I've read this play a number of times, and the introduction by Daniel Pollack-Pelzner for the Shakespeare 2020 project offers some interesting insights into the character of Shylock (e.g., I didn't know the name is familiar to the British). Thanks to Emma Smith, I also have to think more about the intriguing love triangle between Portia, Bassanio, and Antonio (AKA, the merchant of Venice).