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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

An international team of scholars offers: - modernised, easily accessible texts - ample but unobtrusive academic guidance - attention to the theatrical qualities of each play and its stage history - informative illustrations, including reconstructions of early performances The Merchant of Venice has been performed more often than any other comedy by Shakespeare. This edition pays special attention to the expectations of its first audience, and to our modern experience of seeing and hearing the play.

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