William Shakespeare(baptised26 April 1564; died 23 April 1616)was anEnglishpoetandplaywright, widely regarded as the greatest writer in theEnglish languageand the world's pre-eminent dramatist.He is often called England'snational poetand the "Bard of Avon".His surviving works, including some collaborations, consist of about 38plays154sonnets, two longnarrative poems, and several other poems. His plays have been translated into every major living language and are performed more often than those of any other playwright.
The Merchant of Veniceis acomedybyWilliam Shakespeare, believed to have been written between 1596 and 1598. Though classified as acomedyin theFirst Folioand sharing certain aspects with Shakespeare's otherromantic comedies, the play is perhaps most remembered for its dramatic scenes, and is best known for Shylockand the 'pound of flesh', in fact an earlier international folktale plot —AT 890— thatStith Thompsonderives from the work of GermanMeistersinger..The play's anti-semitic tendency gained more attention after theHolocaust, for example in a production byGeorge Tabori.
Julius Caesaris atragedybyWilliam Shakespeare, believed to have been written in 1599.It portrays theconspiracyagainst theRomandictatorJulius Caesar, his assassination and its aftermath. It is one of several Roman plays that he wrote, based on true events fromRoman history, which also includeCoriolanusandAntony and Cleopatra.
Although the title of the play isJulius Caesar,Caesaris not the central character in its action; he appears in only three scenes, and is killed at the beginning of the third act. Theprotagonistof the play isMarcus Brutus, and the central psychological drama is his struggle between the conflicting demands ofhonour,patriotism, andfriendship.
The play reflected the general anxiety ofEnglandover succession of leadership. At the time of its creation and first performance,Queen Elizabeth, a strong ruler, was elderly and had refused to name a successor, leading to worries that acivil warsimilar to that of Rome might break out after her death.