The Merchant Of Venice

Author: Shakespeare, William

English

Published on 6 February 2011 by Bloomsbury Publishing PLC (The Arden Shakespeare) in the United Kingdom as part of 'The Arden Shakespeare Third Series' series.

Paperback | 480 pages, 20 in Introduction
197 x 132 x 23 | 512g

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.