The Merchant of Venice - Oxford School Shakespeare Series

Considered a comedy, The Merchant of Venice is a tale of revenge tempered by mercy and justice. Racial tensions and greed drive Shylock, a money lender, to exact a penalty impossible to pay. Intelligent and crafty Portia discovers a way around this binding agreement.

This edition of The Merchant of Venice is specially designed for students, with accessible on-page notes and explanatory illustrations. The notes include definitions of difficult words and passages, valuable background information, and suggested assignments to guide students to master Shakespeare's work.

Students of all ages relate to timeless themes such as revenge and the mistreatment of others tempered by justice.