Jessica is the daughter of Shylock and later the wife of Lorenzo in William Shakespeare’s 16th-century play The Merchant of Venice, in which a merchant in Venice named Antonio defaults on a large loan provided by a Jewish moneylender, Shylock. It is believed to have been written between 1596 and 1599. Although classified as a comedy in the First Folio and sharing certain aspects with Shakespeare’s other romantic comedies, the play is most remembered for its dramatic scenes, and it is best known for Shylock and his famous demand for a “pound of flesh” in retribution, as well as its “Hath not a Jew eyes?” speech on humanity. As a result a debate exists on whether the play is anti-Semitic. Also notable is Portia’s speech about “the quality of mercy”.
First Appearance Shakespeare’s The Merchant of Venice first performed c. 1596–1597 (court performance for Elizabeth I)
First Publisher Edward Blount and William and Isaac Jaggard
Appearance List One of the First Quartos (1600), Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies – Published according to the True Originall Copies, i.e. First Folio (1623)
Description Jessica is the daughter of Shylock and later the wife of Lorenzo in William Shakespeare’s 16th-century play The Merchant of Venice, in which a merchant in Venice named Antonio defaults on a large loan provided by a Jewish moneylender, Shylock. It is believed to have been written between 1596 and 1599. Although classified as a comedy in the First Folio and sharing certain aspects with Shakespeare’s other romantic comedies, the play is most remembered for its dramatic scenes, and it is best known for Shylock and his famous demand for a “pound of flesh” in retribution, as well as its “Hath not a Jew eyes?” speech on humanity. As a result a debate exists on whether the play is anti-Semitic. Also notable is Portia’s speech about “the quality of mercy”.
