The Merchant of Venice Paperback Book (Timeless Shakespeare)

The risky speculative nature of Antonio's ventures. In a bit more detail, this would be my approach towards the production: I would extend this to its extreme - humanize Shylock completely, strip him of his 'monstrosity' status and of his usurer brand and make him the common family man, downtrodden occasionally, trying to get by.

A quintessential Wall-Street figure. I might or might not keep the personal enmity between Shylock and Antonio. That would add dramatic value, but serves no purpose as far as my core message is concerned. It is a world where money has no role, where no class differences occur or are not allowed since only the privileged enter!

We don't have a place for such a trope in our production. The Merchant of Venice is a very serious play - Shakespeare made it a romantic comedy by nesting the parallel story of Belmont and its idealism, its fairy tale caskets, the Jason-like Quest etc. We can take it more seriously.

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We can consider a world without Belmont! Shylock, even back then, is a controversial figure for villain and has not been accepted as such for a long time now. Shall we have another villain for ourselves? Here, Antonio becomes a Speculator who uses borrowed money to finance risky expeditions on a false sense of self-assurance, in spite of being warned right at the beginning of the play by all his friends - ignorantly over-confident, and rather stupid because he is so lacking in common sense.

When they do choose, They have the wisdom by their wit to lose. If you sympathize with Shylock, then you must turn against Portia.

Portia, in my production, becomes the conservative defender who is also not above some blatant racism! To me Portia has used their assumption of her competence to full advantage. He was absolutely certain that his trust in the law was inviolate. The Law and the State that he believed to be so solid crumbles before him. He sees what power privilege has in this world. And I beseech you, Wrest once the law to your authority. To do a great right, do a little wrong, And curb this cruel devil of his will. The common man, whose tax dollars and life-savings are used to finance the risky ventures of the Antonios and the Bassanios.

And proceeds to threaten to annul the whole thing when Shylock seemed on the verge of winning and by Portia, who will, with her ingenious manipulations of the law, ensure that Shylock not only loses but also accepts their value systems! Art thou contented, Jew? What dost thou say? View all 26 comments. Sep 05, James rated it liked it Shelves: My review is an excerpt from a paper I wrote on appearance versus reality in Shakespeare's plays. Instead, it was a rather warped appearance that someone molded in a specific way for a particular reason. She also altered reality by disguising herself to her husband so that she could see what their wedding rings meant to him.

However, this deception, although intended for good purposes, usually ended in disaster. It just goes to show that honesty is always the best policy. Never deceive fate by changing reality, and interpreting [from it] a new appearance that you want other to see. Portia had already been through an appearance vs. They could choose from gold, silver, and lead. The first two appeared to be wonderful gifts from God, but in reality, the most worthless one, the lead, turned out to be the best coffin to pick.

Luckily, the first two gentleman chose the wrong casket, and then when it came time for Bassanio to choose a casket, he chose the correct one. Thus, it lead to the marriage between Portia and Bassanio. However, the ships never came back to port, and so Shylock wanted his money back from Antonio. Eventually, Portia and her lady-in-waiting came up with a plan to disguise themselves and become a doctor and his clerk.

This plan again alters reality to suit her own purpose. She needed to help her friend Antonio, so she put on a new appearance. Also, they revealed the Venetian law that states if any foreigner kills a Venetian, all of his money is to be taken from him.

Shylock gives in and decides not to take his flesh from Antonio. She again plays with the appearance of things and creates a false appearance like Juliet did in Romeo and Juliet. Bassanio tires to give her money, but she refuses saying that all she wants is the ring on his hand.

Bassanio thinks back to when it was given to him. Bassanio had given her his word that he would never take it off. Well, after Portia, as the disguised man, chides Bassanio for keeping it because his woman told him to, Bassanio hands over the ring. When he later returns to Portia, she notices that his ring is gone and yells at him for it. All the while, Portia has set this whole game up to test her husband. He is a man of equal measure to her and everyone else.

Portia and Bassanio end up fighting about the loss, but Bassanio ends up vowing never to get rid of the ring again after she tells him what she did. She is constantly switching back and forth from reality, to her perception of it, to the perception she gives to others of reality that she eventually almost messes up the entire situation.

If she had been though, he would not have given the ring away. They end up talking about it and forgiving each other, but surely there will always be doubt in the back of their minds about what the other is up to. Bassanio may wonder if she is just playing games with him, and Portia may wonder if he will really hold onto the ring for next time.

Leave well enough alone and let fate and reality take their course rather than warp the appearance of things for your own purpose. About Me For those new to me or my reviews I read A LOT.

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View all 6 comments. Jan 01, Luffy rated it liked it. Maybe I'm being slightly harsh with my rating. I read this play and immediately thought I'll rate it 5 stars. But I rescinded this idea. I realized that it was an outdated model of storytelling. I also realized that there's not many adaptations of this story of Shakespeare. The Merchant of Venice is at heart a simplistic story with people in love but it's not a love story. I Maybe I'm being slightly harsh with my rating.

It has a villain, but is not heavily invested in action. It's a living fossil, and I mean that amicably. It's a wondrous fossil. Let's leave it at that. View all 5 comments. Jan 20, Lyn rated it really liked it. I liked this for many reasons but the element that stands out most is Shakespeare's focus. Many of his plays have various, complex, and intertwined sub-plots, some being more interesting than the theme itself, TMOV is focused and almost relentless, we have one simple course of action that the story leads inevitably towards and which keeps the reader and the audience entranced, will Shylock rea If this had a secondary title, delivered in "the parlance of our times" it would be THE POUND OF FLESH.

Many of his plays have various, complex, and intertwined sub-plots, some being more interesting than the theme itself, TMOV is focused and almost relentless, we have one simple course of action that the story leads inevitably towards and which keeps the reader and the audience entranced, will Shylock really remain intent on claiming his bond? Even the Duke seems ready to predict that Shylock will relent at the end and just take the money. Other fascinating themes explored are the love of money and love itself, both in romantic terms and in friendship. While Antonio and Portia present complex and thoroughly entertaining Shakespearean characterizations, Shylock, of course, steals the show.

His hatred and his disdain for Venice's Christians throbs like a heart ready to burst. There is no rest nor slumber to his antipathy. Somehow, this wicked caricature of both man and race I still, however, adore more than the self-righteous charm of the aggrieved Christians and the obviously biased "Doctor of Laws". I want "The devil can cite Scripture for his purpose. I want desperately to somehow tie this review into the current administration, but I'm not there yet. There is something there. Something that steams, swells and billows. Something from the dark corners of the Oval office that screams "I'll have my bond; speak not against my bond: I have sworn an oath that I will have my bond Perhaps Shylock isn't Trump or Bannon.

Perhaps Shylock is those angry voters who are willing to watch it all burn because they are tired of being screwed by the left or the right. They know their anger will eventually cost them everything, but there is a moment when we all want a pound of flesh. The world is still deceived with ornament. Let no such man be trusted. View all 4 comments. Sep 21, Duane rated it really liked it Shelves: It has been debated whether Shakespeare's Merchant of Venice is anti-semitic or whether he is trying to call attention to their plight in his time.

Many modern readers lean toward the latter pointing to Shylock's profound speech in the trial scene do I not bleed when you cut me? It's up to the reader to form their own opinion because it's hard to know what Shakespeare was thinking years after the fact. From a pure readability standpoint, I thought the play was very good, one of Shakespeare It has been debated whether Shakespeare's Merchant of Venice is anti-semitic or whether he is trying to call attention to their plight in his time.

From a pure readability standpoint, I thought the play was very good, one of Shakespeare's best so far for me. Probably the best group of characters of any of his plays that I have read. I really liked the strength of the female characters, especially Portia, who was very resourceful and ends up being the foil for Shylock where, in the courtroom scene, she delivers her famous "quality of mercy" speech.

Sep 19, Anne Blocker rated it it was amazing Recommends it for: My grandmother knew Shakespeare by heart. Not one play or a few sonnets, but all of it, the body of work. She believed the highest calling was to contribute to the body of human knowledge.

She was one of the early professors at The University of Texas. I knew Shylock and Portia as if they were members of our family when I went with my grandmother at 15 to the open stage at Stratford-on-Avon to see The Merchant of Venice. Growing up on an island in the Gulf of Mexico where every able-bodied perso My grandmother knew Shakespeare by heart. Growing up on an island in the Gulf of Mexico where every able-bodied person is valued in a storm, I was unable to understand the tone of anti-Semitism.

I wrote about that when I next studied the play in college. In my Forties, our laboratory was conducting research at St. Stephen's School in Austin when the Headmaster called to say I had to come immediately to see the results of a new learning device. The door to the classroom was locked until the bell rang. Seventh grade students streamed into the class and seized the lesson of the day to learn -- Elizabethan vocabulary for The Merchant of Venice.

I expected groans and instead, it was like a race. When the word forsooth came on, the class, in unison, raised fists into the air and shouted the word. Could this be learning? When the video was turned off, the hands went up enthusiastically. The first question, what are the words we say today that will seem odd three hundred years from now? Cool, tight, talk to the hand seemed to qualify. The next question, what is a pound of flesh and where could you cut it off the body where it would do the most and the least damage?

That led to a discussion of emergency medicine, vulnerability of biological systems and triage. Then, the inevitable, what does it mean to be Jewish and why do they charge interest? If I lent you lunch money today, I wouldn't ask for more than I lent you tomorrow. That would not seem fair. The kids of bankers and Realtors were quick to discuss economic systems, countries where interest was illegal, the first rumors of the success of the Grameen Bank.

They were guided in a discussion of the common origin of religions, the children of Abraham who had become Jews, Christians and Muslims. I asked the teacher, noticing the time, when they were going to discuss the play and Shakespeare. She turned and smiled.

This is what we study Shakespeare FOR, she said, to teach students to think and feel and deal with what is important -- poetry, ideas, the human condition. This is just the beginning. These kids will be talking about The Merchant of Venice all their lives. I realized she was right. Nov 02, Trevor rated it it was amazing Shelves: My daughter has to write an essay on this play and so we have been talking about it. It would be easy to say the play is anti-Semitic — there is no question that many of the characters we are expected to have the most sympathy with are certainly anti-Semitic.

Sure, he was going to kill someone who had spat on him in the street and despised him for his religion — but then, he would hardly have been the first pers My daughter has to write an essay on this play and so we have been talking about it. Sure, he was going to kill someone who had spat on him in the street and despised him for his religion — but then, he would hardly have been the first person in the world to do that if given the chance.

Still, his near total destruction on the basis of legal entrapment is anything but edifying. This is also, of course, a play about identity — who we are, who we would like to appear to be and who we find ourselves to be. Many of the masks in this play are both metaphorical and literal. Our being saved by God is not due to our deserving salvation, but rather it is an act of mercy gifted to us by God. The law is harsh, but it is made just by the application of mercy. Now, the most obvious example of this law and mercy relationship is Shylock and his demanding the literal execution of the terms of his deed with Antonio.

It is clear that the extraction of a pound of flesh from the body of Antonio is going to cause his death. But it is also clear that Shylock is within his legal right to demand the execution of their deed. It is also clear that he has real grievances against Antonio. Few of us, Jewish or not, would be able to resist extracting a pound of flesh from our enemies if we thought we could do so with impunity.

Venice is shocked that Shylock should seek to enact the terms of the deed — but what is interesting here is that Antonio entered into this deed with both eyes open. Sure, he thought he would be safe with money coming in ahead of time, but there is no question he entered the deed willingly.

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This puts the State in an interesting position in relation to the deed. They are forced to enact it, that is, until Portia comes along and, with what is supposed to be clever legal footwork but is actually a terrible kind of entrapment — worse than we can accuse Shylock of — the outcome being certain in this case , she turns the tables on Shylock. He can have his pound of flesh, no more and no less, and must not spill a drop of blood in extracting it. Clearly, an impossible condition to comply with. Furthermore, because he has sought to kill a citizen of Venice he forfeits his life, with half of his property to the state and the other half to his victim.

It is hardly a scene to cheer at. And I struggle to believe Shakespeare intended it as such. And this is interesting, as Portia earlier explained that the arbitrary cancelling of the deed was impossible — it would be used as a precedent by others to excuse their own debts. But the sleight of hand she performs to entrap Shylock could hardly bring comfort to anyone from outside Venice entering into a contract with a citizen of Venice and their likely treatment of things go belly up.

From the perspective of an outsider the story runs like this: Is this a place where you would consider investing? Her father is dead, but to make sure she marries someone worthy of her he has set up a kind of parlour trick. There are three caskets and if her suitor picks the right one he will get the girl. This is made all the more ironic as Portia is clearly the most clever person in the play, but she is not trusted with any leeway in her choice of a husband — something I assume she would have at least as much interest in as her dead father.

This is mandatory sentencing gone mad. The other example is to do with the ring. When Portia becomes engaged to Bassanio she gives him a ring — the law in this situation being that he is not to take the ring off or to give it to anyone else, as it is a symbol of their love and to do such a thing would mean the end of their love. This puts Bassanio in a tailspin, but finally he agrees to hand over the ring. Later, when again dressed as herself, she asks where the ring is and causes all sorts of trouble over his giving it away.

Again, just as with Shylock earlier, she is involved in entrapment. The point here, I think, is that creating absolute rules, creating unquestionable laws, is generally a bad idea. And this brings us back to the question of mercy. Laws need to be strict and to admit of no exceptions — but life and justice requires that people should be able to plead mitigation.

And when universal laws are applied blindly to specific circumstances all too often they can lead to injustice. His enforced conversion is repulsive in the extreme, his entrapment is also repulsive — in fact, there ought to be laws against such behaviour. View all 15 comments. Oct 02, Wanda rated it liked it Shelves: I attended a filmed version of this play, performed in the reconstructed Globe Theatre in London. The costuming was wonderful, plus the music was excellent! I was pleasantly surprised to see the humour in the scenes which included Portia and her suitors and in the final scene where the disposal of rings becomes an issue.

It also made me smile as Portia and her maid Nerissa disguised themselves as men, in good Shakespearean tradition. The role of Lancelot Gobbo was charmingly played by Stefan Adegbola, who brought to members of the audience to the stage to assist with his decisions to change masters. A worthwhile play to attend, it is a thought-provoking piece and a must for every Shakespeare fan.

Apr 01, Piyangie rated it really liked it Shelves: This is yet another wonderful Shakespearean play that I read. I have watched the play but this is the first time I read it.

The Merchant of Venice : William Shakespeare :

The play consists of a great story on justice, love, loyalty and mercy. It is full of drama and intrigue and the read was absolutely wonderful. There is however much criticism on this play for its antisemitic portrayal. It must have been the general view and treatment of the society towards the Jews. But it is doubtful whether Shakespeare used antisemitic portrayal to discr This is yet another wonderful Shakespearean play that I read. But it is doubtful whether Shakespeare used antisemitic portrayal to discriminate the Jews or to heighten the discrimination to which they were subjected to.

It is also a little surprising why this play was categorized under the comedy genre, for I felt more satire in the play than humor; and in the light of Shylock's predicament, a touch of tragedy even. But I suppose it was either tragedy or comedy in Shakespeare's time. Jan 24, Huda Aweys rated it liked it Shelves: I love this play.. I love those writings which exalting women: Jun 11, Mayy Wilde-Shakespeare rated it really liked it Shelves: Many a man his life hath sold But my outside to behold: Gilded tombs do worms enfold.

My friend and was the one who told to read this as my next Shakespeare and when I asked her why she responded with: So naturally I was intrigued. Something that just seemed confusing to me, was that all of the "notes" were are the back of the book, so every time I go all the way to the back of the book. And although sometimes there were proven to be helpful, most of them were just confusing. But what really got me was how clever this play is. I mean really smart. Oct 02, Michael Finocchiaro rated it really liked it Shelves: Besides being a great Shakespeare play, this is an entertaining read.

So, yes, there is a stereotypical character in the book that is Jewish and it is not a complimentary positive portrait. But to label the entire work as anti-Semitic seems a little much for me. Shakespeare was, of course, Besides being a great Shakespeare play, this is an entertaining read. Shakespeare was, of course, a creature of his time and his times - Elizabethan England - were not particularly fantastic for those of the Jewish fate, but they were not the programs of 19c and 20c Eastern Europe and Russia either.

Anyway, still an interesting play. Oct 25, Jonathan Terrington rated it it was amazing Shelves: Review the First A brilliant play that I must now make a priority to go and see along with a live production of Hamlet and The Crucible. I particularly loved the way Shakespeare provided his characters with greater depth than in other plays and this will become one of my favorites along with Hamlet.

The Merchant of Venice clearly reveals Shakespeare's vast wit, a fact that he has become noted for amongst scholars. Not to mention the manner to which he vastly added to the English language which was Review the First A brilliant play that I must now make a priority to go and see along with a live production of Hamlet and The Crucible. Not to mention the manner to which he vastly added to the English language which was at the time of his writing immensely limited compared to what it is today.

Not only that but its intricate twists and convolutions wrap around a clever and well developed plot which I found far more entertaining than his tales like Romeo and Juliet. The women in his play are independent and strong. They are the sole reason that Antonio survives the ordeal before him in the end. Another modern idea is revealed in the challenging question by Shylock when he states: 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, heal'd by the same means, warm'd and cool'd by the same winter and summer, as a Christian is?

If you prick us, do we not bleed? Has ribbon to outer edges of boards; some damage to fixture on rear board. Age darkening to outer page edges with some light foxing; boards have a slight curl, otherwise fine.. Musson Book Company, Ltd. Missing the 2 spine title labels. Illustrated with 36 tipped-in plates. Clean, tight and unmarked copy. Monroe Street Books Published: Very Good None Edition: Ships with Tracking Number! May not contain Access Codes or Supplements. Buy with confidence, excellent customer service! Cloud 9 Books Condition: First Edition; First Printing. Bound In full leather with hubbed spines.

Rare Book Cellar Published: Ships from UK in 48 hours or less usually same day. Ex-library, so some stamps and wear, but in good overall condition. We are a world class secondhand bookstore based in Hertfordshire, United Kingdom and specialize in high quality textbooks across an enormous variety of subjects. We aim to provide a vast range of textbooks, rare and collectible books at a great price.