William Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice

<p>With Shylock's pound of flesh and Portia's golden ring<em>The Merchant of Venice</em> is one of Shakespeare's most controversial disturbing and unforgettable plays.<br>Combining accessible commentary with a range of reprinted materials S. P. Cerasano:<br>*explores the contexts of the play including early modern images of Venice the commercialism of the play Shakespeare's theatre and London and images of Jewishness<br>*samples modern criticism of Shakespeare's <em>Merchant</em> grouped into sections on The Economic Framework Choosing and Risking and Shylock and Other Strangers<br>*offers an invaluable discussion of the play in performance considering crucial staging issues and changing interpretations of the roles of Portia and Shylock<br>*closely examines key passages of the work providing both commentary and extensively annotated sections of play text<br>*prepares readers for additional study of the play with a useful guide to further reading.<br>Assuming no prior knowledge of the play this sourcebook is the essential guide to one of the most haunting works of English drama.</p>