Shakespeare’s The Merchant of Venice (1596-97) is a much loved – and studied – play, set in Venice, Italy.
The main themes are justice, mercy, revenge, love and friendship, and though much of the subject matter is rather dark, it is regarded as one of Shakespeare’s comedy plays.
The Merchant of Venice has been described as a great commentary on the nature of racial and religious interactions. The title itself is misleading, and is often misconstrued as a reference to Shylock, the Jew. However, in reality it describes the merchant Antonio. This ambiguity and misinterpretation has not surprisingly led scholars to continue hotly debating whether Shakespeare meant to be anti-Semitic or critical of anti-Semitism. His depiction of Shylock, the Jewish moneylender, causes the audience to both hate and pity the man, and has left critics wondering what Shakespeare was really trying to achieve.
The main themes are justice, mercy, revenge, love and friendship, and though much of the subject matter is rather dark, it is regarded as one of Shakespeare’s comedy plays.
The Merchant of Venice has been described as a great commentary on the nature of racial and religious interactions. The title itself is misleading, and is often misconstrued as a reference to Shylock, the Jew. However, in reality it describes the merchant Antonio. This ambiguity and misinterpretation has not surprisingly led scholars to continue hotly debating whether Shakespeare meant to be anti-Semitic or critical of anti-Semitism. His depiction of Shylock, the Jewish moneylender, causes the audience to both hate and pity the man, and has left critics wondering what Shakespeare was really trying to achieve.
myblog-inplainenglish.blogspot.com/revising-merchant-of-venice
myblog-inplainenglish.blogspot.com/the-merchant-of-venice
myblog-inplainenglish.blogspot.com/the-merchant-of-venice
And now let's enjoy this wonderful film version of The Merchant of Venice (2004) starring Al Pacino, Joseph Fiennes and Jeremy Irons.
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