"The Merchant of Venice" is perhaps most associated not
with its titular hero, Antonio, but with the complex figure of the
money lender, Shylock. The play was described as a comedy in the
First Folio but its modern audiences find it more problematic to
categorize. The vilification of Shylock "the Jew" can be
very uncomfortable for a modern, post-holocaust audience and
debates continue as to whether Shakespeare's portrayal of this
complex man is sympathetic or anti-Semitic. John Drakakis'
comprehensive introduction traces the stage history of the figure
of the Jew and looks boldly at twenty-first century issues
surrounding it. He also explores other themes of the play such as
father/daughter relations, the power of money and the forceful
character of Portia, to offer readers an energetic, original and
revelatory reading of this challenging play.
William Shakespeare (1564-1616) gilt als einer der größten Dichter und Dramatiker der Weltgeschichte. Er verfasste zahlreiche Dramen, Tragödien, Komödien und Gedichte, mit denen er schon zu Lebzeiten Anerkennung und Wohlstand errang. Aber erst in den folgenden Jahrhunderten wurde er zum Prototypen des literarischen Genies, ohne den die Entwicklung der neueren Literatur von Goethe über Brecht bis in die Gegenwart hinein undenkbar ist.
