Hi Maya!
I've listed a few below that link to those themes, plus a bit of an overview to help you choose. Hope you find some of these interesting!
- The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas: probably the most obvious example of a book about a marginalised character/group, and offers a contemporary point of contrast to Merchant of Venice. It's a YA book but a bit more complex than The Hunger Games as it focuses on the BLM movement and racial injustice in the US.
- Eggshell Skull by Bri Lee: [content warning: contains references to child sexual abuse] this is a non-fiction memoir about an Australian woman seeking justice through the legal system, so touches upon themes of marginalisation (in the form of misogyny and exploitation of the vulnerable) and revenge (in questioning the boundaries between vengeance and justice, and whether pursuing either is worthwhile).
- The Bet by Chekov: short story in which a banker and a lawyer debate and bet on which is worse: a life sentence or the death penalty. This one also touches on the idea of debts as well as how justice is served.
- The Secret Barrister: might be an interesting option if you wanted to focus on the legal aspects of the text and what it says about people's capacity to achieve things within the legal system.
- A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens: a short morality tale that deals with the idea of changing someone's mind by showing them the consequences of their misdeeds, so could be an interesting counterpoint to the morality and revenge of Shylock.
- Black Panther [film]: might be a bit frowned upon to use a Marvel movie (check with your teacher!) but this would definitely give you a lot to explore in terms of race and justice.
- Carol Ann Duffy [poetry]: a Scottish LGBT poet who often writes about oppression and marginalisation. The poem Originally might be an interesting starting point, though you should be able to find some collections online to browse.
There are some more options listed here for a broader range of themes if you want to expand your search too!
