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"Hath not a Jew eyes? Hath not a Jew hands, organs, dimensions, senses, affections, passions?" Shylock's impassioned plea in the middle of The Merchant of Venice is one of its most dramatic moments. After the Holocaust, the play has become a battleground for those who argue that the play represents Shakespeare's ultimate statement against ignorance and anti-Semitism in favour of a liberal vision of tolerance and multiculturalism. Other critics have pointed out that the play is, after all, a comedy that ultimately pokes fun at a 16th-century Jew. In fact, the bare outline of the plot suggests that the play is far more complex than either of these characterisations. Bassanio, a feckless young Venetian, asks his wealthy friend, the merchant Antonio, for money to finance a trip to woo the beautiful Portia in Belmont. Reluctant to refuse his friend (to whom he professes intense love), Antonio borrows the money from the Jewish moneylender. If he reneges on the deal, Shylock jokingly demands a pound of his flesh. When all Antonio's ships are lost at sea, Shylock calls in his debt, and the love and laughter of the first scenes of the play threaten to give way to death and tragedy. The final climactic courtroom scene, complete with a cross-dressed Portia, a knife-wielding Shylock, and the debate on "the quality of mercy" is one of the great dramatic moments in Shakespeare. The controversial subject matter of the play ensures that it continues to repel, divide but also fascinate its many audiences. --Jerry Brotton
--This text refers to the
Paperback
edition.
Review
`The annotation, generally proficient, is admirably frank in rendering sexual doubles entendres and is frequently illuminating in its references to modes of staging ... As in the other volumes of this Oxford Shakespeare series, there is a good range of pictorial material and a very useful index ... this edition of The Merchant of Venice is creditable, lucid, and practical.' Cedric Watts, University of Sussex, Review of English Studies, Vol. 47, No. 186, May '96
--This text refers to the
Paperback
edition.
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First Sentence
Antonio. In sooth I know not why I am so sad. Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Back Cover
Antonio. In sooth I know not why I am so sad. Read the first page
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Concordance
Browse Sample PagesConcordance
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Back Cover
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Most helpful customer reviews
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
1.0 out of 5 stars
Misleading description,
By Michael from Montreal (Montreal Canada) - See all my reviews
This review is from: The Merchant of Venice (Paperback)
Can't complain about the price, but the cover illustration is wrong (wrong publisher), there are no 'abbreviations and conventions', 'introduction', 'notes on the text' etc. and the book is 88 pages, not 189+ (as according to 'Click to look...' nor 96 as stated in the product description section). Don't show me the 1988 Cambridge University Press edition if what you are selling is the 1995 Dover Thrift Edition. I don't think this is an appropriate way of marketing your product not to mention very misleading.
4.0 out of 5 stars
One of Shakespeare's Best,
By
This review is from: The Merchant of Venice (Paperback)
The brilliance of The Merchant of Venice is in the universality of it's theme. There are many interesting aspects of this story. The religious back drop that offers the context is probably the most commonly discussed. However, I feel that a careful read of the play will show that Shylock's religion is used more for character development than it is a central theme of the play. Revenge and vengence also play a strong roll in the story. It's Shylock's desire for revenge that drives the bulk of the plot.The theme though is more rooted in the simple concept of humanity and how we abuse each other on a very basic level. Shylock is the villian and he is regarded as 'less than human' by others because of his religion. Shylock then reverses the scenerio by demanding a pound of flesh from Antonio. Demeaning him to the level of some sort of animal. Such methods of using power as well as differences of race or belief to subjugate people has gone on for as long as as there have been people. This is what makes the play so lasting and significant. Everyone can relate to being made to feel ashamed and most everyone can recall a time when they did something just to make themselfs feel superior to another. The Merchant of Venice is quite poignant even today when religious tolerence is strained and many feel retribution and retaliation should be the basis for many laws and punishments. The Merchant of Venice tells us there is nothing to gain by subjugating others and ultimately we are all the same. All easily subject to the same persecution if our circumstances were to change. The is one of Shakespeare's better plays to read. The story is very interesting and doesn't lose anything in the absence of a dramatic presentation. If you are interested in Shakespeare this is a good play to try. View my other reviews for more Shakespeare hits and misses.
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Merchant of Venice,
By Aysha (TN) - See all my reviews
This review is from: The Merchant of Venice: Oxford School Shakespeare (Paperback)
The Merchant of Venice, by William Shakespeare, is a play that many readers will enjoy. Although this play may seem lighthearted, it addresses important themes and reflects societal views. The theme of appearances versus reality is depicted through the gold, sliver, and lead caskets that Portia's suitors pick from, illustrating the cliché that "all that glitters is not gold". This theme is revisited when Portia dresses as a man and cleverly solves the conflict between Bassanio, Antonio, and Shylock. Shakespeare also addresses the anti-Semitic views of the Elizabethan society though the antagonistic interaction between Antonio and Shylock. At the conclusion of the play, all the conflicts are happily resolved: Bassanio and Portia are reunited and Shylock converts to Christianity. The audience leaves the play with that warm and happy feeling. I would highly recommend this play.
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