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The Merchant of Venice

William Shakespeare · 1596

A play by William Shakespeare about a Venetian merchant, a Jewish moneylender named Shylock, and a loan secured by a pound of flesh, written in the late 1590s.

Shakespeare wrote this play, whose portrayal of Shylock remains central to debates about his attitudes toward Jewish people.

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Title page of the 1600 first quarto of The Merchant of Venice, in old English black-letter type on aged paper. Text reads 'The most excellent Historie of the Merchant of Venice' and names William Shakespeare as author, with the printer and publication details at the bottom.
Title page of the first quarto of The Merchant of Venice, 1600.

About this source

What it is

William Shakespeare wrote this play, believed to date from between 1596 and 1598. It tells of the merchant Antonio, who borrows money from the Jewish moneylender Shylock on behalf of his friend Bassanio, with Antonio's flesh as collateral if the loan is not repaid.

Why it matters

The play is best known for Shylock's demand for a "pound of flesh" and his speech "Hath not a Jew eyes?", and for Portia's speech on mercy. It raises lasting questions about antisemitism in Elizabethan England, since the play can be read both as reflecting prejudice against Jewish people and as giving Shylock a voice against discrimination.

Look closer

  • Why might scholars disagree about whether this play is antisemitic or challenges antisemitism?
  • What does Shylock's speech about humanity ask the audience to consider?
  • How does the title page advertise the play's content to Elizabethan readers?

This book is part of the curated material that grounds the AI version of William Shakespeare on Humy.ai — when students ask about related events, the AI can quote it and cite it.

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