The Merchant of Venice The Merchant of Venice, by William Shakespeare, is a fiction comedy story book.

The story takes place at Venice and Belmont, Italy in the sixteenth century. In The Merchant of Venice, the main character is Antonio who is a merchant of Venice and a well-respected businessman. This is because he is a generous man who always helped people in the community, for example he help his friend Bassario by lending his money without any interest. He is also a wealthy man, this is because he has invested on many trading ship and also he is a successful merchant. The story is about love and hate of the people at that time. This is because I found both of the theme of hate most prominently through the prejudices of both Christians and Jews and their behaviour towards each another. The theme of love is shown amongst the Christians, in the love of friendship and also marital love. These themes are emphasised in the settings throughout of the story. The Merchant of Venice is a story about Antonio who always helped his friend without taking any interest from them. The climax of the story is begin when Shylock demand his pound of flesh from Antonio who can not paid his debt to him. The story end with happy ending when Antonio saved by Portia and Nerissa who dress up as lawyer who defend him. One of the most important event in this story take place when Shylock demand his pound of flesh of Antonio body at the climax of the story. For me this is the important event because it determined the main characters life and also the determination of his friends that want to help him in any ways. I also found in this event that justice have been done when both Portia and Nerissa who dress up as

lawyer manage to save Antonio by demanded that there will no single blood be split when the pound of flesh is taken from him. In The Merchant of Venice, there are many values such as friendship, love, determination and mercy that clearly portrait through the character in the story. For example the value of friendship, this clearly portraits when Antonio willing to accept the term set by Shylock even though it will cost his life for the sake of his friend Bassanio how want to marry with Portia. I personally recommend this story to be read by everyone from children to adult. This is because, I found this story is a comedy story that give the reader a relax feeling and humour when reading it. Other than that, this is also a very good story because there are many moral value that can be learn from it. (457 Words)