The Merchant of Venice (Folger Shakespeare Library)
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Premium Content A Comedy of Horrors: Mercy Gone Mercenary in The Merchant of Venice

By Kathryn Halpenny - February 19, 2003

There is a method to the madness that is Shakespearean Comedy. Every Comedy has an outline and "The Merchant of Venice" is no exception. This highly social dilemma centers on the pursuit of love and money and concludes with the joyous acquisition of just that. But while beautiful people pursue beautiful things, something dark is going on beneath…

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