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cattytrona's review against another edition
obviously ofc the only way to appreciate a play is to watch it live. but i also think slowly agonisingly reading it over several weeks of class before the age of 18 is also a key element of really grooving with a shakespeare. anyway i just engaged with this one for the first time in my life by reading it at the age 26.
ratmouse's review
dark
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
jenny_hedberg's review
4.0
Jag gillar det här, det innehåller både lite hederliga prinsessor, desperata friare och onda människor. Skulle kunna bli en bra Disney-film fast då utan pantsatta kilon kött ur den egna kroppen och liknande saker. Egentligen är intrigen fantastisk och man får gärna tänka lite på den religiösa aspekten i historien. de kristna får ju inte driva en bank vilket judarna däremot får och för det beskylls de för att vara giriga.
junyan's review
3.0
Men value Portia just like they value commodity. It’s both tragic and realistic that Portia can show her talent and wisdom only by disguising herself as a man. After confessing love and firmly promising to Portia, Bassanio still gives the ring to the lawyer for saving his friend, which isn’t hard to conclude that men will always appreciate the brotherhood instead of romantic relationship. So… girls, please wake up.
eforw's review
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.0
stellshm's review against another edition
challenging
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
smartinez9's review
3.0
Very mixed feelings. Not at all sure what to rate this. Aside from the beautiful language, Portia’s ability to fool literally everyone and find power for herself when others try to deny her, and some of Shylock’s famously moving monologues (“If you prick us, do we not bleed,” etc.), the anti-Semitism is difficult to overcome. The demonization of Shylock is certainly heavy-handed and deliberate enough to suggest that Shakespeare was consciously critical of it and Antonio’s past abuse of him, but Shylock’s eventual conversion and loss of property, along with Antonio’s reestablishment as a successful merchant, is hard to swallow. I understand that retrospect makes this play not work as the comedy it was intended to be, but I would argue that even within the text itself and the context from which it was written, the acknowledgement of Shylock’s mistreatment at the hands of Antonio, his abandonment by his daughter, and eventual forfeit of his property because as a Jew he is not considered a citizen doesn’t sit right.
I do find the title interesting, however, given Antonio’s peripheral position in the play and outsized influence.
I do find the title interesting, however, given Antonio’s peripheral position in the play and outsized influence.
vegetal's review against another edition
challenging
dark
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
3.75
Honestly an enjoyable plot line, but the antisemitism is strong. Shylock’s monologue continues to be a symbol of Jewish strength, and sticks with me, although its motivation in the work is unclear (at least to me).
Content Warnings
Graphic: Antisemitism
currentlyreading_'s review
3.0
Read for English class as well. I had two weeks to read it and I devoured the book in a day. Very wise feminines in the book, quite discriminatory, but overall a classic.