The Oxford Dictionary of Plays

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The Merchant of Venice

Merchant of Venice, The (The most excellent Historie of the Merchant of Venice)

Author: William Shakespeare

First Performance: c.1596–7, London

Published: 1600

Genre: Com. in 5 acts; blank verse and prose

Setting: Venice, and Portia's house in Belmont, Renaissance period

Cast: 16m, 3f, extras

Bassanio asks his friend Antonio to finance his wooing of the rich heiress Portia. Antonio is obliged to borrow money from the Jew Shylock, who agrees to lend him the requested amount, provided Antonio pledges to give him a pound of flesh if the debt is not repaid. Meanwhile Portia is plagued by unwelcome suitors, who have to choose one of three caskets in order to win her hand in marriage. To her delight, Bassanio chooses the right casket, and their happiness seems assured, when news comes that Antonio's ships...

[The entire page is 409 words long]

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