The play itself is very anti-semitic, but surprisingly self-aware at times. The essays at the beginning make the reading experience a lot more informed and critical yet understanding, I really appreciated them!

This is one of the bard's misses for sure. In class, it offered up wonderful debates about antisemitism, racism, and homosexuality. However, I do think that it does Shylock injustice, and makes him into an antisemetic caricature. Just like any one of Shakespeare's works, it is open to interpretation, but I think that what happens to Shylock in the end proves that the play isn't sympathetic to him. I do like the queer themes though. Besides all that, it has a long and slow second act that really bogs down the momentum of the play. I see why this one isn't preformed too often.