The Merchant of Venice

The Merchant of Venice is one of William Shakespeare's best-known plays, written at an uncertain date between 1594 and 1597. It is a comedy
and is best known for its portrayal of the Jew Shylock, which has raised questions of anti-semitism. Shylock is a tormented character but is also a tormenter, so whether he is to be viewed with disdain
or sympathy is up to the reader.

A Shakespearean comedy had two very notable points.

1. A happy ending, usually involving marriage for all the unmarried characters, and
2. A tone and style that is more lighthearted than Shakespeare's other plays.

Shakespearean comedies also tend to have:

* A struggle of young lovers to overcome difficulty that is often presented by elders
* Separation and unification
* Mistaken identities
* A clever servant
* Heightened tensions, often within a family
* Multiple plots

The story weaves around two young men Antonio and Bassanio and their deep friendship.
Antonio gives Bassanio 3000 ducats to travel to Belmont and try to woo his lady love Portia. Since all his ships are tied at sea, he borrows the sum from a jew Shylock.

The main story revolves around how Bassanio cleverly wins Portia's hand by solving a puzzle set by her father. It then goes on to tell how Antonio loses all his cargo in sea-storm and has to give in to Shylock's contract of paying the debt with a pound of flesh.

Portia disguised as a judge displays uncanny wit and brillience when she tells Shylock that he may take his pound of flesh but without shedding a single drop of blood. This saves Antonio and Portia and Bassanio are happily married.

Other characters in the play include Shylock's daughter Jessica who elopes with a Christian named Lorenzo, Bassanio's friend Gratiano who falls for Portia's handmaiden Nerissa. Launcelot and Gobbo add some humor to the play.