Dec 16, 2009

The Merchant of Venice | The Merchant of Venice

At a glance:

Author: William Shakespeare
First Published: 1600
Type of Work: Play
Type of Plot: Tragicomedy
Time of Work: Sixteenth century
Setting: Venice
Genres: Drama, Comedy, Tragedy, Tragicomedy
Subjects: Love or romance, Marriage, Revenge, Sixteenth century, Italy or Italians, Wealth, Jews and Gentiles, Merchants
Locales: Venice, Italy

Characters Discussed

Shylock (SHI-lok), a rich Jewish moneylender. He hates Antonio for often lending money at lower interest than the usurer demands; hence, when Antonio wishes to borrow three thousand ducats to help Bassanio, Shylock prepares a trap. Seemingly in jest, he persuades Antonio to sign a bond stating that, should the loan not be repaid within three months, a pound of flesh from any part of his body will be forfeited to Shylock. Next, Shylock has bad news when he learns that his daughter, Jessica, has eloped with Lorenzo, taking with her much of his money. He gets...

[The entire page is 970 words long]

The Merchant of Venice | The Merchant of Venice

At a glance:

Characters Discussed

Join eNotes