Laurence Olivier
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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.
Jul 31, 2015 · Bassanio sails to Belmont, where the wealthy heiress Portia is being courted by suitors from around the world. Her father’s will requires that the successful suitor solve a riddle involving chests of gold, silver, and lead. Where others have failed, Bassanio succeeds by selecting the right chest.
May 20, 2024 · The Merchant of Venice, comedy in five acts by William Shakespeare, written about 1596–97. In the play, a merchant named Antonio borrows money from Shylock, a Jewish moneylender, and is unable to repay the loan.
Among Shakespeare’s works, The Merchant of Venice stands out for its nuanced portrayal of racial and religious bias and remains controversial. It’s often classified as one of Shakespeare's “problem plays,” characterized by its intricate tone and moral ambiguity.
A short summary of William Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice. This free synopsis covers all the crucial plot points of The Merchant of Venice.
The best study guide to The Merchant of Venice on the planet, from the creators of SparkNotes. Get the summaries, analysis, and quotes you need.
Mar 12, 2024 · Michelle Ephraim’s memoir Green World refracts The Merchant of Venice through the changing dynamics of her own family, as her Holocaust-survivor parents age and she becomes a mother herself.
Full Play Analysis. The Merchant of Venice is essentially a play about property: in telling the story of a merchant who treats his own flesh as property to secure a loan, and the moneylender who calls in the debt, the play asks questions about the value of life itself.
Summary of William Shakespeare's Merchant of Venice: Shylock asks for a pound of flesh as part of a loan contract (weird), Bassanio agrees to it (weirder), and Portia saves the day by cross-dressing and pretending to practice the law (perfectly normal).
The Revels Book of 1604–5 shows William Shakespeare at or near the height of his success as a playwright, with seven plays and eight performances at court. Merchant of Venice was so admired by the king that he commanded a repeat performance.
