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This book is an authoritative examination of William Shakespeare’s The Merchant of Venice by eminent critic and literary analyst Ratri Ray. Summary of the Book This book looks at Shakespeare’s The Merchant of Venice analytically and strives to bring out the themes, the characters and the plot for readers. The book examines Shakespeare’s life and works, showcasing his genius for drama and poetry. It begins by giving readers a comprehensive coverage of the plot and proceeds to examine the story scene-by-scene. It then progresses to analyse the major themes, the characterization, and the dramatis personae of the story. Readers will learn how to analyse the imagery and symbolism in the plot, and understand the literary style of the dialogues. Ratri Ray drives home the ideas of Shakespeare at his finest and showcases how the Bard of Avon was received, both in his time and thereafter. About William Shakespeare William Shakespeare was an English poet, playwright and writer. Best remembered for his plays, he is called England's national poet and the "Bard of Avon". Shakespeare's plays have been adapted into several movies, and they are enacted in theatres around the world even to this day, centuries after his death. His works came to the spotlight in the Nineteenth century and he was idolized by the Romantics. A prolific writer and poet, he is also known for his poems, mainly the Sonnets. About Ratri Ray Ratri Ray is an Indian academician and former Professor and Head of the Department of English at the Patna University. She has widely studied the literary works of T. L. Beddoes, William Shakespeare, Francis Thompson and Nishikanto, a Bengali poet. She also enjoys researching into the plays of Sri Aurobindo. She has also written critical analyses on: William Shakespeare's The Tempest, Othello and Twelfth Night.