The Merchant of Venice

A mysterious and melancholy rich man, a dashing young lover in desperate need of cash, a moneylender with good reason to seek revenge, and a witty young woman with a knack for disguise; These are the elements of Shakespeare’s tragicomedy The Merchant of Venice. Set in Venice, where all nations meet and the clash of cultures can lead to startling violence, the story of Antonio, Shylock, and Portia has been arousing controversies, social as well as literary, for four centuries with its mixture of elements: comedy both raucous and gentle, steely-eyed satire, intense compassion, tender love poetry, and the perpetual struggle between Mercy and Justice.