The primary antagonist in Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice, Shylock is a Venetian Jewish moneylender characterized by Jewish stereotypes, such as vindictiveness and greediness. The defeat of Shylock and his subsequent conversion to Christianity form the climax of the play's plot.

Jane, probably born Elizabeth, Shore was one of the mistresses of Edward IV. Following Edward's death, Shore became mistress of Thomas Grey, 1st Marquess of Dorset, also the stepson of Edward via his widow, Elizabeth Woodville. Shore also became the concubine of the powerful William Hastings, 1st Baron of Hastings. It is likely Shore helped unite the Woodville and Hastings factions against the protector, Edward's younger brother and ultimate successor, Richard III. Richard had Shore arrested shortly before taking the throne in 1483, charging her with conspiracy.

Little is known about British playwright William Shirley, though it is said that he spent time in both Britain and Portugal. He wrote a small number of plays, the most notable of which is Edward the Black Prince (1750), inspired by Shakespeare. Its debut featured David Garrick.

Probably Henrietta Maria, d.1792 (Oxford Dictionary of National Biography), née Phillips- wife of Walter Shirley (Shirley, Walter, 1725-1786 ), a Methodist clergyman and hymnist actively patronized by Lady Huntingdon. Walter Shirley coauthored A Narrative of the Most Remarkable Particulars in the Life of James Albert Ukawsaw Gronniosaw, an African Prince, as Related by Himself (1770).

English educator, poet, and dramatist, a popular playwright before Parliament's restriction of stage plays in 1642. Shirley's comedies of London court society are considered his best works, including The Wittie Faire One, Hyde Park, and The Lady of Pleasure.

An Irish actor, theater manager, and educator, Thomas Sheridan was husband to Frances Sheridan and father to Richard Brinsley Sheridan. In addition to his other pursuits, he delivered a series of lectures on elocution, which he then published in 1762, and a series on reading, published 1775.

Though few in number, some of R. B. Sheridan's plays are still well remembered. His more important work includes The Rivals (1775), The Duenna (1775), The School for Scandal (1777), The Camp (1778), and The Critic (1779).

Playwright and novelist Frances Sheridan was wife to actor and theater manager Thomas Sheridan and mother of Richard Brinsley Sheridan, one of the eighteenth century's most important playwrights, who was influenced by his mother's work. Frances Sheridan published the novel Memoirs of Miss Sidney Bidulph in two parts in 1761 and 1767. Her play The Discovery (1763) is worthy of at least as much attention as any of her fiction.

Writer and longtime friend of Richard Graves. Shenstone published his first poetical volume, Poems upon Various Occasions (1737), anonymously. It contained his most important work, The Schoolmistress, revised versions of which were published in later years. His later writings included The Judgement of Hercules (1741), addressed to George Lyttleton.

Most famous as the author of Frankenstein (1818) and wife of poet Percy Bysshe Shelley, Mary Shelley was daughter of William Godwin and Mary Wollstonecraft. She authored a significant body of travel narrative, biographical essays, and some literary criticism as well as numerous novels, novellas, and tales. In addition to Frankenstein, her novels include Valperga (1823), The Last Man (1826), The Fortunes of Perkin Warbeck (1830), Lodore (1835), and Falkner (1837).