Shakespeare Table Read: The Merchant of Venice

“The quality of mercy is not strained. It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven upon the place beneath.” Shakespeare’s The Merchant of Venice raises complex questions about fairness, forgiveness, and power. The Jewish moneylender Shylock demands a pound of flesh from Antonio as repayment for a broken loan, challenging audiences to consider justice and mercy, love and loyalty, prejudice, and the risks and rewards of human behavior. Through a shared table read and guided discussion, we will explore the play’s major themes, its historical context, and what it means to read and perform the play today.

Required Reading: Merchant of Venice (Folger Edition)