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Title: The Merchant of Venice: Modern English Version Side-By-Side With Full Original Text (Shakespeare Made Easy) by William Shakespeare, Alan Durband ISBN: 0-8120-3570-4 Publisher: Barrons Educational Series Pub. Date: April, 1985 Format: Paperback Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $6.95 |
Average Customer Rating: 3.88 (8 reviews)
Rating: 4
Summary: A Contensious Affair
Comment: It's Shakespeare, so you already know it's a good play. This play is not controversial because some people think it's good and some people think it's bad. There have always been people who hate Shakespeare, and always people who love him unconditionally. Being as objective as possible, this is a good play, don't misunderstand that. However, it has been railed (by the reactionary ADL especially) as being overtly anti-semetic. And maybe there are some anti-semetic undertones (to put it mildy)
I'm a Jew, and while I did find the character Shylock to be an almost laughable caricature of Jewish usury and greed, it's hardly the worst I've seen. I'm not excusing anti-semitism simply because Willy S (yes, Willy S) wrote it, but because it's not all that offensive (in my opinion)
So read The Merchant... with an open mind, and try to enjoy it for what it is, and remember it's just a play...
Rating: 5
Summary: Mercy Versus Justice
Comment: William Shakespheare in the Merchant of Venice, explores again, like so many of his other plays, the difference between vice and virture, the noble and ignoble. This time out he compares the hero Antonio's acts of mercy with the villian Shylock's desire for justice, the spirit of the law versus the letter of the law. Shakespheare shows throughout the play that he is very confident that Christianity and its followers are superior to Judaism and its followers and quite frankly, his portrayal of the Jewish moneylender Shylock is anti-Semitic and leaves out none of the negative stereotypes. The play seems to be a Christian polemic with its theological interest in Christianity's mercy versus Judaism's justice, as Shakespheare sees it. It may have also been a warning to its audience about the moneylenders of Shakespheare's time.
The story is one in which Antonio offers to go into debt for a loan so that his friend Bassanio can have enough money to impress Portia, a woman he wishes to court and marry. Antonio goes into debt to Shylock, a moneylender who demands a pound of his flesh if he cannot pay back the loan. Shylock hates Antonio because Antonio has payed off many loans of his indebted clients and also has badmouthed him as an unethical loan shark, trying to damage Shylock's business.
It is the tension of hate between the two, which give the play an intensity, especially at the climax when Shylock is about to take a pound of his flesh. Also the fear of losing flesh to the moneylender makes for good drama. The character Shylock has some juicy vitriolic lines during the scene. And there is a certain glee Shakespheare builds into the play to see Shylock's "justice" turned against him.
There is also a subplot involving Portia and her various suitors who have to choose between 3 caskets of gold, silver, and lead. Choosing the correct casket will make them the husband of Portia. It was interesting to read about the different reasonings that each suitor has for their choices. Portia also disguises herself as a judge during Antonio's trial in which she helps to set him free of the charges and his friend Bassanio is persuaded to give up his engagement ring to the judge out of gratitude, which gets him in trouble with Portia later who does not tell him she was the judge as she asks him what happened to the ring.
This is a good, tightly constructed play with none of diffuseness of King Lear. It had more drama too.
Rating: 1
Summary: Shakespeare's Worst Play
Comment: This is one of the worst plays ever published. I thought Shakespeare was a fool after reading this complely pointless play. Do not wase your money on this book because it is completly worthless. A total waste of time to even read any of this play.
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Title: Hamlet (Shakespeare Made Easy: Modern English Version Side-By-Side With Full Original Text) by William Shakespeare, Alan Durband ISBN: 0812036387 Publisher: Barrons Educational Series Pub. Date: February, 1986 List Price(USD): $6.95 |
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Title: Macbeth : Modern English Version Side-By-Side With Full Original Text (Shakespeare Made Easy) by William Shakespeare, Alan Durband ISBN: 0812035712 Publisher: Barrons Educational Series Pub. Date: April, 1985 List Price(USD): $6.95 |
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Title: Twelfth Night: Or What You Will (Shakespeare Made Easy: Modern English Version Side-By-Side With Full origiNal Text) by William Shakespeare, Alan Durband ISBN: 0812036042 Publisher: Barrons Educational Series Pub. Date: July, 1985 List Price(USD): $6.95 |
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Title: A Midsummer Night's Dream (Shakespeare Made Easy) by William Shakespeare, Alan Durband ISBN: 0812035844 Publisher: Barrons Educational Series Pub. Date: October, 1985 List Price(USD): $6.95 |
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Title: King Lear by William Shakespeare ISBN: 0671722727 Publisher: Washington Square Press Pub. Date: 01 May, 1993 List Price(USD): $3.99 |
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