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  • "The Merchant of Venice" is proof positive that even Shakespeare can misfire. Yes, he's at the height of his powers and gives voice to some great speeches, most notably, the famous "the quality of mercy is not strained" defense. However, perhaps it's my modern sensibilities interfering with my enjo ... Continue

    "The Merchant of Venice" is proof positive that even Shakespeare can misfire. Yes, he's at the height of his powers and gives voice to some great speeches, most notably, the famous "the quality of mercy is not strained" defense. However, perhaps it's my modern sensibilities interfering with my enjoyment of classic literature, but I found the Bard's portrayal of Shylock completely reprehensible. (Yes, he's the villain, but his villainy is attributed to his heritage as a Jew.)

    I know that times have changed and I'm sensitive to the fact that, pretty much up until the Holocaust, anti-semitism was a fairly wide-spread prejudice and that Shakespeare (like Dickens) couldn't be blamed for contemporary societal perceptions. However, a modern reader may find this distasteful to the point of distraction, detracting from the overall quality of this work.

    Is it a good play? Yes, it's technically quite good. But reader beware, the rampant anti-semitism may leave you angry and disgusted.

    

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• ― guaddess said on Oct 20, 2007 about the Paperback edition| Add your feedback

A new look at Shakespeare's play in accordance with the work of the Shakespeare and Schools Project, the National Curriculum for English, developments at GCSE and A-level, and the probable development of English and Drama throughout the 1990s. Cambridge School Shakespeare considers the play as theatre and the text as script, enabling pupils to inhabit the imaginative world of the play in an accessible, meaningful and creative way. Cambridge School Shakespeare approaches the plays in a new way, encouraging students to participate actively in examining them, to work in groups as well as individually, to treat each play as a script to be re-created, and to explore the theatrical/dramatic qualities of the text. The editorial comments cater for pupils of all ages and abilities, providing clear, helpful guidelines for school study. The format of the plays is also designed to help all teachers, whether experienced or inexperienced.

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