Which of the following plays was written by William Shakespeare?

The correct answer is that "The Merchant of Venice" is indeed a play written by William Shakespeare. This play, believed to have been written between 1596 and 1599, is one of Shakespeare's well-known comedies that delves into themes of mercy, justice, and the complexities of human relationships. It features iconic characters such as Shylock, Portia, and Antonio, and explores the societal issues related to prejudice and the nature of contracts.

The other options listed are works by different authors: "The Great Gatsby" is a novel written by F. Scott Fitzgerald, focusing on the American Dream during the Jazz Age; "The Sound and the Fury," written by William Faulkner, tells the tragic story of the Compson family through multiple perspectives and intricate narrative techniques; and "One Hundred Years of Solitude," authored by Gabriel García Márquez, is a landmark of magical realism that chronicles multiple generations of the Buendía family in the fictional town of Macondo. Each of these works represents significant literary contributions but does not belong to William Shakespeare's oeuvre.