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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

The Merchant of Venice is one of the ten most popular titles from the best-selling Cambridge School Shakespeare series now available in a new edition. The new edition includes new and revised activities throughout, new black and white photos from the widest selection of stage and film interpretations of the plays, and a larger glossary providing extra support with the language of Shakespeare. In addition, expanded sections on characters, language, and performance history offer the best support for the KS3 SATs and GCSE coursework. The new edition also includes exciting new features to bring the play to life such as a visually stunning eight-page section packed with full-colour production photographs and a striking new cover design. The new edition remains faithful to the Cambridge School Shakespeare active approach, which treats the play as theatre and the text as a script to be acted, explored and enjoyed.

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