The Merchant of Venice

Used and annotated "The Merchant of Venice" is a play by William Shakespeare that explores themes of love, prejudice, and justice in 16th-century Venice. The story revolves around Antonio, a merchant, who borrows money from the Jewish moneylender Shylock to help his friend Bassanio woo the wealthy heiress Portia. When Antonio's ships are delayed, he cannot repay the loan, and Shylock demands a pound of his flesh as per the contract. The play culminates in a courtroom scene where Portia, disguised as a lawyer, cleverly saves Antonio and exposes Shylock's vengeful nature.