The Merchant of Venice

The Merchant of Venice is a play by William Shakespeare set in Italy in the 16th century. It is classified as a comedy, although it also has elements of tragedy.

The characters in The Merchant of Venice are divided into Christian and Jewish characters. The main characters in the play are: Shylock, Antonio, Bassanio and Portia.

The Merchant of Venice has both tragic and comic elements. So some of the themes are light-hearted, such as different types of love, and some of the themes are darker.

Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice is a play in five acts. The action moves chronologically. It contains elements of tragedy and comedy.

For Eduqas, The Merchant of Venice is examined in Section A of Component 1 of your English Literature exam – Shakespeare and Poetry.