Customer Reviews

Merchant of Venice

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(11)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

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.

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.

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.

How can people say that The Merchant of Venice is an anti semitic book???? Have the people that said this ever actually read the book? How can people call this anti semitic when it contains one of the greatest anti- racist speeches of all time?
'To bait fish withal: if it will feed nothing else,
it will feed my revenge. He hath disgraced me, and
hindered me half a million; laughed at my losses,
mocked at my gains, scorned my nation, thwarted my
bargains, cooled my friends, heated mine
enemies; and what's his reason? I am a Jew. Hath
not a Jew eyes? hath not a Jew hands, organs,
dimensions, senses, affections, passions? fed with
the same food, hurt with the same weapons, subject
to the same diseases, healed by the same means,
warmed and cooled by the same winter and summer, as
a Christian is? If you prick us, do we not bleed?
if you tickle us, do we not laugh? if you poison
us, do we not die? and if you wrong us, shall we not
revenge? If we are like you in the rest, we will
resemble you in that. If a Jew wrong a Christian,
what is his humility? Revenge. If a Christian
wrong a Jew, what should his sufferance be by
Christian example? Why, revenge. The villany you
teach me, I will execute, and it shall go hard but I
will better the instruction.'

Think about it. That speech is a masterpiece. One of Shakespeare's best plays.

First off, one thing needs to be made clear: in rating this play a mere "2 stars", I'm rating it as opposed to other Shakespearean plays; if rated against the general run of books available, it would be at least three stars, maybe four.

The problem is, there are some very good things to be said about this story, but also some very bad things. A modern reader almost certainly takes a very different message from the story than one in Shakespeare's time, when it was perfectly acceptable to stereotype Jews as venal moneylenders, and when forcing a Jew to convert to Christianity at the end of the play could be considered to be in keeping with the "happy ending for all" required of comedies at the time.

Granted, Shylock is not a particularly attractive character, so it is difficult to feel much sympathy for him, but as difficult as it is to make him sympathetic, Shakespeare (apparently unintentionally) manages. The man is not only cheated out of his (contractually due) spiteful revenge, but is not even allowed to accept a lesser payment once it is made apparent that he dare not hold Antonio to his word. He loses his daughter; she not only runs away but steals from him in the process, and yet he is not even allowed to disinherit her. And, of course, he's forced to convert to the religion of the people who did all of this to him. He may have been unappealing, but not enough to deserve all of THAT.

Further, although Antonio is shown as being generous and brave enough to accept his fate when he thought it was unavoidable, he is a fool for allowing himself to be in that position to start with, and is all too quick to allow Shylock to be cheated of ANY recompense once he's given leave to do so. A TRUE hero would have INSISTED on paying the man his principle and more once let off the hook for his life, even when the "judge" ruled that Shylock had refused any payment other than his bond.

In spite of all of this, the play is not unenjoyable, and is as well-written as one expects from Shakespeare, with some interesting plot twists and some good lines (ironically, some of the best being given to Shylock, making it clear that Shakespeare wasn't COMPLETELY unaware of the humanity of the character). The language is also somewhat less obscure to the modern reader than in some of Shakespeare's work, especially his comedies.

Definitely worth reading, but be forewarned that the attitude toward Shylock (and to a lesser extent, toward his daughter) will be downright offensive to most in the modern audience.

Shakespeare borders on anti-Semitism in this play. In nearly every scene, the Jewish Character is either reminded he is a dog, or that he is evil because of being a Jew and this extends to his daughter; Jessica, whom the stupid clown Lancelot considers to be cursed because of the fact that she is a Jewess.

I think the racism in the play spoiled what would have been a funny and enjoyable read. I was trying to convince myself that Shakespeare was not trying to group all Jews together and that Shylock was just a greedy and unfeeling person who just happened to be Jewish. This is all very hard to do looking back from our time at all the atrocities committed against the Jews because of such racist propaganda (even the unknowingly racist).

Another thing I have issue with is Portia's testing of her husband to see whether he is faithful, and the fact that she forged a document, plus she impersonated another person , lied about devoting her time to God etc... It lessens her status as a heroine and makes her out to be worse than Shylock in that she employed questionable techniques to free the Merchant of Venice; Antonio. The end never justifies the means.

The only real hero in this play, to me was Antonio, although I think Shakespeare made his character to be less realistic with his lack of conflict and complete goodness, a trait that is hard to find in human beings.

All these are my opinions and I think you have to read the play itself to determine whether it is racist. On the upside, the story is interesting and full of suspense (for something of its length) and very funny in parts. Check out Portia's description of her suitors for example. All in all, a good play but definitely not his best because of the racism and the lifeless Merchant of Venice.

this is a very difficult play to watch or read. while shakespeare may have intended shylock to be a villain, to a modern sensibility, he is the victim of society's racism. frankly, i had far more sympathy for shylock than for the christian characters. and i'm not jewish. or christian. i found the treatment of shylock appalling, and while i think a "pound of flesh" was too dear a price to pay for forfeiting the bond, i believe antonio deserved to lose his wealth. he - and bassanio and portia and all the rest - are irredeemable bigots, and therefore, thoroughly detestable. mov is a good portrayal of bigotry, but it is an impossible play to like when none of the characters are likeable.

Till today, every pen-stroke William Shakespeare made draws respect. This "Merchant Of Venice" is no exception. The story remains tasty despite its age.
However, since this particular edition harbours all the ingredients of Sixteenth Century English, many readers (particularly the young) who are only at-home with the contemporary English may find it hard to digest. In this case, reading the simpler 'Merchant Of Venice' part of "Lamb's Tales From Shakespeare" (adapted by Charles and Mary Lamb) would be nice, before journeying into this one.
Also, it may make more economic sense (for Shakespeare lovers) to add a couple of dollars atop the price of this book and instead, purchase "The Complete Works of William Shakespeare". There are many cheap, lightweight editions of this 'Complete Works'. And with it, you have access to all the Shakespearean works: those Comedies, Tragedies, and Poetries.

The New Folger Library delivers again. I will not buy any Shakespeare from any other publisher - Signet Classics or anyone else. Folger has the best version hands down with its useful words and phrases on the left-hand page to help you out if necessary and give you a deeper understanding of the many references to outdated historical religious figures Shakespeare includes in The Merchant of Venice.

A "Comedy"? I know technically its a comedy, but nonetheless with the less than comical themes of greed, morality, and anti-semitism, its hardly a laugh riot. Au contraire, it is Shakespeare's tour de force amongst his many enchanting comedies - much more potent and provocative than Midsummer Night's Dream. It's a shame it is banned in many high schools and colleges throughout the U.S. due to its supposed anti-semitism. A must read for any Shakespeare enthusiast.

"A pound of flesh is the bond."

After reading most of the other reviews here, I am fully aware that most of the reviewers didn't read carefully enough (or watch carefully enough if they saw the play.) Now, I'm not saying its not open for different interpretations, but there is one thing I would really like to get straight.

I read MoV for a Bar Mitzvah project on Anti-Semitism. Naturally, my sympathies went to Shylock. However, even if i were Christian, i still would've favored Shylock. What many people believe is that Shylock is a cold hearted ruthless person and only wanted to get back at Antonio because Antonio was a Christian.

Not true. Shylock specifically says something along the lines off, "Why should I lend money to you? You spit on me, and call me a Jewish dog!" I'm not saying that Shylock was a good guy, but I am saying that he is not the villain.

In fact, the "Merchant of Venice," in this story is actually Shylock, not Antonio, contrary to popular belief. My thoughts on the story was that Shylock requested a pound of Antonio's flesh because he did not trust Antonio. Who would trust someone that spat on him? The fact is, Antonio doesn't pay him back in the end.

Now, there's always something else we have to put into consideration. Would the judge had given the "spill one ounce of Christian blood" verdict at the end if Shylock were not a Jew?

This is the mark of a great play. A play that really gets you thinking. But I encourage you, I beg of you, that when you read it or see it, please do not hold Shylock up to being a cold hearted villain. Hold Antonio up to that image. (joking, of course, Antonio's not a bad guy, he's just not a good guy.)