THE MERCHANT OF VENICE

    Antonio,the merchant of Venice,and Shylock the money-lender have struck a bargain whereby Shylock will lend Antonio some money provided that if Antonio cannot repay him,Shylock can claim a pound of Antonio's flesh.Antonio's ships are lost and Shylock seeks to enforce the contract.As Jew conflicts with Christian,the ancient argument for justice tempered by mercy is pleaded by Portia.



作者简介
William Shakespeare was born at Stratford upon Avon in April,1564,He was the third child,and eldest son ,of John Shakespeare and Mary Arden.His father was one of the most properous men of Stratford,who held in turn the chief offices in the town.His mother was of gentle birth,the daughter of Robert Arden of Wilmcote.

Book Description
In this lively comedy of love and money in sixteenth-century Venice, Bassanio wants to impress the wealthy heiress Portia but lacks the necessary funds. He turns to his merchant friend, Antonio, who is forced to borrow from Shylock, a Jewish moneylender. When Antonio's business falters, repayment becomes impossible--and by the terms of the loan agreement, Shylock is able to demand a pound of Antonio's flesh. Portia cleverly intervenes, and all ends well (except of course for Shylock).

Amazon.co.uk Review
"Hath not a Jew eyes? Hath not a Jew hands, organs, dimensions, senses, affections, passions?" Shylock's impassioned plea in the middle of The Merchant of Venice is one of its most dramatic moments. After the Holocaust, the play has become a battleground for those who argue that the play represents Shakespeare's ultimate statement against ignorance and anti-Semitism in favour of a liberal vision of tolerance and multiculturalism. Other critics have pointed out that the play is, after all, a comedy that ultimately pokes fun at a 16th-century Jew. In fact, the bare outline of the plot suggests that the play is far more complex than either of these characterisations. Bassanio, a feckless young Venetian, asks his wealthy friend, the merchant Antonio, for money to finance a trip to woo the beautiful Portia in Belmont. Reluctant to refuse his friend (to whom he professes intense love), Antonio borrows the money from the Jewish moneylender. If he reneges on the deal, Shylock jokingly demands a pound of his flesh. When all Antonio's ships are lost at sea, Shylock calls in his debt, and the love and laughter of the first scenes of the play threaten to give way to death and tragedy. The final climactic courtroom scene, complete with a cross-dressed Portia, a knife-wielding Shylock, and the debate on "the quality of mercy" is one of the great dramatic moments in Shakespeare. The controversial subject matter of the play ensures that it continues to repel, divide but also fascinate its many audiences.
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　--Jerry Brotton

Book Dimension
length: (cm)17.6 　　　 　　　　　 　　　　　 width:(cm)10.6

The Works of Shakepeare
William Shakespeare
The Elizabethan Theatre
The Merchant of Venice
THE MERCHANT OF VENICE
Notes
Glossary