Antonio, a Venetian merchant, borrows three thousand ducats from the Jewish moneylender Shylock to help his friend Bassanio court the wealthy Portia. Shylock, who has been insulted by Antonio, makes a bond: if the money is not repaid, he will take a pound of Antonio's flesh. When Antonio's ships are lost, the bond falls due. Meanwhile, Portia, disguised as a lawyer, appears in court to argue the case. Shakespeare's comedy intertwines the bond plot with romance, the choice of caskets and Shylock's daughter Jessica, who elopes with a Christian. It raises difficult questions about mercy, justice and prejudice.
It suits readers interested in Shakespeare's more problematic plays, and those who study law or antisemitism in literature. The play is short and full of famous speeches, including Shylock's "Hath not a Jew eyes?"
Deep and open-ended; a moderate read.
Best for readers like The Deep Diver. Which reader are you?
- Published
- 2000
- Publisher
- Mondadori
- ISBN
- 9788804477433
- Language
- IT
Quotes by William Shakespeare
More →There is nothing either good or bad, but thinking makes it so.
Hamlet
What's past is prologue.
The Tempest
The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars, but in ourselves.
Julius Caesar
