The merchant of Venice

The Resource The merchant of Venice
Label
The merchant of Venice
Statement of responsibility
by William Shakespeare ; edited by Barbara A. Mowat and Paul Werstine
Creator
Contributor
Editor
Subject
Genre
Language
eng
Summary
In The Merchant of Venice, the path to marriage is hazardous. To win Portia, Bassanio must pass a test prescribed by her father?s will, choosing correctly among three caskets or chests. If he fails, he may never marry at all. Bassanio and Portia also face a magnificent villain, the moneylender Shylock. In creating Shylock, Shakespeare seems to have shared in a widespread prejudice against Jews. Shylock would have been regarded as a villain because he was a Jew. Yet he gives such powerful expression to his alienation due to the hatred around him that, in many productions, he emerges as the hero. Portia is most remembered for her disguise as a lawyer, Balthazar, especially the speech in which she urges Shylock to show mercy that "droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven."
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Cataloging source
DLC
Illustrations
illustrations
Index
no index present
Literary form
dramas
Nature of contents
bibliography
Series statement
New Folger Library Shakespeare

Context

Context of The merchant of Venice

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