Advantages: Shakespeare's timeless genius. Disadvantages: A difficult read for some.
King Lear claims to be a man 'more sinned against than sinning' and in 'TheMerchant of Venice' we meet Shylock the Jewish money lender who fits that description perfectly.
The decadent adventurer, Bassanio, has lost the money his friend, Antonio has lent him and has the cheek to borrow more. Antonio is forced to borrow off Shylock in order to make the loan. The condition Shylock stipulates is a pound of flesh should the loan not be repaid when agreed. It's an odd choice but the Christians are pretty nasty to him so he is very bitter.
Off Bassanio goes in search of a rich wife again and does very well.
He meets Portia who is loaded and all he has to do is pass a guess-the-casket test to win her heart. She fancies him so she cheats the test with a poem in which all the rhymes end in 'ed' and therefore point him to the lead ...
This is the first review I have written on Ciao so I hope you find it helpful and informative, I appreciate and welcome all feedback!
Thank-you for giving up your time to read and comment on my review! Lynne.
---------------------Themes from the Merchant of Venice----------------- Symbolic Represent and Motifs
Self Interest vs Love
Throughout Shakespeare's "TheMerchant of Venice" there are a lot of themes reoccuring that can represent other parts of the play. Many of these themes throughout Shakespeare's work are linked with the use of symbols and motifs. Shakespeare has incorporated these skills into the play which can make it more challenging to understand, although it can define a certain point which is hard to understand on its own.
In the play ...
xxxlynnexxx 02.10.2006
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Essays
Advantages: great characters, interesting plot, a story that invites your interpretation Disadvantages: none, although one may struggle with language initially
It's customary for students to hate the books forced upon them but, whether it be me, this book or something else entirely, it is simply not so with the Merchant of Venice. I had never read Shakespeare prior to this book, except a quick, heavily simplified teaching of The Tempest at the beginning of secondary school; and yet, even so, I was captured from the first page: "In sooth, I know not why I am so sad". There's so many glorious quotes throughout and following this one that I am having to fully restrain myself not to blurt them out haphazardly.
The pulling feature of this book is, of course, Shylock. He's a character of pure duality and this is perhaps why we, as a modern society, have been able to twist and turn him into a character of sympathy rather than the comic villain that was arguably intended by Shakespeare. We simply ...
Product Information for "Sullivan: Ruddigore; (The) Merchant of Venice suite" »
Product details
Title
Sullivan: Ruddigore; (The) Merchant of Venice suite
Composer
Sir Arthur (Seymour) Sullivan (1842 - 1900)
Main Performer
Elsie Morison (Soprano); George Baker (Singer); Joseph Rouleau (Bass); Malcolm Sargent (Narrator); Pamela Bowden (Contralto (Female alto))
Orchestra / Ensemble(s)
Glyndebourne Festival Chorus; Pro Arte Orchestra; City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra
Date of Release
05/05/2008
Label / Distributor
Classics for Pleasure / EMI
Pieces in Set
2
Genre(s)
Stage works
Stereo
Stereo
SPAR Code
ADD
EAN
5099921345920
Catalogue Number
213
Work 1
Work Title
Ruddigore (or The Witch's Curse)
Excerpt(s)
1. Overture (Geoffrey Toye version: 1921) 2. ACT 1 - Fair is Rose 3. Sir Rupert Murgatroyd 4. If somebody there chanced to be 5. I know a youth 6. From the briny sea; I shipped, d'ye see 7. Hornpipe; My boy, you may take it from me 8. The battle's roar is over 9. If well his suit has sped 10. In sailing o'er life's ocean wide 11. Cheerily carols the lark; To a garden full of posies 12. Welcome gentry for your entry 13. O why am I moody and sad? 14. You understand? 15. Hail the bride of seventeen summers; When the buds are blossoming; Hold, bride and bridegroom; As pure and blameless pea 16. ACT 2 - I once was as meek 17. Happily coupled 18. In bygone days 19. Painted emblems of a race 20. When the night wind howls (The Ghosts' High-Noon) 21. He yields! He answers to your call! 22. Away, Remorse!; Ye well-to-do squires 23. I once was a very abandon'd person 24. My eyes are fully open 25. There grew a little flower 26. On, happy the lily 27. ADDITIONAL ITEM - Overture (original Hamilton Clarke version: 1887)
Composer
Sir Arthur (Seymour) Sullivan (1842 - 1900)
Genre
Stage works
Date Written
1887
Conductor
Malcolm Sargent
Orchestra / Ensemble
Glyndebourne Festival Chorus
Orchestra / Ensemble
Pro Arte Orchestra
Main Performer
Elsie Morison (Soprano), George Baker (Singer), Joseph Rouleau (Bass), Malcolm Sargent (Narrator), Pamela Bowden (Contralto (Female alto)), Richard Lewis (Tenor)
Opera Part(s)
Elsie Morison (Rose Maybud), George Baker (Sir Ruthven Murgatroyd), Joseph Rouleau (Sir Roderick Murgatroyd), Malcolm Sargent, Pamela Bowden (Mad Margaret), Richard Lewis (Richard Dauntless)
Work 2
Work Title
(The) Merchant of Venice
Excerpt(s)
1. Introduction 2. Barcarole (Sérénade) 3. Introduction and Bourrée 4. Danse grotesque 5. À la valse 6. Melodrama 7. Finale
Composer
Sir Arthur (Seymour) Sullivan (1842 - 1900)
Genre
Stage works
Date Written
1871
Conductor
Sir Vivian Dunn
Orchestra / Ensemble
City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra
Main Performer
Elsie Morison (Soprano), George Baker (Singer), Joseph Rouleau (Bass), Pamela Bowden (Contralto (Female alto)), Richard Lewis (Tenor)
Opera Part(s)
Elsie Morison (Rose Maybud), George Baker (Sir Ruthven Murgatroyd), Joseph Rouleau (Sir Roderick Murgatroyd), Pamela Bowden (Mad Margaret), Richard Lewis (Richard Dauntless)
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Listed on Ciao since
27/05/2008
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