In this blog, a Shakespeare specialist explains what makes a play “problematic” and how The Merchant of Venice—alongside works like Measure for Measure—forces audiences to wrestle with issues of justice, mercy, prejudice, and power. By the end, you’ll see how recognising its “problem play” status can help you achieve higher marks by showing a deeper understanding of Shakespeare’s ambiguous moral vision and subversion of  Elizabethan values. Whether you are studying with AQA, Edexcel, OCR, or Eduqas, this blog will help you to impress your examiner with developed analysis and detailed subject knowledge.