Reviews with content warning for Antisemitism - Merchant of Venice

Reviews tagging 'Antisemitism'

Merchant of Venice by William Shakespeare

56 reviews

raoulalexander's review against another edition

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Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

enraging.

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marthadude's review against another edition

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dark funny medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

This is one of the bard's misses for sure. In class, it offered up wonderful debates about antisemitism, racism, and homosexuality. However, I do think that it does Shylock injustice, and makes him into an antisemetic caricature. Just like any one of Shakespeare's works, it is open to interpretation, but I think that what happens to Shylock in the end proves that the play isn't sympathetic to him. I do like the queer themes though. Besides all that, it has a long and slow second act that really bogs down the momentum of the play. I see why this one isn't preformed too often.

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morenowagain's review against another edition

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challenging dark funny medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

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lexarobinson's review against another edition

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challenging funny lighthearted fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

It is problematic as all hell, but in terms of pure literature, it is phenomenal. Portia is one of Shakespeare's best and most complex female characters, Shylock is appropriately tragic, and I am convinced that the two-bros-chilling-in-a-hot-tub directly descends from Antonio and Bassanio.

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ayearinbookswithzoe's review against another edition

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fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

1.0

This is one of the worst plays I’ve ever read. It is essentially purely antisemitism and nothing else. Compared to Shakespeare’s other works it’s very disappointing.

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zoraya0016's review against another edition

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funny lighthearted reflective fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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amelianotthepilot's review against another edition

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1.0

this book was so anti jewish it was pretty much unreadable. the only jewish character is vilified from the start and then constantly verbally abused the whole play.

besides that the plot is also boring as hell. Bassano wants to marry the most beautiful woman of the land, Portia, but he can’t afford to go to her town. So his best friend, Antonio, funds him by taking out a loan with the jewish man, Shylock. Meanwhile Portia has a test set out for all her suitors

boring plot with obvious conclusion but at least the women had a good role in this plot. at the end without the womens help the men would have failed. but the women came in disguised as men and thwarted the jew. this book was bad

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