The Merchant of Venice, written by Shakespeare between 1596 and 1598, explores themes of race, religion, and commerce in a multicultural Venetian society. The play's origins may be linked to historical events, such as the execution of Elizabeth I's Jewish doctor, Roderigo Lopez, and literary influences, including Christopher Marlowe's The Jew of Malta and Giovanni Fiorentino's novella Il Pecorone. Initially performed as a comedy, the play centers on the conflict between Shylock, a Jewish moneylender, and the Christian merchant Antonio. Over time, the character of Shylock evolved from a comic villain to a tragic figure, particularly after 1701 when the play was revived with new interpretations. However, The Merchant of Venice became controversial in the 20th century, especially after the Nazis used it for anti-Semitic propaganda. Today, the play's exploration of prejudice remains central to its interpretation, making it a powerful yet problematic work for modern audiences.
Here are some books that you may find useful during your studies. Search the Bennies catalogue Accessit for more, or browse the Non-fiction collection NFS..
The Merchant of Venice Graphic Novel by 
Merchant of Venice by 
Cambridge Student Guide to the Merchant of Venice by 
Shakespeare: the Merchant of Venice by 
In The Merchant of Venice, Antonio, a Christian merchant, borrows money from the Jewish moneylender Shylock to help his friend Bassanio, who seeks to marry the wealthy heiress Portia. Shylock agrees to lend the money with the unusual condition that if Antonio cannot repay the loan, he must give Shylock a pound of his flesh. Meanwhile, Portia’s suitors must choose between three caskets to win her hand, and Bassanio eventually succeeds. However, Antonio’s ships are reported lost, and he is unable to repay Shylock. The play culminates in a dramatic court scene where Portia, disguised as a doctor, outwits Shylock by using legal technicalities to prevent him from claiming his pound of flesh. In the end, Shylock is forced to convert to Christianity, and Antonio is saved.
When studying The Merchant of Venice for the HSC (Higher School Certificate), it's crucial to analyse key passages that illuminate the play’s central themes, such as mercy vs. justice, the complexities of identity, and prejudice.
When Antonio obtains a loan of money from Shylock to help his friend Bassanio woo the wealthy Portia, Shylock makes a stark bargain. If Antonio fails to pay Shylock back, Shylock demands a pound of Antonio’s flesh. As Bassanio and Portia fall in love, Antonio gets into trouble over the money. Dressed as a man, Portia brings Shylock to court. But will her efforts be enough to save her beloved’s best friend? The Shakescleare modern English translation of The Merchant of Venice makes it easy to decipher Shakespeare’s complex language and decipher the play’s most notable quotes, like “All that glisters is not gold,” “in the end, truth will out,” and Shylock’s famous “I am a Jew. Hath / not a Jew eyes?” speech.
Key Points
The Merchant of Venice is a play by William Shakespeare that tells the story of a merchant called Antonio and a moneylender called Shylock.
Themes are the main ideas that appear repeatedly in a play. Some of the important themes in The Merchant of Venice are:
Money - the significance of wealth and how it can affect people and relationships.
Justice - the idea of what is fair and how this can differ from person to person.
Love - romantic love, family relationships and the love between friends feature in the play.
Prejudice - many characters are prejudiced against Shylock because of his Jewish faith.
A quick overview of what happens in the plot of The Merchant of Venice.
In STORY: A simple overview of the story
In CHARACTERS: Basic character descriptions
In LANGUAGE: Key language terms
In STAGING: Facts about the settings