The Merchant of Venice is perhaps most associated not with its titular hero, Antonio, but with the complex figure of the money lender, Shylock. The play was described as a comedy in the First Folio but its modern audiences find it more problematic to categorise. The vilification of Shylock 'the Jew' can be very uncomfortable for a post-holocaust audience and debates continue as to whether Shakespeare's portrayal of this complex man is sympathetic or anti-semitic.
John Drakakis' comprehensive introduction traces the stage history of the figure of the Jew and looks boldly at twenty-first century issues surrounding it. He also explores other themes of the play such as father/daughter relations, the power of money and the forceful character of Portia, to offer readers an energetic, original and revelatory reading of this challenging play.
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The Merchant Of Venice 9781903436813 Paperback
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- Authors:
- Shakespeare, William
- Year Published:
- 2011
- Country of Publication:
- United Kingdom
- Format:
- Paperback
- Editors:
- Drakakis, Professor John (University of Stirling, STIRLING)
- Illustrations Note:
- 20 in Introduction
- ISBN:
- 9781903436813
- Number of Pages:
- 480
- Publication Date:
- 06/02/2011
- Publisher:
- Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
- Series:
- The Arden Shakespeare Third Series
- Place of Publication:
- London
- Language:
- English
- SKU:
- 9781903436813