British Classics PDF EPUB Audio

The Merchant of Venice

Downloads: 229
First published: 1600
Pages: 100

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2 h 26 min · 6 parts

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Dramatis Personae
2:27
Act I
25:40
Act II
36:50
Act III
38:35
Act IV
26:29
Act V
16:15

The Merchant of Venice (1597) is a public domain work.

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About this book

To help his friend Bassanio court the wealthy heiress Portia, the merchant Antonio borrows money from Shylock, a Jewish moneylender he has openly despised. The bond carries a terrifying penalty, a pound of Antonio's own flesh should the debt go unpaid. When Antonio's ships are reported lost and the loan comes due, the case reaches a Venice courtroom, where Portia, disguised as a young lawyer, argues for mercy against the letter of the law. Shakespeare weaves the romance and the famous casket riddle together with a portrait of prejudice that has troubled and fascinated audiences for centuries. Shylock's "Hath not a Jew eyes?" speech remains one of the most debated passages in all of drama. This free edition is available as a PDF and EPUB.

About the author

William Shakespeare

William Shakespeare (1564–1616) was an English playwright and poet who lived during the Elizabethan and Jacobean eras. He is widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and authored approximately 37 plays and 154 sonnets that explore themes of love, power, ambition, and human nature.