The Merchant of Venice (The New Cambridge Shakespeare), 2nd Edition

Charles Edelman focuses on the play's sexual politics and recent scholarship devoted to the position of Jews in Shakespeare's time in this new edition. He surveys the international scope of theatrical interpretations of The Merchant in the 1980s and 1990s as well as different ways of tackling the troubling figure of Shylock. First Edition Hb (1988): 0-521-22156-0 First Edition Pb (1988): 0-521-29371-5 Cover......Page 1 Copyright page......Page 6 Contents......Page 7 List of Illustrations......Page 9 Preface......Page 11 1 Shakespeare's plays......Page 12 2 Other works cited and general references......Page 13 Date and source......Page 17 Some attitudes and assumptions behind the play......Page 24 Kinds of Comedy......Page 25 The Myth of Venice......Page 28 The Law......Page 32 Jews and Usurers......Page 35 'God-Like Amity'......Page 38 Experiencing the play......Page 40 Belmont and Venice......Page 41 The Elopement......Page 45 Debit and Credit......Page 47 Dr Balthazar......Page 52 The Renewing of Love......Page 56 The afterlife of The Merchant of Venice......Page 58 Critical approaches......Page 70 Confronting the audience......Page 73 Thoroughly modern Merchants......Page 75 The 1930s......Page 78 Note on the Text......Page 82 List of Characters......Page 84 1......Page 85 2......Page 93 3......Page 99 1......Page 107 2......Page 110 3......Page 118 4......Page 119 5......Page 121 6......Page 123 7......Page 126 8......Page 129 9......Page 132 1......Page 136 2......Page 140 3......Page 154 4......Page 155 5......Page 159 1......Page 162 2......Page 180 1......Page 181 Supplementary Note......Page 195 The Heyes-Roberts quarto (Q1)......Page 196 The copy for Q1......Page 197 The Pavier quarto of 1619 (Q2)......Page 201 The Folio of 1623 (F)......Page 205 The quarto of 1637 (Q3)......Page 206 Salarino, Solanio, Salerio......Page 207 Appendix: Shakespeare's use of the Bible in The Merchant of Venice......Page 212 Reading List......Page 217 Drama Cover 1 Copyright page 6 Contents 7 List of Illustrations 9 Preface 11 Abbreviations and Conventions 12 1 Shakespeare's plays 12 2 Other works cited and general references 13 Introduction 17 Date and source 17 Some attitudes and assumptions behind the play 24 Kinds of Comedy 25 The Myth of Venice 28 The Law 32 Jews and Usurers 35 'God-Like Amity' 38 Experiencing the play 40 Belmont and Venice 41 The Elopement 45 Debit and Credit 47 Dr Balthazar 52 The Renewing of Love 56 The afterlife of The Merchant of Venice 58 Recent critical and stage interpretations, by Charles Edelman 70 Critical approaches 70 The play on the stage 73 Confronting the audience 73 Thoroughly modern Merchants 75 The 1930s 78 Note on the Text 82 List of Characters 84 The Merchant of Venice 85 Act 1 85 1 85 2 93 3 99 Act 2 107 1 107 2 110 3 118 4 119 5 121 6 123 7 126 8 129 9 132 Act 3 136 1 136 2 140 3 154 4 155 5 159 Act 4 162 1 162 2 180 Act 5 181 1 181 Supplementary Note 195 Textual Analysis 196 The Heyes-Roberts quarto (Q1) 196 The copy for Q1 197 The Pavier quarto of 1619 (Q2) 201 The Folio of 1623 (F) 205 The quarto of 1637 (Q3) 206 Salarino, Solanio, Salerio 207 Appendix: Shakespeare's use of the Bible in The Merchant of Venice 212 Reading List 217 Shakespeare;,literature;,drama;,literary,criticism Shakespeare,literature,drama,literary criticism In A Substantial New Section, Charles Edelman Focuses On The Play's Sexual Politics And Recent Scholarship On The Position Of Jews In Shakespeare's Time. He Surveys The International Scope Of 'the Merchant' In The 1980s And 1990s And Different Ways Of Tackling The Troubling Figure Of Shylock. Introduction -- Date And Source -- Some Attitudes And Assumptions Behind The Play -- Experiencing The Play -- The Afterlife Of The Merchant Of Venice -- Recent Critical And Stage Interpretations / By Charles Edelman -- Note On The Text -- List Of Characters -- The Play -- Supplementary Note -- Textual Analysis -- Appendix: Shakespeare's Use Of The Bible In The Merchant Of Venice -- Reading List. Edited By M.m. Mahood. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 201-202). In this lively comedy of love and money in sixteenth-century Venice, Bassanio wants to impress the wealthy heiress Portia but lacks the necessary funds. He turns to his merchant friend, Antonio, who is forced to borrow from Shylock, a Jewish moneylender. When Antonio's business falters, repayment becomes impossible--and by the terms of the loan agreement, Shylock is able to demand a pound of Antonio's flesh. Portia cleverly intervenes, and all ends well (except of course for Shylock). In a substantial new addition to the Introduction, Charles Edelman focuses on the play's sexual politics and recent scholarship devoted to the position of lews in Shakespeare's time. He surveys the international scope and diversity of theatrical interpretations of The Merchant in the 1980s and 1990s and their different ways of tackling the troubling figure of Shylock. Book jacket