The Merchant of Venice

by Jennifer Mulherin, Abigail Frost, William Shakespeare

This handsomely illustrated series presents Shakespeare in such a lively and accessible manner that students and young readers will find themselves wishing to read all his plays. Readers learn to enjoy these immortal works as they follow the story, get to know the characters, and explore the historical background of each play. Packed with color illustrations and portraits of the main characters, and enhanced with quotations, these are eye-opening introductions for students as well as valuable tools for teachers.

Genres: Classics, Plays, Fiction, Shakespeare, Theatre

32 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1600

Reviews

[Realini Ionescu · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Merchant of Venice by William Shakespeare



There is no spoiler alert, except for a friendly invitation to read on, with the knowledge that this is more about my personal experience while reading the Merchant, more or less, since my imagination flies away, and less about the book, the plot and the message. On that last part, I may change my mind and write messages too.

I am flabbergasted to see that there are some 90,000 ratings and over fourteen hundred reviews of the Merchant on goodreads.

Why do these people bother?

Who on Earth will stop at your review, number 1456, when they can go to established scholars?

Wait a minute…I am doing the same…

I must be out of my depth.

The Merchant of Venice centers on Shylock, the money lending Jew. I am in awe at this ancient, chosen nation. I sometimes though I must have some gene somewhere, since I empathize so much.

I have shared many of their values, ever since I had started working with Jewish people. Some bizarre habits have not entered my rituals: I am not “Orthodox Jew” by adoption, I think no one can be…there are some lax rules in America, whereby they let you in easily, but not within the Orthodox realm…it is a different ball game there.

I was baffled when we had to cook kosher food in Romanian restaurants, in aluminum foil, without using any apparel which had been used to cook anything else not kosher. The sight of the bearded men, waving with their hats on and the long curly locks- which I tend to have now- is pretty interesting, albeit somewhat funny.

I think their millenniums of struggle have impacted their character and even affected their genes, not just the mentality of the whole nation.

I am pretty sure they are superior- I know this is touchy, but read again: I feel they are really chosen.

Look at all the bright lights: Einstein, Proust, Kissinger, Freud, Jung, (Marx would be in here with a minus), Spinoza, Heller and…Scarlet Johansson – I thought she is Scandinavian, but she is not. The name list could go on forever, and it is absolutely obvious that the proportion of people who changed the world is amazing, if we consider how small the chosen nation is.

Shylock is a negative character to some extent, but this morning, I was looking forward to listen to the play, with the Money Lender played by George Constantin.

I was hoping he will be in the cast. In the end, Shylock was played by Octavian Cotescu, who was an excellent actor.

The trouble with having such a huge Role Model, real Star –like the ones shining on the firmament, not making the tabloids ‘headlines- is that the other actors pale by comparison.

You can’t have the same size as an Alien or an X-man.

Here I am just guessing, I have not seen X-Men, except for the ads and news that they break another box office record and the like.

So an actor can be next to perfect, but if I place him next to George Constantin, the aura, the karma, the Zen –effect are missing.

For a period of a few years I went to the theater to watch every play that seemed notable, only to obtain the opposite effect: now I have not seen a play in years. True, it also has to do with the fact that I have about ten kids, with fur and/or feather, and I live a bit far from downtown, as opposed to the mentioned period when I needed a 10 minute walk to enter the theater (The Jewish theater was even closer, right around the corner).

I try and listen to a play each morning, while I jog with my borzois. It turns out to be a hell of a ride.

[Marshall Hess · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a fascinating play. There are so many interpretive possibilities, many of which I’m sure I didn’t get. I especially enjoyed the themes of mercy and judgement.

“But mercy is above this sceptered sway;
It is enthroned in the hearts of kings;
It is an attribute to God himself,
And earthly power doth then show likest God’s
When mercy seasons justice. Therefore, Jew,
Though justice be thy plea, consider this—
That in the course of justice none of us
Should see salvation. …” (4.1.191-198).

Whether the characters who extol the value of mercy actually live up to their ideals is another question.

[Kylie Quigley · Rating 3 out of 5]

The art was gorgeous. This play is one of Shakespeare's most problematic plays, exploring the subject matter addressed within it. The author did a good job explaining that within the background notes, although I was annoyed with how the play was adapted. It was simplified and easy to be detracted from the play with the notes and little definitions at the bottom-a good amount of which (at least by my standards) were not needed. For example, most people know what a notary is.

[Nikki Wilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent way to showcase William Shakespeare’s extraordinary play The Merchant of Venice. It’s a play to be be watched, looked at and to muse over rather than read outright. I enjoyed reading it in this unusual graphic novel edition.

[21stpear · Rating 3 out of 5]

一個好壞明朗的世界

[Jordan Ludwig · Rating 3 out of 5]

The only one who could love someone without being contractually obligated to was Antonio… just putting that out there

[Snarhooked · Rating 3 out of 5]

Features some backstory about traders and exploration in Elizabethan times including the risks alongside a summary of the play's events in modern English

[Marina Kahn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I usually read a Shakespeare play in honor of the Ides of March and because Shakespeare wrote the tragedy of Julius Caesar. So a few years back I started with that play and continued this tradition on every Ides of March. For some reason I chose to read The Merchant of Venice this time around. I had seen the play on PBS with Al Pacino as Shylock and I thought he did a great job. Therefore, I plunged in to read Barnes & Noble Shakespeare version which included background of Shakespeare and his England, and words and language during his time.
It seems at first glance to be an anti-Semitic play; however, none of us really know what Shakespeare was trying to do. Although may people in the play despised Shylock I think he actually stole the show and at the end of the play I really felt so sorry for him. I did not believe that he got justice or mercy. Perhaps, Shakespeare wanted to show how unfairly Jews were treated during Elizabethan times. No matter what, Shylock has some of the best lines, for example in Act 3, Scene 1 - .... He hath disgraced me and hindered me half a million, laughed at my losses, mocked at my gains, scorned my nation, thwarted my bargains, cooled my friends, heated mine enemies. And what's his reason? I am a Jew. Hath not a Jew eyes? Hath not a Jew hands, organs, dimensions, senses, affections, passions? Fed with the same food, hurt with the same weapons, subject to the same diseases, healed by the same means, warned and cooled by the same winter and summer as a Christian is? If you prick us, do we not bleed? If you tickle us, do we not laugh? If you poison us, do we not die? And if you wrong us, shall we not revenge? .... I mean this is an awesome speech.
The other thing I liked about this play was that it had strong, intelligent female characters. Portia being one of the best examples of a wise and able woman. She also has one of the best speeches in Act 4, Scene 1 - The quality of mercy is not strained. I droppeth as the gentle rain from Heaven upon the place beneath. It is twice blessed: it blesseth him that gives and him that takes. Tis mightiest in the mightiest.......Just marvelous speech.
However, I just don't see this as a comedy - maybe more a tragi-comedy. Tragic for Shylock who got no justice and no mercy and was forced to converse and give up his religion to save his life and freedom. This is something that would be untenable in our day and age. Also, Portia with her wit and intelligence did entrap him - there was a loophole in the deed.
I rated this play 4 stars because I really didn't feel that the circle was closed regarding the husbands giving away their rings - does this mean they really did not cherish their wives? Were they only marrying them for their money? At the end the wives forgive them but it seemed shallow - I mean would you trust a husband who gave away his wedding ring?

[Elion · Rating 4 out of 5]

Me encanta 😍 hay varios datos interesantes.

[Caitlyn Bolton · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a perfect example of how we imagine the Renaissance.
There is two plots going alongside each other that weave perfectly together and tie of at the end in an extravagant declaration of love.

I studied this back in 3rd year English but didn't get nearly as much from it this time I read it. However, now I've read more of Shakespeare's plays I wouldn't say this is his best as I would have the first time I read it, but it is certainly worth the read.

[Inas · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Beauty can lie .... A man who looks like a great warrior can be a coward at heart."
"Mercy is a gift from God himself. If God judged each of us by what we deserve, none of us should be saved ."
I really like it but I don't like how Portia forced the jew to give Antonio half his fortune and became a christian that seemed unfair! Maybe I should read the whole novel to understand the case .

[Mloy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like a lot of Shakespeare's work but I have to admit, I've never read The Merchant of Venice until now and I it's a darn shame because the story (as most of Shakespeare's work) was so clever and wonderfully told. I especially loved the conclusion- brilliant! Simply brilliant!

[Christine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Racist propaganda.

[Tara Lynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ok, this is definitely my favorite piece of Shakespeare. It's funny, extremely entertaining, and remarkably insightful. It's also one of the most sexually open plays in the first Folio.

[Salman Akhtar · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very good book

[Cassi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Better than Romeo and Juliet more interesting for sure