Guide Note:The Merchant of Venice is a classic comedy by William Shakespeare.
Fast Facts:
- Written: 1596-1596
- Entered into Stationers' Register: July 22, 1598 by James Roberts
- First performance: 10 February 1605 - at Court by the King's Men
- Performed 48 times on Broadway between 1768 and 1989
- Main Characters:
- Bassanio
- Antonio
- Portia
- Shylock
- The Duke of Venice
- Famous Speeches:
- I am a Jew...
- The quality of mercy is not strained...
- Famous Quotes:
- But love is blind...
- All that glisters is not gold.
- The portrait of a blinking idiot.
- In sooth I know not why I am so sad
- It is a wise father that knows his own child.
- A pound of flesh, to be by him cut off nearest the merchant's heart.