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Description
The Merchant of Venice is perhaps most associated not with its titular hero, Antonio, but with the complex figure of the money lender, Shylock. The play was described as a comedy in the First Folio but its modern audiences find it more problematic to categorise. The vilification of Shylock 'the Jew' can be very uncomfortable for a post-holocaust audience and debates continue as to whether Shakespeare's portrayal of this complex man is sympathetic or anti-semitic.
John Drakakis' comprehensive introduction traces the stage history of the figure of the Jew and looks boldly at twenty-first century issues surrounding it. He also explores other themes of the play such as father/daughter relations, the power of money and the forceful character of Portia, to offer readers an energetic, original and revelatory reading of this challenging play.
Product details

Published | 25 Sep 2014 |
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Format | Ebook (PDF) |
Edition | 1st |
Extent | 480 |
ISBN | 9781408139202 |
Imprint | The Arden Shakespeare |
Illustrations | 20 in Introduction |
Series | The Arden Shakespeare Third Series |
Publisher | Bloomsbury Publishing |