<i>The Merchant of Venice</i> is among the expansive assortment of famous works composed by the incomparable English playwright William Shakespeare. Some critics consider this play to be a comedy because it shares certain key aspects with Shakespeare's other romantic comedies; however, it has also been hotly argued that this play is dramatic rather than comedic as evidenced by the many intense and memorable dramatic scenes. Either way, this play is both an enchanting and engaging piece of art that will bring you to laughter and to tears, often in the same scene!<br><br>With entertaining and inventive characters such as the merchant Antonio and the moneylender Shylock, the reader is instantly enveloped in this play and in a complete world of engaging players and believable scenarios. This play takes on several real world issues such as the negative effects of money lending/borrowing, greed, social classes, and anti-Semitism. For readers who are already familiar with Shakespeare and his writing, this play carries on his legacy of captivating and memorable speeches or soliloquies. The character Shylock and the character Portia, while neither the central protagonist, each have wonderful soliloquies that were beautifully written for the audience to enjoy.<br><br><i>The Merchant of Venice</i> stands out as an artistically crafted play written by the world's most prominent playwright, William Shakespeare. For readers familiar with Shakespeare's works, this play is a wonderful addition to the other plays they've already read. For readers not yet familiar with Shakespeare's plays, this work will prove to be a fun and engrossing exploration of life and interpersonal relationships.