• ISBN13: 9789382563235
• Binding: Paperback
• Subject: English Literature
• Publisher: Bloomsbury
• Publisher Imprint: Bloomsbury
• Publication Date: April 16, 2013
• Pages: 480
• Original Price: INR 499.0
• Language: English
• Edition: N/A
• Item Weight: 500 grams
• BISAC Subject(s): Shakespeare

The Merchant of Venice is perhaps most associated not with its titular hero, Antonio, but with the complex figure of the money lender, Shylock. The play was described as a comedy in the First Folio but its modern audiences find it more problematic to categorise. The vilification of Shylock 'the Jew' can be very uncomfortable for a post-holocaust audience and debates continue as to whether Shakespeare's portrayal of this complex man is sympathetic or anti-semitic. John Drakakis' comprehensive introduction traces the stage history of the figure of the Jew and looks boldly at twenty-first century issues surrounding it. He also explores other themes of the play such as father/daughter relations, the power of money and the forceful character of Portia, to offer readers an energetic, original and revelatory reading of this challenging play.