The Merchant of Venice

Shakespeare's life

Elizabethan world view

The Globe Theatre

Introduction to The Merchant of Venice
   The setting of the play
   The Jews
   Usury
   The major themes
   1. The 'bond', Justice and Mercy
   2. Appearance versus reality
   3. Chance or destiny versus choice
   4. The 'Ring' theme
   5. Commercial or material values versus love

Glossary of terms

The play in pictures

The characters in the play

The complete text

Act I
   Scene 1 (A street in Venice)
   Scene 2 (Belmont. A room in Portia's house)
   Scene 3 (A public place in Venice)

Act II
   Scene 1 (Belmont. A room in Portia's house)
   Scene 2 (A street in Venice)
   Scene 3 (Shylock's house)
   Scene 4 (A street in Venice)
   Scene 5 (Venice. Before Shylock's house)
   Scene 6. (The same)
   Scene 7. (Belmont. A room in Portia's house)
   Scene 8. (A street in Venice)
   Scene 9 (A room in Portia's house)

Act III
   Scene 1 (A street in Venice)
   Scene 2 (Portia's house, Belmont)
   Scene 3 (A street in Venice)
   Scene 4 (Portia's house, Belmont)
   Scene 5 (The same)

Act IV
   Scene 1 (Venice. A court of Justice)
   Scene 2 (A street in Venice)

Act IV
   Scene 1 (The garden of Portia's house in Belmont)