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| Edmund Kean as Shylock |
William Shakespeare
4/5 stars
Antonio takes out a loan from money-lender Shylock for his friend Bassanio, promising a pound of flesh if he can't repay. When disaster strikes and Antonio looses everything, Shylock is determined to make him pay in full. Bassanio's new wife, Portia, dons male garb and takes on the role as lawyer, to teach Shylock mercy.
With some of the most famous lines in Shakespeare, and a strong female character, this play is entertaining, and sometimes moving, though not as humorous as one would expect for a "comedy". The multiple subplots tie up nicely iwith a satisfying conclusion. The view of Judaism does not sit well with the modern mind, but other than that, The Merchant of Venice is an enjoyable experience.
Read for the Classics Club.
