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Reviews tagging 'Antisemitism'
The Merchant of Venice: Large Print by William Shakespeare
65 reviews
lleer's review against another edition
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism and Antisemitism
usernamerobert's review against another edition
dark
emotional
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
3.25 / 5
This play was hard to rate. I found it far more engrossing than some other Shakespeare plays, and I found monologues from the Prince of Morocco, Shylock, and Portia to be wonderfully meaningful and beautifully written. But. There is horrendous anti-Semitism and racism in this play, it was hard to read. Why are the heroes of this play so prejudice? Why is Shylock, capable of high-minded thoughts and empathy, brought down to the lowest cruelty with no regard for reason? Why would Antonio and his friends expect mercy when he and they continuously demean Shylock for his religion?
This play was hard to rate. I found it far more engrossing than some other Shakespeare plays, and I found monologues from the Prince of Morocco, Shylock, and Portia to be wonderfully meaningful and beautifully written. But. There is horrendous anti-Semitism and racism in this play, it was hard to read. Why are the heroes of this play so prejudice? Why is Shylock, capable of high-minded thoughts and empathy, brought down to the lowest cruelty with no regard for reason? Why would Antonio and his friends expect mercy when he and they continuously demean Shylock for his religion?
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism and Antisemitism
evetoi's review against another edition
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism and Antisemitism
ephalent's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Antisemitism
ggallinot's review against another edition
challenging
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Oh boy. This play is a bit problematic in its rampant antisemitism. The play definitely highlights predatory lending practices and honestly, Shylock has some of the most meaningful, powerful monologues about equity and humanity. This play seems like the original “we’ve made the *villain* too relatable so he has to do something unreasonably cruel to assure the audience doesn’t side with him. I rate it as high as I do because, when read, it is a starkly powerful piece of education relative to Europe’s treatment of those who practice the Jewish faith. I am surprised at how often this show is still done today.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Antisemitism
luciuh's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
2.5
It was very anti-semetic, i didn’t mind it writing wise tbh, it wasn’t like a bad play just not very my taste…. i think i’d rather read another shakespeare play. shylock is a very interesting character especially given the context in which he was written… also bassanio and antonio are definitely like. they r gay. at LEAST a little queer.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Antisemitism
Moderate: Sexism
lovefromhannah's review against another edition
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
the merchant of venice is supposed to be a comedy, however shakespeare's portrayal of shylock makes this seem more like a tragedy.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Antisemitism
allisonbrooke's review against another edition
emotional
funny
medium-paced
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Antisemitism
Moderate: Body horror and Xenophobia
evilchocho's review against another edition
challenging
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
1.0
This wasn’t very good. Anything that was good in this play was unfortunately undercut by the massive doses of antisemitism which was pretty grim.
I guess
God why was this so antisemitic. It sucks because good things like the powerful position of women in the text were totally undermined by the fact that they came into for instance, the trial, just to basically Fuck over the Jew. Like dude, leave my guy alone. Cause I get it, he sucks as a person, but that’s only because he’s characterised by horrible racist stereotypes and made to be like an irredeemable piece of trash just because he’s Jewish and god they really love to drive that home every other page.
Irrespective to that shit, it just wasn’t funny and the plot wasn’t good. Like the only bit I found remotely kind of entertaining was the first bit with the clown and his dad but even then that was ruined because of, you guessed it, antisemitism. And you can’t tell me that it’s just harder to distinguish the humour because of how old it is, because not only have I read other Shakespeare and found that funny, but I’m also reading Don Quixote, a text from a similar period, and that shit is hilarious!
Also there were too many characters that I didn’t care about and that didn’t matter at all to the plot.
Oh and what the fuck was the bit about the rings like that was completely pointless.
Now I think about it too, if Antonio’s ships were not lost, then the whole trial never needed to happen, which basically means that the whole idea was just to Fucking decimate Shylock for no reason…
Thanks Shakespeare, not very cash money of you.
I guess
God why was this so antisemitic. It sucks because good things like the powerful position of women in the text were totally undermined by the fact that they came into for instance, the trial, just to basically Fuck over the Jew. Like dude, leave my guy alone. Cause I get it, he sucks as a person, but that’s only because he’s characterised by horrible racist stereotypes and made to be like an irredeemable piece of trash just because he’s Jewish and god they really love to drive that home every other page.
Irrespective to that shit, it just wasn’t funny and the plot wasn’t good. Like the only bit I found remotely kind of entertaining was the first bit with the clown and his dad but even then that was ruined because of, you guessed it, antisemitism. And you can’t tell me that it’s just harder to distinguish the humour because of how old it is, because not only have I read other Shakespeare and found that funny, but I’m also reading Don Quixote, a text from a similar period, and that shit is hilarious!
Also there were too many characters that I didn’t care about and that didn’t matter at all to the plot.
Oh and what the fuck was the bit about the rings like that was completely pointless.
Now I think about it too, if Antonio’s ships were not lost, then the whole trial never needed to happen, which basically means that the whole idea was just to Fucking decimate Shylock for no reason…
Thanks Shakespeare, not very cash money of you.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Antisemitism
raoulalexander's review against another edition
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
enraging.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Antisemitism
Minor: Racism