The Merchant of Venice by William Shakespeare is a play that explores themes of love, friendship, money, revenge, justice, and mercy through a mix of comedy, drama, and romance. The story revolves around characters like Shylock, a complex and controversial figure, and Portia, a strong and witty heroine. The play delves into societal issues such as anti-Semitism, hypocrisy, and the complexities of human nature. Shakespeare's writing style is described as impeccable, with memorable and quotable dialogue that makes the characters and plot come alive.
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Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings
Content warnings for The Merchant of Venice include themes of anti-Semitism, racism, revenge, and legal cruelty.
Has Romance?
Romance plays a significant role in the plot, particularly seen in Portia and Bassanio's relationship.
From The Publisher:
Here are the books that help teach Shakespeare plays without the teacher constantly needing to explain and define Elizabethan terms, slang, and other ways of expression that are different from our own. Each play is presented with Shakespeare's original lines on each left-hand page, and a modern, easy-to-understand "translation" on the facing right-hand page. All dramas are complete, with every original Shakespearian line, and a full-length modern rendition of the text. These invaluable teaching-study guides also include:
Ratings (20)
Incredible (1) | |
Loved It (7) | |
Liked It (3) | |
It Was OK (7) | |
Did Not Like (1) | |
Hated It (1) |
Reader Stats (35):
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4 comment(s)
3.5 stars. Not an new favorite Shakespeare but quite entertaining nevertheless. I'm curious to see what Howard Jacobson to with this play in Shylock. Kind of upset it's slowly but surely soon is the end of my hogart Shakespeare jorney until the new Gillian Flynn book comes out. Should probably look up other works influenced by Shakespeare that doesn't include the works of Hogart collection. Should be quite a lot I guess?
If I could have given it less than one star, I would have. Perhaps I'm naive and perhaps I missed the point, but the blatant antisemitism in this piece made me want to fling the book bodily across the room. I understand that the characters within the play may typify certain elements, but as a whole, this was the most antisemitic, racist play I have ever read. Is there redeeming quality in looking at it through the lenses of what Shakespeare intended versus how his audience perceived it? I don't know, but the excerpts of Mein Kampf I read were less enraging than this.
Interesting look at prejudices during Shakespearean times
Aunque tiene elementos claramente trasnochados como mujeres disfrazadas de hombres y ni sus maridos las distingen, tambien tiene elementos muy interesantes.
En particular hay varias historias contadas en paralelo. Una historia de odio, una de amistad, una de amor (o varias), otra de libertad, de relaciones fraternales.
Las grandes preguntas de la vida, en formato comedia sin aparentes ambiciones. Este Shakespeare tenia algo especial.
Por cierto, mucha gente se queja de sus parrafos anti-judios. Si, la historia de odio pone a un judio como el malo y lo caracteriza como envidioso y tacaño. Si esto hiere su sensibilidad, no lea este libro.
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The Merchant of Venice?
About the Author:
William Shakespeare was born in Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire, in 1564. The date of his birth is not known but is traditionally 23 April, St George's Day. Aged 18, he married a Stratford farmer's daughter, Anne Hathaway. They had three children. Around 1585 William joined an acting troupe on tour in Stratford from London, and thereafter spent much of his life in the capital. A member of the leading theatre group in London, the Chamberlain's Men, which built the Globe Theatre and frequently performed in front of Queen Elizabeth I, Shakespeare wrote 36 plays and much poetry besides. He died in 1616.
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