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.
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLCISBN: 9781903436813Number of pages: 480Weight: 510 gDimensions: 198 x 129 x 25 mm
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