The Merchant of Venice: The 30-Minute Shakespeare | TheBookSeekers

The Merchant of Venice: The 30-Minute Shakespeare


30-Minute Shakespeare

,

No. of pages 80

Published: 2014

Add this book to your 'I want to read' list!

By clicking here you can add this book to your favourites list. If it is in your School Library it will show up on your account page in colour and you'll be able to download it from there. If it isn't in your school library it will still show up but in grey - that will tell us that maybe it is a book we should add to your school library, and will also remind you to read it if you find it somewhere else!

A master at engaging students in the process of performing a Shakespeare scene."?Janet Field-Pickering, head of education, Folger Shakespeare Library The Merchant of Venice: The 30-Minute Shakespeare features eight scenes from this gripping classic: Shylock loans Antonio money, with the forfeit being a pound of Antonio's flesh. Comedic mayhem ensues as two foreign princes attempt to win Portia's hand. The climax is the courtroom scene where Portia, disguised as a lawyer, subjects Shylock to his harsh penalty. The drama concludes with reconciliations that land us firmly back in comic territory. The edition includes a preface by Nick Newlin, containing helpful advice on presenting Shakespeare in a high school setting with novice actors, as well as an appendix with play-specific suggestions and recommendations for further resources.

 

 

This book is part of a book series called 30-Minute Shakespeare .

There are 80 pages in this book. This book was published in 2014 by Nicolo Whimsey Press .

Rene Weis is Professor of English at University College London and a distinguished editor and biographer of Shakespeare.

 

This book contains the following story:

The Merchant of Venice

"The Merchant of Venice" is a play written by William Shakespeare that revolves around themes of love, justice, prejudice, and the complexities of human relationships.

Act 1: The play opens in Venice, where Antonio, a wealthy merchant, is sad and anxious without any apparent reason. His friend Bassanio seeks financial assistance from Antonio to woo Portia, a wealthy heiress from Belmont. However, Antonio's assets are tied up in his ships at sea. To help Bassanio, Antonio borrows money from Shylock, a Jewish moneylender, who despises Antonio for his anti-Semitic behavior.

Act 2: Meanwhile, in Belmont, Portia is bound by her father's will, which states that she must marry the suitor who correctly chooses between three caskets (gold, silver, and lead) to win her hand. Many suitors attempt, but only Bassanio chooses the lead casket, revealing Portia's portrait and winning her heart. Back in Venice, news arrives that Antonio's ships have been lost at sea, and he is unable to repay the loan to Shylock. Shylock, seeking revenge for past mistreatment, insists on taking a pound of Antonio's flesh as collateral, as stated in their contract.

Act 3: At Belmont, Portia learns about Antonio's predicament and, disguised as a lawyer, travels to Venice to assist in the trial. She arrives in court just as Shylock is about to take his pound of flesh from Antonio. Portia cleverly points out that the contract allows Shylock to take the flesh but not a drop of blood. Outwitted and defeated, Shylock is forced to convert to Christianity and forfeit his wealth.

Act 4: In Belmont, a series of comic and romantic subplots unfold. Portia's lady-in-waiting, Nerissa, disguises herself as a lawyer's clerk and marries Gratiano, a friend of Bassanio. However, their happiness is short-lived when they discover that their husbands have given away their rings as tokens of gratitude to the lawyer and the clerk, who are actually Portia and Nerissa in disguise.

Act 5: Back in Belmont, the truth about the rings comes to light, and Portia and Nerissa confront their husbands. They cleverly trick them into revealing their actions. Despite the deceit, all is forgiven, and they celebrate their reunion.

The play ends on a note of reconciliation and forgiveness, but also with a sense of unease regarding the treatment of Shylock, as the Christians triumph over him without any remorse for the cruelty they inflicted upon him.

"The Merchant of Venice" remains a thought-provoking play that explores the complexities of justice, the consequences of prejudice, and the true nature of mercy and forgiveness. It remains one of Shakespeare's most controversial works, sparking discussions about its portrayal of anti-Semitism and the complexities of its characters and themes.

This book is in the following series:

30-Minute Shakespeare

This book features the following character:

Shakespeare
This book features the character Shakespeare.