The Merchant of Venice

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Summary: A Unique Play
Review: I played Nerissa (Portia's friend) in my college production of Merchant, and I have to say as an experienced Shakespeare reader that this play is really unique compared to some of his other plays. It's not as zany as Much Ado About Nothing, but it's not depressing like Macbeth...it combines elements from both worlds and makes for a very entertaining play! Read it or go see it!

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Summary: Rami's Book Review for the Merchant of Venice
Review: I really enjoyed this play, but then again I always enjoy Shakespeare's plays. The man is a genius. Anyway, The Merchant of Venice follows the story of Antonio, a merchant who loans money to his friend Bassanio so that Bassanio may woo the heiress Portia. In order for Bassanio to gain the lady's hand, however, he must correctly choose the right gilded casket, a riddle given to Portia by her late father. He picks the lead casket, which just happens to be the right one. Meanwhile, in order to get the money Antonio asks the help of a Jew named Shylock who is out for revenge because Antonio is a Christian. He makes Antonio promise to give him a pound of his flesh if he does not pay Shylock back. Shylock's daughter Jessica elopes with Lorenzo and this also makes Shylock angry, mostly because Lorenzo is a Christian. Portia and Bassanio get married as do Portia's assitant Nerissa and Antonio's friend Gratiano. When he fails to pay back the forfeit, a trial is held to find out if Antonio deserves to have a pound of his flesh taken out of him and at this trial Portia and Nerissa dress up as a doctor and a clerk to fool their husbands and the other men by asking for their own wedding rings. They succeed in letting Antonio get away with his life and say that the life of Shylock is in the hands of the Duke, who makes the Jew give all his money to Bassanio and Antonio.
I recommend this play to others and also all of Shakespeare's other plays. If you can get into them they are good reads.

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Summary: The 411 on Merchant of Venice Cliff Notes!!
Review: I think that this book is very helpful to anyone, especially students. As everyone knows, Shakespeare's writing is some of the best there is, but it is also some of the most difficult to understand. This book helps you to understand what Shakespeare was trying to say in this play. With this handy tool, you'll understand Shakespeare just as if you wrote it yourself!!

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Summary: The only way to read Shakespeare is with New Cambridge
Review: M. M. Mahood's treatment of "The Merchant of Venice", is both scholarly and readable. A fine list of illustrations, the lastest textual analysis, a balanced portrayal of the attitudes toward the question of usury and the Jewish faith,and the definitive text of the play make this a book worth reading

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Summary: A problem play disguised as a comedy
Review: Not in my top tier of Shakespeare plays, but there are some interesting things here.

Maybe the real point of this play is the need for forgiveness and mercy. Hurt people hurt people. Shylock seems evil - "the devil incarnate", one of the characters calls him, yet one of the most powerful moments in the play is his "Hath a Jew not eyes?" speech. He is badly, deeply wounded. All of the hate and bitterness and desire for death that he carries is a result of the way he has been slandered, abused, and injured by the people around him. Much of this abuse goes on during the play, though little of it by Antonio. Antonio clearly despises Shylock's way of making money - usury - and it's possible that his harsh words have nothing to do with Shylock's religion, only with his profession. (though historians say it is nearly impossible to separate the two - Jews were usurers and usurers were Jews. There wasn't much else the government allowed them to do.)

A forgivness/mercy reading places at the center of the play both Shylock's speech, and Portia's beautiful speech on the quality of mercy at the trial. The decisions by the Duke and Antonio to have mercy upon Shylock when the tables turn. Perhaps, as some critics have said, Antonio's condition that Shylock become a Christian is not an attempt to rob him of his identity, but to make him like the rest of them, and thus welcome him in. Doubtful that it works - it's hard to see Shylock leave, nearly ill at the end, and know that there is really no justice for him. His wounds are real.

The romantic comedy element of the play really isn't that great -- especially the ring manipulation at the end. Not only is it tiresome, it's absolutely clunky to have Graziano and Nerissa mirroring their masters.

There are some interesting things swirling around the chests. When the right chest turns out to be "Who chooseth me must give and hazard a much all he hath," this seems to reinforce the theme of mercy and forgiveness taking place in the foreground. Though I was disappointed that Bassanio didn't enlighten us as to how this was the truth of marriage, the message is nonetheless there, if subtle.

Rating:
Summary: Far from his best, but still a worthy read
Review: Shakespeare borders on anti-Semitism in this play. In nearly every scene, the Jewish Character is either reminded he is a dog, or that he is evil because of being a Jew and this extends to his daughter; Jessica, whom the stupid clown Lancelot considers to be cursed because of the fact that she is a Jewess.

I think the racism in the play spoiled what would have been a funny and enjoyable read. I was trying to convince myself that Shakespeare was not trying to group all Jews together and that Shylock was just a greedy and unfeeling person who just happened to be Jewish. This is all very hard to do looking back from our time at all the atrocities committed against the Jews because of such racist propaganda (even the unknowingly racist).

Another thing I have issue with is Portia's testing of her husband to see whether he is faithful, and the fact that she forged a document, plus she impersonated another person , lied about devoting her time to God etc... It lessens her status as a heroine and makes her out to be worse than Shylock in that she employed questionable techniques to free the Merchant of Venice; Antonio. The end never justifies the means.

The only real hero in this play, to me was Antonio, although I think Shakespeare made his character to be less realistic with his lack of conflict and complete goodness, a trait that is hard to find in human beings.

All these are my opinions and I think you have to read the play itself to determine whether it is racist. On the upside, the story is interesting and full of suspense (for something of its length) and very funny in parts. Check out Portia's description of her suitors for example. All in all, a good play but definitely not his best because of the racism and the lifeless Merchant of Venice.

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Summary: This Dark Comedy Will Disturb Your Thought To A Higher Level
Review: Shakespeare takes advantage of a common bigotry of his day, appears to justify the bigotry to make a crowd pleaser, but slips in question marks to this way of thinking with each step of the story. The bigot will feel like his feet are slipping with each step; the highly righteous politically correct people will be suckered into outrage. When all's said and done, Portia will remain in your mind.

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Summary: The Characters
Review: The book "Merchant Of Venice" was a classic that I enjoyed reading. The characters particularly brrought the story to life and a joy to read, the romance, the heartache, the hatred. This was my first Shakespeare play that I have read and I am now about to read Romeo and Julliet.

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Summary: Very Potent for a "Comedy"
Review: The New Folger Library delivers again. I will not buy any Shakespeare from any other publisher - Signet Classics or anyone else. Folger has the best version hands down with its useful words and phrases on the left-hand page to help you out if necessary and give you a deeper understanding of the many references to outdated historical religious figures Shakespeare includes in The Merchant of Venice.

A "Comedy"? I know technically its a comedy, but nonetheless with the less than comical themes of greed, morality, and anti-semitism, its hardly a laugh riot. Au contraire, it is Shakespeare's tour de force amongst his many enchanting comedies - much more potent and provocative than Midsummer Night's Dream. It's a shame it is banned in many high schools and colleges throughout the U.S. due to its supposed anti-semitism. A must read for any Shakespeare enthusiast.

"A pound of flesh is the bond."

Rating:
Summary: Very Potent for a "Comedy"
Review: The New Folger Library delivers again. I will not buy any Shakespeare from any other publisher - Signet Classics or anyone else. Folger has the best version hands down with its useful words and phrases on the left-hand page to help you out if necessary and give you a deeper understanding of the many references to outdated historical religious figures Shakespeare includes in The Merchant of Venice.

A "Comedy"? I know technically its a comedy, but nonetheless with the less than comical themes of greed, morality, and anti-semitism, its hardly a laugh riot. Au contraire, it is Shakespeare's tour de force amongst his many enchanting comedies - much more potent and provocative than Midsummer Night's Dream. It's a shame it is banned in many high schools and colleges throughout the U.S. due to its supposed anti-semitism. A must read for any Shakespeare enthusiast.

"A pound of flesh is the bond."