice, mercy, and discrimination through two of Shakespeare's most famous speeches.

Shakespeare's play of the Merchant of Venice, by William Shakespeare. Republished by OpenStories from Project Gutenberg eBook #12578.