Merchant of Venice: Complete Study Edition (Cliffs Complete Study Editions) - Softcover

William Shakespeare

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0822014319 ISBN 13: 9780822014317

Publisher: Cliffs Notes, 1996

Synopsis

Easy to Read Shakespeare. Classic William Shakespeare Series. The Merchant of Venice by William Shakespeare. Romeo and Juliet is a tragedy written early in the career of William Shakespeare about The Merchant of Venice is a tragic comedy by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written between 1596 and 1598. Though classified as a comedy in the First Folio and sharing certain aspects with Shakespeare's other romantic comedies, the play is perhaps most remembered for its dramatic scenes, and is best known for Shylock and the famous 'Hath not a Jew eyes' speech. Also notable is Portia's speech about the 'quality of mercy'.

About this title

About the Author

William Shakespeare was an English poet, playwright, and actor, widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's pre-eminent dramatist.

From the Back Cover

The Merchant of Venice is best known for its complex and ambiguous portrait of the Jewish moneylender Shylock--and of European anti-Semitism. Fascinating in its engagement with prejudice, the play is also a comedy of cross-dressing and disguise, and a dramatic exploration of justice, mercy, and vengeance. This volume contains the full text of the play with explanatory footnotes and marginal glosses for contemporary readers. A well-rounded selection of background materials not only illuminates anti-Semitism in early modern England but also provides context for other facets of the play, including its comic plot of love and marriage, its examination of usury and international trade, and its themes of revenge and the law.

Edition details

• Publisher: Cliffs Notes
• Publication date: 1996
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0822014319
• ISBN 13: 9780822014317
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 70