The Merchant of Venice

By William Shakespeare

In a Venice of commerce and social contradictions, the merchant Antonio borrows money from Shylock to help his friend Bassanio win Portia's hand, on the condition that if the debt isn't repaid in time, Shylock is owed a pound of Antonio's flesh. Around this agreement Shakespeare builds a play full of passion, humor, and moral unease, illuminating the need for love, the desire for revenge, social hypocrisy, and exclusion.