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Product Description
Amazon.co.uk Review
"Hath not a Jew eyes? Hath not a Jew hands, organs, dimensions, senses, affections, passions?" Shylock's impassioned plea in the middle of The Merchant of Venice is one of its most dramatic moments. After the Holocaust, the play has become a battleground for those who argue that the play represents Shakespeare's ultimate statement against ignorance and anti-Semitism in favour of a liberal vision of tolerance and multiculturalism. Other critics have pointed out that the play is, after all, a comedy that ultimately pokes fun at a 16th-century Jew. In fact, the bare outline of the plot suggests that the play is far more complex than either of these characterisations. Bassanio, a feckless young Venetian, asks his wealthy friend, the merchant Antonio, for money to finance a trip to woo the beautiful Portia in Belmont. Reluctant to refuse his friend (to whom he professes intense love), Antonio borrows the money from the Jewish moneylender. If he reneges on the deal, Shylock jokingly demands a pound of his flesh. When all Antonio's ships are lost at sea, Shylock calls in his debt, and the love and laughter of the first scenes of the play threaten to give way to death and tragedy. The final climactic courtroom scene, complete with a cross-dressed Portia, a knife-wielding Shylock, and the debate on "the quality of mercy" is one of the great dramatic moments in Shakespeare. The controversial subject matter of the play ensures that it continues to repel, divide but also fascinate its many audiences. --Jerry Brotton
--This text refers to an alternate
Paperback
edition.
Review
'The introduction and commentary reveal an author with a lively awareness of the importance of perceiving the play as a theatrical document, one which comes to life, which is completed only in performance …' The Review of English Studies
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Inside This Book
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First Sentence
In sooth I know not why I am so sad. Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
In sooth I know not why I am so sad. Read the first page
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Concordance
Browse Sample PagesConcordance
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Oxford School Shakespeare editions of the Bard's most popular plays are reassuring for students tackling Shakespeare for the first time and their edition of 'The Merchant of Venice' is no exception. The text is set out clearly with notes alongside, allowing instant access to brief explanations of words and phrases that may be difficult to understand for students in the 21st century, but not too much is given away, thus allowing pupils to work it out for themselves.
Attractive full-page photographs of recent productions allow students to see that these are plays that are regularly performed in the theatre in many different styles and time settings. My students are always pleased if they recognize an actor from the telly in them!
Beyond the text, there are helpful resumes of the action, both a brief one and a more complete summary, interesting background and historical information and, varied and thought-provoking assignments that can work well with a variety of different levels and age groups - always a relief for hard-pressed teachers!
I think Oxford School Shakespeare editions work well and I recommend them for use with classes from years 8 to 11. For a more drama-based approach, try the new Longman's or Cambridge School editions.
Attractive full-page photographs of recent productions allow students to see that these are plays that are regularly performed in the theatre in many different styles and time settings. My students are always pleased if they recognize an actor from the telly in them!
Beyond the text, there are helpful resumes of the action, both a brief one and a more complete summary, interesting background and historical information and, varied and thought-provoking assignments that can work well with a variety of different levels and age groups - always a relief for hard-pressed teachers!
I think Oxford School Shakespeare editions work well and I recommend them for use with classes from years 8 to 11. For a more drama-based approach, try the new Longman's or Cambridge School editions.
Format:Paperback
For the Dover thrift edition you're getting the text and nothing else, which is great for reading and performing but for study you'll want an edition with notes. The paper's thin and the text fairly small and, as will all Dover thrift editions, if feels fairly cheap; however I have owned a few Dover thrift books for a couple of years and, without treating them with any particular care, they're just as sturdy as they've always been.
If you don't mind reading plays on the Kindle then you can download this for free; if, however, you prefer to have a physical copy or you don't own a Kindle then for £1.50 you're getting the bare minimum which, for me at least, is all I was looking for.
If you don't mind reading plays on the Kindle then you can download this for free; if, however, you prefer to have a physical copy or you don't own a Kindle then for £1.50 you're getting the bare minimum which, for me at least, is all I was looking for.
Format:Paperback
This was not what I expected - my fault I think for not reading the blurb properly. It's a great GCSE text as it includes the play with very clear commentary and some extra info on context at the start. I had wanted pure analysis. As a GCSE aid it is 5 stars.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
good version - for now
Good version - but the new RSC Macmillan series is better although this title not yet available in that series.
Published on 15 July 2009 by Ripple
One of his most intriguing plays...
The joy of Shakespeare from an actor's point of view is the myriad ways you can perform them. And Merchant of Venice is one of Shakespeare's best plays for that reason - each of... Read more
Published on 7 Jan 2009 by Robbie Swale
Merchant
This is the story of a merchant who's (probably gay)love of Bassanio allows him to borrow money from a man he hates, for Bassanio's sake. Read more
Published on 23 Aug 2002 by Davy Steven Colin
Warm, wonderful, adult morality play
This is a wonderful play - and unless you have seen it or read it you don't know it at all. That's because everything the popular culture tells us about this play is false (for... Read more
Published on 31 July 2002 by Thomas A. Blair
A brilliant play discussing highly controversial themes!
The Merchant of Venice is an example of a Shakespearean play that allows the reader to become engaged and understand the drama at the first attempt. Read more
Published on 10 Jun 2002 by "trickey_101"
An excellent play with inciteful notes from the editor
Few people would quibble with the labelling of the 'Merchant' as a masterpiece. Seen in today's light it appears as a bitter attack on prejudice and anti-Semitism as well as a... Read more
Published on 29 April 2001
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