The Merchant of Venice

The Merchant of Venice by William Shakespeare is believed to have been written in 16th-century. The play is about a merchant named Antonio defaults on a large loan provided without mercy by Shylock, a Jewish moneylender. Debating on the period when Merchant was written the scholars mostly tend to assert that the work was created between 1596 and 1599.

In spite of the fact that the play shares certain aspects with other romantic comedies of William Shakespeare and is classified as a comedy in the First Folio, it is most remembered for its dramatic scenes. How many acts are there in The Merchant of Venice? The play consists of five acts and twenty scenes.

  The work it is best known for such character as Shylock, namely his famous demand for a "pound of flesh" in nemesis, as well as its "Hath not a Jew eyes?" speech on humanity. Considering all this it remains debatable whether the play is anti-Semitic. Another notable figure is Portia and her speech about "the quality of mercy".

In Venice, where the action takes place, Antonio, an antisemitic merchant, run into debt to help his friend dealing with the Jew Shylock. When Antonio realizes that he can't repay the loan, Shylock demands instead a pound of his flesh. The heiress named Portia, the wife of Antonio's friend, decides to dress as a lawyer and saves Antonio.

List of characters

• Antonio – a prominent merchant of Venice in a melancholic mood.
• Bassanio – Antonio's close friend; suitor to Portia; later the husband of Portia
• Gratiano – friend of Antonio and Bassanio; in love with Nerissa; later the husband of Nerissa
• Lorenzo – friend of Antonio and Bassanio; in love with Jessica; later the husband of Jessica
• Portia – a rich heiress; later the wife of Bassanio
• Nerissa – Portia's waiting maid – in love with Gratiano; later the wife of Gratiano; disguises herself as Portia's clerk
• Balthazar – Portia's servant
• Stephano – Portia's servant
• Shylock – a miserly Jew; moneylender; father of Jessica
• Jessica – daughter of Shylock, later the wife of Lorenzo
• Tubal – a Jew; friend of Shylock
• Launcelot Gobbo – servant of Shylock; later a servant of Bassanio; son of Old Gobbo
• Old Gobbo – blind father of Launcelot
• Leonardo – servant to Bassanio
• Duke of Venice – authority who presides over the case of Shylock's bond
• Prince of Morocco – suitor to Portia
• Prince of Arragon – suitor to Portia
• Salarino and Salanio (also known as Solanio) – friends of Antonio and Bassanio[1]
• Salerio – a messenger from Venice; friend of Antonio, Bassanio and others[1]
• Magnificoes of Venice, officers of the Court of Justice, gaolers, servants to Portia, and other attendants and Doctor Bellario, cousin of Portia

Entire play in one page

Act 1, Scene 1: Venice. A street.
Act 1, Scene 2: Belmont. A room in PORTIA'S house.
Act 1, Scene 3: Venice. A public place.

Act 2, Scene 1: Belmont. A room in PORTIA'S house.
Act 2, Scene 2: Venice. A street.
Act 2, Scene 3: The same. A room in SHYLOCK'S house.
Act 2, Scene 4: The same. A street.
Act 2, Scene 5: The same. Before SHYLOCK'S house.
Act 2, Scene 6: The same.
Act 2, Scene 7: Belmont. A room in PORTIA'S house.
Act 2, Scene 8: Venice. A street.
Act 2, Scene 9: Belmont. A room in PORTIA'S house.

Act 3, Scene 1: Venice. A street.
Act 3, Scene 2: Belmont. A room in PORTIA'S house.
Act 3, Scene 3: Venice. A street.
Act 3, Scene 4: Belmont. A room in PORTIA'S house.
Act 3, Scene 5: The same. A garden.

Act 4, Scene 1: Venice. A court of justice.
Act 4, Scene 2: The same. A street.

Act 5, Scene 1: Belmont. Avenue to PORTIA'S house.