What is the best part of the play The Merchant of Venice?

This is of course a highly subjective question, and I
would encourage you to read the play yourself and/or watch a production of it so that
you yourself can pick what the best part of this play is. The Al Pacino version that
came out in the last few years is an excellent film adaption, and gives a real flavour
of the play. Do watch it, as you won't regret it.

However,
I think the best part as far as I am concerned, and I am sure the best part for a number
of others as well, would have to be the court scene in Act IV scene 1. This is of course
the climax that the whole play has been leading up to, as we see a grim Shylock
determined to get his revenge on Antonio, who has so wronged him in the past. The way
that the tension mounts right up until the point when Shylock is going to cut the pound
of flesh from Antonio until Portia reveals the loophole that condemns Shylock is
masterful:

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Tarry a little; there is something
else.

This bond doth give thee here no jot of
blood;

The words expressly are "a pound of
flesh."

Then take thy bond, take thou thy pound of
flesh;

But in the cutting it if thou dost
shed

One drop of Christian blood, thy lands and
goods

Are by the laws of Venice
confiscate

Unto the state of
Venice.

Suddenly we see a
huge reversal in the situation. Up until this stage everything appeared to be going well
for Shylock. Now, suddenly, things start turning against him and become worse and worse.
This scene interests and excites the audience as we watch the seemingly inevitable fate
descend upon Antonio, and then only at the last possible moment descend upon Shylock.
Pure Shakespearian genius.