The Merchant of Venice

Title page of the first quarto (1600) The Merchant of Venice is a comedy by William Shakespeare , believed to have been written between 1596 and 1598. Though classified as a comedy in the First Folio and sharing certain aspects with Shakespeare's other romantic comedies , the play is perhaps most remembered for its dramatic scenes, and is best known for Shylock and the 'pound of flesh'. The play's anti-semitic tendency gained more attention after the Holocaust , for example in a production by George Tabori . The title character is the merchant Antonio , not the Jewish moneylender Shylock, who is the play's most prominent and more famous character. This is made explicit by the title page of the first quarto: The moſt excellent Hiſtorie of the Merchant of Venice. VVith the extreame crueltie of Shylocke the Iewe towards the ſayd Merchant, in cutting a iuſt pound of his flesh: and the obtaining of Portia by the choice of three chests .

The Merchant of Venice is a play by William Shakespeare in which a merchant in 16th century Venice must default on a large loan provided by an abused Jewish moneylender. It is believed to have been written between 1596 and 1598. Though classified as a comedy in the First Folio and sharing certain aspects with Shakespeare's other romantic comedies , the play is perhaps most remembered for its dramatic scenes, and is best known for Shylock and the famous "Hath not a Jew eyes?" speech. Also notable is Portia 's speech about " the quality of mercy ".

It is believed to have been written between 1596 and 1599. Although classified as a comedy in the First Folio and sharing certain aspects with Shakespeare's other romantic comedies , the play is most remembered for its dramatic scenes, and it is best known for Shylock and his famous "Hath not a Jew eyes?" speech on humanity. Also notable is Portia 's speech about " the quality of mercy ".

Play by Shakespeare This article is about Shakespeare's play. The Merchant of Venice is a play by William Shakespeare , believed to have been written between 1596 and 1598. A merchant in Venice named Antonio defaults on a large loan on behalf of Bassanio, his dear friend, provided by a Jewish moneylender, Shylock . Although classified as a comedy in the First Folio and sharing certain aspects with Shakespeare's other romantic comedies , the play is most remembered for its dramatic scenes, and it is best known for the character Shylock and his famous demand for a " pound of flesh " in retribution. The play contains two famous speeches, that of Shylock, "Hath not a Jew eyes?" on the subject of humanity, and that of Portia on " the quality of mercy ". Debate exists on whether the play is anti-Semitic , with Shylock's insistence on his legal right to the pound of flesh being in opposition to Shylock's seemingly universal plea for the rights of all people suffering discrimination.

Play by Shakespeare This article is about Shakespeare's play. The Merchant of Venice is a play by William Shakespeare , believed to have been written between 1596 and 1598. A merchant in Venice named Antonio defaults on a large loan taken out on behalf of his dear friend, Bassanio , and provided by a Jewish moneylender, Shylock , with seemingly inevitable fatal consequences. Although classified as a comedy in the First Folio and sharing certain aspects with Shakespeare's other romantic comedies , the play is most remembered for its dramatic scenes, and it is best known for the character Shylock and his famous demand for a " pound of flesh ". The play contains two famous speeches, that of Shylock, " Hath not a Jew eyes? " on the subject of humanity, and that of Portia on " the quality of mercy ". Debate exists on whether the play is anti-Semitic , with Shylock's insistence on his legal right to the pound of flesh being in opposition to his seemingly universal plea for the rights of all people suffering discrimination.