Journal due 2/17/13

Is the Merchant of Venice a comedy, tragedy, or a tragicomedy? 

I think that the Merchant of Venice is a tragicomedy. There are some funny parts, especially with Portia's suitors and their self-confidence in their abilities to pick the right chest, but I think that a lot of the play has had some underlying tragic tones in it. If Antonio doesn't end up being able to pay Shylock back the 3,000 ducats he owes, then Shylock gets a pound of his flesh, which isn't really very funny. Also, some people think that Antonio likes Bassanio, and if that's true then it's kind of sad that Bassanio would rather be with Portia.