The Merchant of Venice is a play by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written between 1596 and 1598. Set in 16th-century Venice, it follows the story of Antonio, a merchant who borrows money from Shylock, a Jewish moneylender, to help his friend Bassanio court the wealthy heiress Portia. The play explores themes of love, revenge, and mercy, and is notable for its complex character of Shylock and his demand for a pound of flesh, raising questions about justice and discrimination.
