Mercader De Venecia, El

by William Shakespeare

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Genres: Classics, Plays, Fiction, Shakespeare

Paperback

First published January 1, 1600

About the author

William Shakespeare was an English playwright, poet, and actor. He is widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's pre-eminent dramatist. He is often called England's national poet and the "Bard of Avon" (or simply "the Bard"). His extant works, including collaborations, consist of some 39 plays, 154 sonnets, three long narrative poems, and a few other verses, some of uncertain authorship. His plays have been translated into every major living language and are performed more often than those of any other playwright. Shakespeare remains arguably the most influential writer in the English language, and his works continue to be studied and reinterpreted.
Shakespeare was born and raised in Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire. At the age of 18, he married Anne Hathaway, with whom he had three children: Susanna, and twins Hamnet and Judith. Sometime between 1585 and 1592, he began a successful career in London as an actor, writer, and part-owner ("sharer") of a playing company called the Lord Chamberlain's Men, later known as the King's Men after the ascension of King James VI and I of Scotland to the English throne. At age 49 (around 1613), he appears to have retired to Stratford, where he died three years later. Few records of Shakespeare's private life survive; this has stimulated considerable speculation about such matters as his physical appearance, his sexuality, his religious beliefs, and even certain fringe theories as to whether the works attributed to him were written by others.
Shakespeare produced most of his known works between 1589 and 1613. His early plays were primarily comedies and histories and are regarded as some of the best works produced in these genres. He then wrote mainly tragedies until 1608, among them Hamlet, Romeo and Juliet, Othello, King Lear, and Macbeth, all considered to be among the finest works in the English language. In the last phase of his life, he wrote tragicomedies (also known as romances) and collaborated with other playwrights.
Many of Shakespeare's plays were published in editions of varying quality and accuracy during his lifetime. However, in 1623, John Heminge and Henry Condell, two fellow actors and friends of Shakespeare's, published a more definitive text known as the First Folio, a posthumous collected edition of Shakespeare's dramatic works that includes 36 of his plays. Its Preface was a prescient poem by Ben Jonson, a former rival of Shakespeare, that hailed Shakespeare with the now famous epithet: "not of an age, but for all time".

Reviews

[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