{"product_id":"the-merchant-of-venice-9780743477567-b","title":"The Merchant of Venice","description":"\u003cp\u003e • Author(s): William Shakespeare\u003cbr\u003e • Publisher: Simon \u0026amp; Schuster\u003cbr\u003e • Publisher Imprint: Simon \u0026amp; Schuster\u003cbr\u003e • BISAC: Shakespeare\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIn \u003ci\u003eThe Merchant of Venice\u003c\/i\u003e, 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. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eBassanio 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. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003ePortia 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.\" \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eThe authoritative edition of \u003ci\u003eThe Merchant of Venice\u003c\/i\u003e from The Folger Shakespeare Library, the trusted and widely used Shakespeare series for students and general readers, includes: \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e-Freshly edited text based on the best early printed version of the play \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e-Newly revised explanatory notes conveniently placed on pages facing the text of the play \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e-Scene-by-scene plot summaries \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e-A key to the play's famous lines and phrases \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e-An introduction to reading Shakespeare's language \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e-An essay by a leading Shakespeare scholar providing a modern perspective on the play \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e-Fresh images from the Folger Shakespeare Library's vast holdings of rare books \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e-An up-to-date annotated guide to further reading \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eEssay by Alexander Leggatt \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eThe Folger Shakespeare Library in Washington, DC, is home to the world's largest collection of Shakespeare's printed works, and a magnet for Shakespeare scholars from around the globe. In addition to exhibitions open to the public throughout the year, the Folger offers a full calendar of performances and programs. For more information, visit Folger.edu.","brand":"Simon \u0026 Schuster","offers":[{"title":"Paperback","offer_id":45028705468567,"sku":"9780743477567","price":488.0,"currency_code":"INR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0666\/3471\/1191\/files\/9780743477567.webp?v=1767261829","url":"https:\/\/atlanticbooks.com\/products\/the-merchant-of-venice-9780743477567-b","provider":"Atlantic Books","version":"1.0","type":"link"}