How helpful is it to call the 'Merchant of Venice' a comedy?

... How helpful is it to call the 'Merchant of Venice' a comedy? By Jeffrey Li The term 'comedy' is a story that ends in a happy resolution, often in marriage. Since the 'Merchant of Venice' is classed as a romantic comedy, it also involves an engaging heroine. The comedy usually involves a struggle but towards the end, all pieces are supposed to fall into place. "The characters and their discomfitures engage our pleasurable attention rather than out profound concern" - M.H. Abhram (i.e. rather than feeling sympathetic for the misfortunes of characters on stage, we respond to them in a positive and amusing manner). One typical characteristic of a comedy is that it usually contains humour in one way or another. The 'Merchant of Venice' is definitely a play which contains plenty of humours scenes. In fact, in the second scene of the play; a lighter humorous tone is introduced. In

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