Merchant of Venice: William Shakespeare

Edited, introduced and annotated by Cedric Watts, Professor of English Literature, University of Sussex The Merchant of Venice is one of Shakespeare`s most popular comedies, but it remains deeply controversial. The text may well seem anti-Semitic; yet repeatedly, in performance, it has revealed a contrasting nature. Shylock, though vanquished in the law-court, often triumphs in the theatre. He is a character so intense that he can dominate the play, challenging abrasively its romantic and lyrical affirmations.