The Merchant of Venice

The Merchant of Venice – is a late 16th-century play by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written between 1596 and 1598. Though traditionally classified as a comedy, its heavy dramatic themes and moral ambiguity often lead modern scholars to categorize it as one of Shakespeare’s “problem plays”. Antonio, a wealthy but melancholy merchant, agrees to guarantee a loan for his dear friend Bassanio, who needs 3,000 ducats to court a wealthy heiress. Since Antonio’s wealth is tied up in merchant ships at sea, they turn to Shylock, a Jewish moneylender.