English Literature / Unit 7 ENL 0609 short lesson, about 20 seconds
The Merchant of Venice
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The idea
Antonio borrows from the Jewish moneylender Shylock for his friend Bassanio, pledging a pound of flesh, and defaults. The Folio calls it a comedy, but it is remembered for Shylock, his speech "Hath not a Jew eyes?" and Portia's "The quality of mercy is not strain'd."
In practice
A bond, a pound of flesh, mercy.
Where people slip
Its treatment of Shylock is much debated.
Your place on the trail
Every lesson rests on earlier ones and opens later ones. Tap any to jump.
Builds on
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