<Tr> <Th_colspan="2"> The Merchant of Venice </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Td_colspan="2"> Title page of the first quarto (1600) </Td> </Tr> <P> The Merchant of Venice is a 16th - century play written by William Shakespeare in which a merchant in Venice must default on a large loan provided by a Jewish moneylender . It is believed to have been written between 1596 and 1599 . Though classified as a comedy in the First Folio and sharing certain aspects with Shakespeare's other romantic comedies, the play is most remembered for its dramatic scenes, and it is best known for Shylock and the famous "Hath not a Jew eyes?" speech on humanity . Also notable is Portia's speech about "the quality of mercy". Critic Harold Bloom listed it among Shakespeare's great comedies . </P> <Ul> <Li> Antonio--a prominent merchant of Venice in a melancholic mood . </Li> <Li> Bassanio--Antonio's close friend; suitor to Portia; later the husband of Portia </Li> <Li> Gratiano--friend of Antonio and Bassanio; in love with Nerissa; later the husband of Nerissa </Li> <Li> Lorenzo--friend of Antonio and Bassanio; in love with Jessica; later the husband of Jessica </Li> <Li> Portia--a rich heiress; later the wife of Bassanio </Li> <Li> Nerissa--Portia's waiting maid--in love with Gratiano; later the wife of Gratiano; disguises herself as Stephano </Li> <Li> Balthazar--Portia's servant, whom Portia later disguises herself as </Li> <Li> Shylock--a miserly Jew; moneylender; father of Jessica </Li> <Li> Jessica--daughter of Shylock, later the wife of Lorenzo </Li> <Li> Tubal--a Jew; friend of Shylock </Li> <Li> Launcelot Gobbo--servant of Shylock; later a servant of Bassanio; son of Old Gobbo </Li> <Li> Old Gobbo--blind father of Launcelot </Li> <Li> Leonardo--slave to Bassanio </Li> <Li> Duke of Venice--authority who presides over the case of Shylock's bond </Li> <Li> Prince of Morocco--suitor to Portia </Li> <Li> Prince of Arragon--suitor to Portia </Li> <Li> Salarino and Salanio (also known as Solanio)--friends of Antonio and Bassanio </Li> <Li> Salerio--a messenger from Venice; friend of Antonio, Bassanio and others </Li> <Li> Magnificoes of Venice, officers of the Court of Justice, gaoler, servants to Portia, and other attendants and Doctor Bellario, cousin of Portia </Li> </Ul>

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