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3.57 AVERAGE
3.57 AVERAGE
Lack luster in my opinion, but honestly that might just be because its plot is so old that I’ve read more impressive plot reveals. Also, antisemitic…
challenging
funny
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I detested learning this in school but this was a good revisit in graphic novel form. I enjoy more the facts about Shakespeare, Elizabethan England and the production of the play.
A clear window into the deeply entrenched anti-semitism of Elizabethan England and medieval Christianity. Shylock is an essentially inhuman character, 'do we not bleed' notwithstanding, clearly contrasted with the wholesome and faultless nature of the Christian characters. The drama is 'resolved' with a wholly disproportionate outcome for Shylock founded on a winking fraud. Awful stuff.
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
mysterious
reflective
tense
Litt for mye fun goofy silly når den burde vært mer tragic reflective questioning. Takk for mej
I did like this from an academic standpoint, and I think there are very interesting things to be said about the way that Shylock’s plot is a tragic anti-mirror to the comic plot of the Christian characters. Shakespeare at it again with the masterful literary devices! That said, comedies aren’t my thing and I wouldn’t have picked this to read outside of class.
dark
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
The most frustrating Shakespeare play I've encountered so far and, looking at the reviews on here, I think we're all inclined to give it a bit too much grace. The relationship between Antonio and Bassanio is deeply compelling and Portia is a fascinatingly flawed and powerful female character. However, the plot, and by extension, every single scene with Shylock, is so profoundly and disgustingly antisemitic that it's hard to look past. The nuance to Shylock's character is there, and it's up to the discretion of the individual director what they want to do with it, but as the play exists in its written form, every "Does not a Jew bleed?" moment from Shylock ends up being vastly overshadowed by an antisemitic tirade from Lancelet or a "clever" one-liner from Salerio or an offhand comment from Antonio or Portia or one of the other characters where they just call Shylock "Jew". While it may not be fair to dismiss "Merchant" entirely, especially since there are many Jewish actors and directors who have found something compelling in the play, I think there are important conversations to be had about the context with which we adapt/teach it. It's not as simple a discussion as "Merchant bad" or "Merchant good" but also, I think it's a text that non-Jewish people in particular should be wary of praising. Though, at the end of the day, I don't really know anything. Just please stop giving this 5 stars. It doesn't deserve them.