The Merchant of Venice

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.