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Title: The Merchant of Venice (Pelican Shakespeare) by William Shakespeare, A. R. Braunmuller ISBN: 0-14-071462-6 Publisher: Penguin USA (Paper) Pub. Date: 01 August, 2000 Format: Paperback Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $3.95 |
Average Customer Rating: 3.86 (29 reviews)
Rating: 4
Summary: a problem play
Comment: this is a very difficult play to watch or read. while shakespeare may have intended shylock to be a villain, to a modern sensibility, he is the victim of society's racism. frankly, i had far more sympathy for shylock than for the christian characters. and i'm not jewish. or christian. i found the treatment of shylock appalling, and while i think a "pound of flesh" was too dear a price to pay for forfeiting the bond, i believe antonio deserved to lose his wealth. he - and bassanio and portia and all the rest - are irredeemable bigots, and therefore, thoroughly detestable. mov is a good portrayal of bigotry, but it is an impossible play to like when none of the characters are likeable.
Rating: 4
Summary: Ouch!
Comment: This play can be read as anti-semitic. In fact, it's pretty hard to defend it from such charges. Shylock is a pretty rotten character and the fact that he is jewish is difficult to overlook (particularly since the other characters mention it on pretty much EVERY page). However, I think it is important to mention that the "heroes" of this play do not necessarily have to be interpreted as heroes. They are by no means perfect and there are many subtle (and some not-so-subtle) instances within the text in which their biases against ANYONE unlike them is illustrated. If one reads the play this way, then Shylock becomes more of a tragic figure rather than an absolutely heartless villain. I don't know. My feelings about this are mixed. There are a few funny parts of this play and the language is, as always, beautiful. The theme of putting a price on human beings is one which has been explored numerous times since. Overall, it is enjoyable, but perhaps not so much so as some of the other comedies. Do not read this play without having read a few others by Shakespeare first. It is an excellent play, but not his best and not his most enjoyable either.
Rating: 4
Summary: One of Shakespeare's Best
Comment: This play was actually intersting and had superb characterization. I actually found this work riveting - it had a great plot. I highly recommend this play because it is one of Sharkespeare's best. It is a great play to start with because it is easy to understand.
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Title: Othello by William Shakespeare ISBN: 0671722816 Publisher: Washington Square Press Pub. Date: 01 July, 1993 List Price(USD): $3.99 |
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Title: The TEMPEST by William Shakespeare ISBN: 0671722905 Publisher: Washington Square Press Pub. Date: 01 May, 1994 List Price(USD): $3.99 |
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Title: HENRY IV PART 1 by William Shakespeare ISBN: 0671722638 Publisher: Washington Square Press Pub. Date: 01 March, 1994 List Price(USD): $4.99 |
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Title: Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare ISBN: 0671722719 Publisher: Washington Square Press Pub. Date: 01 August, 1992 List Price(USD): $4.99 |
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Title: King Lear by William Shakespeare ISBN: 0671722727 Publisher: Washington Square Press Pub. Date: 01 May, 1993 List Price(USD): $3.99 |
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