THE MERCHANT OF VENICE: - is a play written by William Shakespeare. This comedy is believed to have been written between 1596 and 1598. In this 16th- century play, Antonio, a merchant in Venice, defaults on a substantial debt made by Shylock, a Jewish moneylender, who without mercy, demands a pound of his flesh. Shylock also wants to get even with Antonio for making anti-Semitic comments. Portia, now the wife of Antonio's friend, Bassanio, finally saves Antonio. Bassanio, the best friend of Antonio, is a spendthrift who ...
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THE MERCHANT OF VENICE: - is a play written by William Shakespeare. This comedy is believed to have been written between 1596 and 1598. In this 16th- century play, Antonio, a merchant in Venice, defaults on a substantial debt made by Shylock, a Jewish moneylender, who without mercy, demands a pound of his flesh. Shylock also wants to get even with Antonio for making anti-Semitic comments. Portia, now the wife of Antonio's friend, Bassanio, finally saves Antonio. Bassanio, the best friend of Antonio, is a spendthrift who wasted all of his money in order to be seen as a respectable man. He is determined to marry Portia, a wealthy and intelligent heiress of Belmont. In the ensuing scenes, Portia's speech about "the quality of mercy" plays an important part in the drama. Although the play's main goal is to show the conflict between the right to property and the right to life, it also explains the ensuing minor clash between a parent's will and a child's right to choose.
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"The Merchant of Venice" is often condemned for its look at the Jewish community during Shakespeare's day, but it is sadly accurate to that time: antisemitism was rife across Europe and the feelings expressed by characters are ones that were felt by most of the non-Jewish society. It may disturb readers on this side of the Holocaust to read a play that portrays the Jew as the stereotypical hard-nosed banker, but it must at least be recognized that the sentiments expressed here were, however wrong, accurate to the age.
As for the rest of the play, it has some memorable characters (such as Portia, the heroine), a light-hearted brand of romance, and a few parts of comedy that lighten up the story considerably. The style was enjoyable and, if you can view the antisemitism without taking too much offence, the play is worth reading.
Welly
Nov 8, 2007
Political Incorrectness
In recent years it seems to have become almost obligatory for those who would wish to be thought 'right-minded' to condemn this play as 'racist'. It is not. This is a play ABOUT racism and racial hostility. Shakespeare never approves or condemns what his characters say; he is only interested in why they say what they say.
