Merchant of Venice

This play is a romantic comedy.

Plot: Love is the main plot. The shipping business is the sub plot.

The play was written in 1596.

Shakespeare’s knowledge of Jews would have been based entirely on hearsay because Jews had been legally banned from Britain in the 14^th century.

The main setting is Venice but a secondary setting is Belmont.

Characters:

The Duke of Venice

The Prince of Morocco

The Prince of Arragon

Antonio

Bassanio

Gratiano

Solanio

Salerio

Lorenzo

Shylock

Tubal

Lancelot Gobbo

Old Gobbo

Leonardo

Balthazar

Stephano

Portia

Nerissa

Jessica

Character Pairings:

Bassanio and Portia

Gratiano and Nerissa

Lorenzo and Jessica

Solanio and Saleria