MerchantOfVenice

so-so

Part of the Hogarth Shakespeare series, this is Jacobson‘s reinterpretation of The Merchant of Venice. The novel has two aspects. One, a reworking of the plot of the play, gives a bizarre alternative plot that fell flat for me. The other, Shakespeare‘s Shylock brought into the 21st century, provided much insight into anti-semitism, and is by far the more interesting part of the book. Shylock steals the show.

#DoubleSpin
@TheAromaofBooks

TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!! 3y

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TheEllieMo

Shylock Is My Name | Howard Jacobson

My #BookSpin and #DoubleSpin selections for March.

@TheAromaofBooks

TheAromaofBooks Yay!!! 3y

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GingerAntics

Shakespeare for Every Day of the Year | Allie Esiri

Such a great entry for today. Shylock arguing that he has the same humanity as everyone else. Sadly, this is still something some people don‘t get.
#Shakespeare #AllieEsiri #ShakespeareForEveryDayOfTheYear @Faibka #MerchantOfVenice

TheBookHippie 🤍✡️ 3y

Faibka It is sad that this should be an argument at all, why is it so freaking hard to understand? We come from the same earth and all without exception will return back to it to be reassembled into something else. 3y

Faibka On a more uplifting note, I‘m glad to see you‘re enjoying the book 😀 3y

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GingerAntics @Faibka exactly!!! Can we stop rushing others‘ return to the earth?! That would be lovely. It‘s a fun little part of my day. How are you enjoying it? 3y

Faibka @GingerAntics I‘m loving the book, it‘s the best part of the day! :) 3y

GingerAntics @Faibka it‘s between this one and the daily poetry. 3y

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Rachel.Rencher

Shylock Is My Name | Howard Jacobson

I don't know why I chose a gnome as a backdrop for this book photo. Maybe it's just because he's ridiculously cute.

Anyway, starting another book from the Hogarth Shakespeare project! 🤓 This one is a retelling of The Merchant of Venice.

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GingerAntics

Merchant of Venice (Turtleback School & Library, Updated) | William Shakespeare

What did you think of Act V?
Now that we‘ve finished, what did you think of the play?
#Shakespeare #MerchantOfVenice #shakespearereadalong
@merelybookish @graywacke

GingerAntics @readinginthedark @batsy @Lcsmcat @TheBookHippie @Sunraven @Trashcanman @IamIamIam @ladyneverwhere @erzascarletbookgasm @MoonWitch94 @catebutler @CoffeeNBooks @jewright @saresmoore @rabbitprincess @Balibee146 @IndoorDame @kathedron @Mtroiano @Riveted_Reader_Melissa @MrsMalaprop @Gezemice @readordierachel 4y

GingerAntics @Melismatic @Sace @teainthelibrary @Susannah @kristenm @slategreyskies @Panic70 @Carolyn11215 @Alliterati @Kristy_K @Liz_M @Daisey @mhillis @Wife @wanderinglynn @Jess_Read_This @Linsy @MellieAntoinette @Yoshi-and-a-book @mollyrotondo @greenreads @LitStephanie 4y

TheBookHippie I am so conflicted ... is this a tragedy? The anti Semitic prose just woe. I‘m not sure what I just read. Or I‘m so over stressed I couldn‘t grasp it! 4y

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Riveted_Reader_Melissa @TheBookHippie It‘s all of that and a bag of chips! Or in this case a casket of lead.🤷‍♀️ 4y

Riveted_Reader_Melissa I hated the anti Semitic parts, conversion as a judgement...uck. I liked Portia as lawyer. I wish there had been more about the overconfidence of betting the whole house in a short term, losing, and then getting away with it! I‘d really love to see this one modernized, but the moral at the “trial” being treat people nicer, you might need their help later, burying the hatchet figuratively instead of literally can led to better business and.... (edited) 4y

GingerAntics @TheBookHippie no one died, especially the MCs, so not a tragedy. That‘s what makes it a traditional comedy - it‘s not ha ha comedy, it‘s just no one died comedy. Sorry. This is a tough one. 4y

GingerAntics @Riveted_Reader_Melissa I could see that working really well. I don‘t know if there have been any modern retellings. 4y

Riveted_Reader_Melissa ...(Cont.) a partnership. I think they should have been sentenced to work together until the debt was repaid, and the moral be when they weren‘t prejudiced and instead working toward a common aim (making money) they had more in common than they thought. 🤷‍♀️ (edited) 4y

TheBookHippie @Riveted_Reader_Melissa HA RIGHT?! 4y

Riveted_Reader_Melissa @GingerAntics @TheBookHippie AND ladies dressed up as smart learned men and fooled them all, and pulled it off... so obviously a comedy. (edited) 4y

TheBookHippie @GingerAntics I‘m always glad I read it but this one was just off for me. 4y

TheBookHippie @Riveted_Reader_Melissa 🤣🤣🤣🤣👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼YAS that is comedy 4y

GingerAntics @Riveted_Reader_Melissa Shakespeare does have a thing with cross dressing. 🤣😂🤣 4y

GingerAntics @TheBookHippie yeah, this one has a really weird feeling to it. It‘s hard to describe, but this is in no way feel good theatre. I can‘t imagine this heavy, odd feeling coming out of a production of this. 4y

Riveted_Reader_Melissa @GingerAntics And in his day it was men playing all the parts...so men pretending to be women pretending to be men. 4y

GingerAntics @Riveted_Reader_Melissa which makes it even funnier, really. 4y

mollyrotondo This was definitely not my favorite play. The anti Semitic storyline was way too disturbing. And all the characters that contributed to Shylock‘s punishment ended up having a happy ending which irritates me. It was worth reading in order to understand anti Semitic thinking in the time of Shakespeare but that‘s about it for me. 4y

Graywacke Hi. Not much to add here. The irony of the classic tragic love stories made romantic was entertaining, and the dialogue was entertaining enough. But the celebratory nature felt tasteless. 4y

MoonWitch94 @Graywacke I totally agree with you. 4y

MoonWitch94 Overall, I do not like this one. It‘s not one I‘ll revisit or seek out performances of. On to the next one, I say! 4y

GingerAntics @MoonWitch94 totally agree! 4y

Graywacke @MoonWitch94 @GingerAntics I like it a lot for the conversation between Shylock and Antonio in act 1 alone. And there are other aspects i‘m glad to have read. The antisemitic aspect is really mainly a problem for me, personally, in how celebratory it is - festively stealing the daughter and then this act. Shylock, the character, was interesting to me. 4y

erzascarletbookgasm I agree with you that this act is unnecessary. It‘s just them celebrating..with crude jokes made. 😒 4y

erzascarletbookgasm It‘s considered comedy but I don‘t see anything funny in it. But I get what you mean about it being a comedy because of the ladies dressed up as men to fool them. 4y

batsy I've been trying to mull over how to review this play. There were parts that I liked, little conversations, and to observe how Portia tried to play the game, so to speak. I find Shylock an interesting person, as well; I don't know if Shakespeare meant it that way but he's become larger than the play itself. I found the ending and the celebratory nature of the forced conversion (and thus, the total erasure of Shylock) hugely problematic. 4y

erzascarletbookgasm The characters are unlikeable, safe perhaps for Shylock, an interesting one. Even Portia, I struggle to like her. The anti Semitism really made me dislike the play, though I think Shakespeare meant it to be a social commentary. Some good dialogues and great speeches from Shylock and Portia of course. 4y

GingerAntics @erzascarletbookgasm Shakespearean comedies aren‘t comedies in the modern scenes, they are comedies in the ancient Greek sense. It just means the MCs don‘t die at the end. 4y

GingerAntics @Graywacke I keep thinking that I like some of the conversations, and I‘m intrigued by Shylock. I just don‘t like the play. It seemed to go above and beyond beyond what was necessary, but then that seems to be life in general when it comes to religious politics. 4y

MoonWitch94 @Graywacke Shylock is the only character that held my interest. The anti-semitism really ruined this play for me. @GingerAntics It does go above & beyond & over the top to ruin itself. 4y

GingerAntics @MoonWitch94 that‘s probably the most concise way to put it. It really goes out of its way to ruin itself. 4y

merelybookish Oh my, I blinked and this play passed me by! So a Henry is next, starting on the 11th. Will post soon. 4y

GingerAntics @merelybookish I was trying to remember what was next. Luckily no one asked yet. 🤣😂🤣 4y

mollyrotondo @merelybookish I‘m excited for a Henry especially after this play lol 4y

merelybookish @mollyrotondo Great! It's Henry V. It should be a change from this one, just not sure what kind of change. 😛 4y

GingerAntics @merelybookish certainly less antisemitic, one would hope. 4y

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GingerAntics

Merchant of Venice (Turtleback School & Library, Updated) | William Shakespeare

so-so

This would be better as a tragedy. Not my favourite Shakespeare play by any stretch of the imagination. I don‘t understand the need for Act V. The play was over at the end of Act IV. The antisemitism seems to drive the play, but forced conversations are just a step too far for me. I wouldn‘t have minded if a few of the characters had died in Act V. At least then Act V would have been justified.
#Shakespeare #MerchantOfVenice #shakespearereadalong

TheBookHippie 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼 4y

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GingerAntics

Merchant of Venice (Turtleback School & Library, Updated) | William Shakespeare

Troilus and Cressida make a cameo in the final act. SPOILER ALTER: that is the only exciting part of Act V.
#Shakespeare #MerchantOfVenice #shakespearereadalong

Texreader 🤣 4y

TheBookHippie 🏆 4y

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GingerAntics

Merchant of Venice (Turtleback School & Library, Updated) | William Shakespeare

The damage has been done now. Shylock gets nothing AND is forced to convert to Christianity (a step too far in my book). Portia has gotten her husband of just a few hours/days to give up his ring (that was quick). What do you guys think?
#Shakespeare #MerchantOfVenice #shakespearereadalong
@merelybookish @graywacke

MoonWitch94 @GingerAntics I agree that the forced conversion was TOO much. Overall, this is not one of my favorite plays by The Bard. I didn‘t enjoy it the first time in college & not particularly now. 4y

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GingerAntics I‘m going to be honest of my bias up front. I think Shylock was absolutely conned. He rightful deserves some form of repayment. Instead, he not only gets nothing, he loses. Meanwhile, Antonio, Bassanio, and the Duke all gain, making out like bandits. This is an absolute miscarriage of justice and I think Portia gets what she‘s got coming to her when Bassanio gives up his ring. She made her bed. 4y

GingerAntics @MoonWitch94 I agree. The injustice inherent throughout but so obvious in this act just make it enraging to read. 4y

Lcsmcat The whole ring thing at the end felt tacked-on to me. It didn‘t fit with the rest of the play. 4y

GingerAntics @Lcsmcat why? I‘ve been waiting for him to give the ring away since he promised never to take it off, give it away, or lose it. It‘s almost a Shakespearean trope. “Don‘t give this things away.” Next act: “I couldn‘t NOT give it away.” 4y

Lcsmcat @GingerAntics Because there was never the “I don‘t trust you, but I love you anyway” trope in this play until Act V. It felt like he stuck it in because it was expected or he couldn‘t figure out any other way for them to realize what their wives had done. 4y

mollyrotondo So when I started reading this comedy (only my second Shakespeare comedy) I tapped into the humor so much more easily than when I read Loves Labours Lost. My brain immediately clicked to comedy and not tragedy. Now while reading Act IV‘s trial, I cannot understand how this is a comedy. This trial was so incredibly tragic. Making Shylock give up his religion that they think is inferior to Christianity and ultimately not being able to work ⬇️ 4y

GingerAntics @Lcsmcat we haven‘t read act V yet. We‘re still on act IV. Be careful with the spoilers. 4y

mollyrotondo is disgusting and demeaning. I cannot believe that that is how Shylock‘s story ends. And now we are going to go into a hilarious jaunt about rings? Uhhh this has turned into my least favorite play. 4y

Gezemice @MoonWitch94 @GingerAntics @mollyrotondo I felt that Shylock was conned, also. At the same time he was conning and was ready to kill Antonio... so for that he should have lost his suit but not all his money and his religion, too! As far as the story, my edition has the original source. It was not invented by Shakespeare but is the first story of the fourth day of Ser Giovanni: Il Pecorone, published 1558. ⬇️ 4y

GingerAntics @mollyrotondo you have to remember, a Shakespearean comedy, like a Greek comedy, isn‘t funny per say. It may have humours moments, but the tragedies abs histories can have humorous moments as well. A Shakespearean comedy is a comedy in the traditional sense, meaning the main character(s) doesn‘t(don‘t) die at the end. A tragedy is when the main character(s) die(s) at the end. 4y

Gezemice ... The story is very similar, except the manner of choosing the prodigal son‘s wife. But the Jew, pound of flesh, trial, woman as lawyer, the blood argument, even the ring, are in the story. Shakespeare took the story and filled out the character. Shylock is much more human and has a reason for his cruelty. Albeit the conversion and forfeiture of goods are his additions. In the original the Jew just forfeits the contract. 4y

GingerAntics @Gezemice yeah, most of Shakespeare‘s plays actually have previous sources. His critics, in his day and today, say he never had an original thought. His genius is obviously in taking well known stories and making more of them or making them better. 4y

Gezemice I‘d like to say that I enjoyed the female agency in this act. The women cone to sort out what the men have messed up, and they do it with smarts. 4y

Riveted_Reader_Melissa I liked that Portia immediately rushed off to help her new husband‘s best friend out of trouble, and magically knows all about the trouble and the law to fix the situation. I thought conning him out of his ring, just to make him feel bad was a bit too far and served no purpose. (edited) 4y

GingerAntics @Gezemice as far as Shylock goes, I can‘t blame him for wanting to get rid of Antonio. Their history together has been alluded to enough, we know Shylock has been abused by him for quite a while. I don‘t condone murder by any stretch, but if we‘re going to take this in a legal, pragmatic way, Antonio agreed to those terms. He leveraged his own life for that money because he was cocky and he was sure the law would protect him...and it did. 4y

Gezemice @GingerAntics Indeed, I had no idea, but all the plays I had the extended editions for, were pretty closely based on another play or source. In Antony and Cleopatra he follows Plutarch almost word for word in places. His additions were character development, humor, dramatic editing, and of course, great language. 4y

GingerAntics @Gezemice those are his additions and those really flesh out the stories. He knew what stories people loved and he made them stronger, deeper, better. Holinshed is also a favourite source for Shakespeare. He got Macbeth and Hamlet (along with others) from there. Hamlet was a popular story, but he really added the philosophical side and the exploration of suicide, which is drawn from his own life. 4y

Gezemice @Riveted_Reader_Melissa I think it says that she consulted the lawyer. She must have since she has a letter from him. As far as the ring, that is probably an element to bring the play back to its romantic comedy part - also, it was in the source story. 4y

GingerAntics @Gezemice He takes these stories and really makes them his own. I don‘t think any of these stories would be in the modern lexicon if not for Shakespeare. What he added gave these stories staying power. 4y

Riveted_Reader_Melissa And the forced conversion was stupid, sorry. Like forcing a religion change would change a personality.😕 4y

Gezemice @GingerAntics It makes sense that he used stories already well known. People still flock to remakes, while a new idea is risky. Another remake of Spiderman? Everybody is there! 4y

Lcsmcat @GingerAntics Sorry! 4y

GingerAntics @Lcsmcat it‘s okay. I think it‘s pretty much down hill from here isn‘t it? You‘re not the only one who has finished, either. 4y

Gezemice @Riveted_Reader_Melissa Yeah, the forced conversion was not in the source and it seems to me especially cruel. I wonder if some stagings leave that out? I hope so. 4y

Lcsmcat @GingerAntics It‘s 2020. Time has no meaning. 😀 4y

GingerAntics @Gezemice that forced conversion thing. Ugh. I just had a thought, though. Shakespeare loved during the Catholic/Protestant issues in England. His father had Catholic leanings (he may have been raised Catholic) and citizens were forced to be the Christian variant of the ruler and that kept changing. I wonder if the forced conversion was commentary on what was done to the English people themselves. 4y

Gezemice @GingerAntics I finished Act V as well, yeah, it is short and just wraps things up. In many of his plays the action is unevenly distributed. 4y

GingerAntics @Lcsmcat 🤣😂🤣 can this year just end already? But only if 2021 is going to be better. 4y

GingerAntics @Gezemice what works in movies today, worked in theatres then. We always complain that small children want the same story over and over, but we do it, too. Maybe not as persistently and obviously as small children, but we pretty much stick to the same stories over and over. We even compare new books to older books. “Hey, this story is just like this other story I love” when it‘s not really or only partly. 4y

GingerAntics @Gezemice I always find the comedies to stop abruptly. Either the logical ending is by passed, more is added and then suddenly it‘s over (like this one) or nothing is really concluded. I think I‘m going to finish tonight and just be done with it. 4y

Gezemice @GingerAntics That‘s an interesting thought. I just finished a book that had the three children of Henry VIII who were yoyoing their subjects between protestantism and Catholicism. Edward VI was fervently protestant and banned Catholic services. Mary was fervently Catholic and burned protestants. Finally Elizabeth was a pragmatic protestant and tolerated Catholicism. But yeah, I guess, someone was always trying to convert everyone. 4y

GingerAntics @Gezemice EXACTLY! I hadn‘t thought of it until just now. I think for a lot of Christians at that time, because even then most people weren‘t really devout and really church goers, all the back and forth wasn‘t a big deal. They just shrugged and showed up where they were told at Easter abs Christmas and called it a year. When you make it not one sect/denomination to another but one religion to another, it shows the upheaval more. 4y

GingerAntics @Gezemice For the devout, being forced to the other sect/denomination was a big deal and a great upheaval. Shakespeare may have been devout. His father may have been. He was known to appease or play directly to Queen Elizabeth in other plays, perhaps this was another case of that. 4y

Graywacke Coming in late today. A note on the conversion - Shylock can only pursue his money lending as a Jew. The conversion, whatever he might feel inside, ends his livelihood. It‘s an important part of his complete destruction. 4y

Graywacke This act was one my quickest reads with Shakespeare. It‘s straightforward and generally easy to follow (except the Duke‘s initial speech). I find it‘s a difficult play to respond to because Shylock was terrible, ready to murder his social and business enemy. That‘s going way too far. But Portia works out a complete humiliation. Shylock undoes himself and is completely ruined and robbed. 4y

Graywacke I find Portia consistently showing a clever cruelness and her game with the ring completely in character. (edited) 4y

Graywacke Litcharts is convinced Antonio is gay and thinks there is innuendo in Bassanio spending that last night with him before heading back to Portia. 4y

Graywacke @Gezemice thanks for the note on the source! 4y

GingerAntics @Graywacke there is no “good” side and “bad” side between Shylock and Antonio. It‘s hard to say that taking away a person‘s ability to make money is justified either way. I get why they forced him to convert, I still think it‘s too much. I still think there is an argument for their treatment of Jews making Shylock the way he is. 4y

GingerAntics @Graywacke THAT‘S THE WORD I WAS LOOKING FOR!!! She has a clever, calculated cruelness. Yes. Thank you for that. The ring plays right into that and is just more of the same. 4y

GingerAntics @Graywacke I‘m not going to lie, the way the audio play was done, the way those two actors played those parts kind of gave me that vibe, too. I totally wrote it off as not important and just me until you said that. I‘m not saying Shakespeare wrote it that way, I‘m just saying that seems a viable interpretation for productions. 4y

Graywacke @GingerAntics as a Jew it was Shylock against the entire moneyed world of Venice. (Portia can be cruel and get away with it because she‘s team Venice. Shylock could not. He thought he could play the game and get his revenge, but I think he probably really never had a chance as an outsider. It was this or that. I think someone was going to find the way to turn it against him. He broke that contract of delicate and limited tolerance.) 4y

Graywacke @GingerAntics that was to your 1st response 4y

Gezemice @Graywacke You are right, Shylock was never going to win. Although if he set his mind on something less than murder, like enslaving Antonio, he might have pulled it off. And that would have been more fitting, too. Imagine Antonio scrubbing Shylock‘s privy! 4y

Gezemice @Graywacke I get the Arden Shakespeare editions from the library because they are well annotated. The story is Appendix I, right after the play. That‘s how I found it, turned the page 😊 4y

GingerAntics @Graywacke YES!!! That‘s what I‘ve been trying to say. I should just let you post for me on this one. 🤣 4y

GingerAntics @Gezemice 🤣😂🤣 oh my god that‘s a mental image I will never get rid of now. 4y

Graywacke @Gezemice The image of Antonio scrubbing the privy makes smile a little ☺️ 4y

Graywacke @GingerAntics oh no no no. Happy to take a break on this one and leave it all to you 😂 4y

GingerAntics @Gezemice is it the Arden performance editions or is there another edition? When we start rereading, I may have to switch to those. If those are the right editions, I‘m definitely getting Hamlet. 4y

GingerAntics @Graywacke 🤣😂🤣 all day I‘ve been trying to find the right words to describe what I‘m thinking about this act. I was repeating myself and I felt like I was spinning in circles, then you come in and everything you said was like the exact thing I was thinking but couldn‘t figure out how to express. I feel like all my posts amount to “forget this madness of me trying to figure this out. Just read what Dan said.” 🤣😂🤣 4y

Riveted_Reader_Melissa @Gezemice I like that thought, it makes some sense in the times he was telling the story for his audience. 4y

Riveted_Reader_Melissa @GingerAntics I‘m thinking about the ring thing now.... maybe for Portia that was another test, like the casks...would he pick gold over his word, was he more interested in the monetary value of the ring, even a ring gifted by his wife....or in reality would he pick the lead casket, risk it all to keep his world and save his friend. Maybe for her it was a parallel test, to see if he lived what the scripture taught him? 4y

Graywacke @GingerAntics aw, thanks. Grateful for your leadership here. 🙂 4y

GingerAntics @Graywacke thanks. It feels like the blind leading the blind. 4y

GingerAntics @Riveted_Reader_Melissa hm. I never thought of it that way. She‘s learned to test the people she loves by her father. I wonder what he might have done to her when she was a child to test her loyalty or her love. The caskets are just the final of his tests, the one we get to see. So she‘s testing him with the ring. Man I wish I could remember act V. I seriously thought this was the end of the play. 4y

Graywacke @Riveted_Reader_Melissa @GingerAntics seems Bassanio was willing to give everything away that he was given. Offers Shylock twice, thrice, 10x and later even his new wife‘s life. I haven‘t read Act V, so don‘t know if Portia provides a purpose. (edited) 4y

Gezemice @GingerAntics It is not a performance edition. It says “The Arden Shakespeare”. 4y

GingerAntics @Graywacke I remember that. I remember chuckling when she, as the lawyer, asks what she would think of that. 😏 4y

batsy I do agree with comments above that Shylock was set up from the start. His Jewishness/being an outsider was never going to enable him to be the one doing the outwitting. Whether this was Shakespeare's commentary on the antisemitism of English society at the time is something I'm less sure of, but just like with racism & sexism in his other plays, he puts forth the problem & depicts the prejudice & hypocrisy. I enjoyed Portia very much in this act. 4y

batsy @Graywacke I'm convinced Antonio is gay, too. But that's because we "read" it that way for the first time as undergrads in class and I wonder if that reading has just stuck with me. The repressed love for Bassanio as the source of his unsolvable melancholy. 4y

GingerAntics @batsy I have such mixed feelings about Portia in this act. I love that she was the cleverest person in the courthouse. I don‘t like how she used that power, if that makes sense. 4y

GingerAntics @batsy 🤣😂🤣 I never thought of it that way. When I read it, we didn‘t really discuss that much that I recall. We were mostly concerned with Shylock (at least that‘s what has stayed with me). I like your interpretation. It makes a lot of sense. It also explains why Antonio would give up his life (offer a pound of flesh near the heart ❤️) for Bassanio‘s happiness. (edited) 4y

batsy @GingerAntics Oh yes, that makes total sense. She did it for "love" but also in service of the power that further represses Shylock (and people like him). So yes, very complex and not particularly enjoyable in that sense. 4y

batsy @GingerAntics Lol yes, and it makes me feel sympathy for at least one of these Venetians! If Antonio was struggling with that I can extend some sympathy to one aspect of his character, because otherwise his words to Shylock... Oof. 4y

TheBookHippie @GingerAntics since the world went to hell in a hand basket I was a tad busy. So. Strangely all I could think of reading this was my grandma telling me white men who wanted to control women/people translated the Bible according to what would work for them and since very few people could actually read -no one caught it. Jews learned by word of mouth down your family line. I know she seriously distrusted Christians for ⬇️⬇️ 4y

TheBookHippie Changing the Bible to “work for them” since they were white rich educated and took out all parts that were essentially Jewish and pro women. She was quite the character and I‘ve done a bit of research and found a lot of it based on truth 🤯😳. So reading this I was like WAIT?! What? WHY?! 4y

TheBookHippie Other than that I do find this easier to read and Portia 🤷🏽‍♀️ woe. She‘s like a mean girl you secretly love but then maybe hate! 🤣 4y

GingerAntics @TheBookHippie what a great way to describe Portia. I‘ve read a few things that talk about how Christians changed the bible. Rome took over and they certainly couldn‘t have anything that said anything good about women. They might have to actually give them citizenship then. 🙄 Ugh. 4y

TheBookHippie @GingerAntics RIGHT? Somedays it feels like we currently live in Rome 🤮 4y

GingerAntics @TheBookHippie there are certainly plenty of men in power (and a disturbing number of women - mainly because that number is above 0) that would love to make America more like Rome. 🙄 It is truly disturbing and ridiculous. I‘m pretty sure there are even some folks cool with the slavery and public executions as entertainment, too. 4y

TheBookHippie @GingerAntics You are correct. Blows your mind right ? And nothing more heinous than these women supporting this shit show 🤬 4y

GingerAntics @TheBookHippie PRECISELY!!! Oh my god, I can‘t even. 4y

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GingerAntics

Merchant of Venice (Turtleback School & Library, Updated) | William Shakespeare

I‘m thinking his “Jewish heart” was hardened by the stone cold Christian hearts around him. This says more to me about the Duke than it says about Shylock to me.
#Shakespeare #MerchantOfVenice #shakespearereadalong

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GingerAntics

Merchant of Venice (Turtleback School & Library, Updated) | William Shakespeare

Bassanio has chosen the right casket, but Antonio is in trouble with Shylock and the law. Just when you thought there was a happy moment, the play has taken a dark(er) turn. I have a feeling the antisemism is only going to get worse.
#Shakespeare #MerchantOfVenice #shakespearereadalong
@merelybookish @graywacke

Riveted_Reader_Melissa It will, but you‘ve read this before so you know that! I read ahead this week too, and I‘m finding myself wondering if there is a good modern retelling, that could shift this complicated story more anti-bullying, anti-prejudice, forgiveness as it twists towards the end.....if there isn‘t there should be. 4y

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Riveted_Reader_Melissa Ok, about this Act. Yes, a bit of happiness. I liked that and I like Portia‘s character. 4y

TheBookHippie @Riveted_Reader_Melissa I wondered that too. Is there a modern retelling ? 4y

TheBookHippie I like Portia. I think the antisemitism will get to a ridiculous over the top point😭 4y

GingerAntics @TheBookHippie you are a wise woman. 4y

GingerAntics @Riveted_Reader_Melissa @TheBookHippie a modern retelling would be nice. Maybe where Antonio learns where he‘s being a jerk and Shylock learns he‘s being harsh and unforgiving. Where they can come together and forgive each other and no one‘s pound of flesh goes anywhere (not saying it does or anything), and no one is forced to just suck it up as “that‘s the way it is” and everyone is free to be themselves. 4y

GingerAntics @Riveted_Reader_Melissa @TheBookHippie trying so hard in that last post to not reveal anything while still making sense. My head hurts now. 🥵🤣 4y

Riveted_Reader_Melissa @GingerAntics I know, I broached this subject too soon....we‘ll talk about it again in the last discussion. 4y

Lcsmcat @Riveted_Reader_Melissa I haven‘t read it yet so I can‘t speak to its treatment of the story, but there is a retelling:

Shylock Is My Name

GingerAntics @Riveted_Reader_Melissa it‘s so compelling, though. It will make for a good conversation I think. 4y

GingerAntics @Lcsmcat sounds interesting. I wonder why it has such a low rating on litsy. 4y

Lcsmcat @GingerAntics It looks like most reviews were for the audio version, so maybe it‘s better in print. I‘ve read 3 of the Hogarth retellings and some were better than others. But all were good enough that I would read this one. 4y

Graywacke I haven‘t read ahead so going blind. This seemed like it could be headed for easy resolution with Portia $$. But i don‘t know what Portia is up to or where it‘s going. Shylock sees 🩸 4y

Graywacke Side note: I would think Antonio‘s fortunes are a reflection of what was happening at those London docks. 4y

GingerAntics @Graywacke that‘s a pretty good assessment of the end of act III. 4y

GingerAntics @Graywacke what do you mean? Antonio losing his fortunes or him putting too much stock in ships that hadn‘t come in yet? Please explain more. It seems an interesting line of thinking. (edited) 4y

Graywacke @GingerAntics just that like Venice, London was heavy into the high stakes shipping economy and had these precarious fortunes made and lost quickly. It feels very much like it could be a reflection of then contemporary London. 4y

GingerAntics @Graywacke I think it is. Maybe that‘s why Shakespeare put so many plays in that area. It paralleled his own country. 4y

LitStephanie I totally failed on this one but will definitely pick back up with the group next play! 4y

GingerAntics @LitStephanie that‘s cool 4y

batsy @Graywacke @GingerAntics That's an interesting point re: Antonio's debt/seesaw fortunes and commentary on London as a whole. I find the debt/bondage angle of this play super interesting and would love to read more about it. 4y

batsy @Riveted_Reader_Melissa I like Portia a lot, too! I like her exchanges with Nerissa but we don't quite get enough of the latter. 4y

Graywacke @batsy @Riveted_Reader_Melissa I‘m not sure i like Portia at all. ☺️😁 But then I do like the crazy Shylock, so I might not be the best judge... (I don‘t like her because she seems false to me. All strategy and acted emotion. “Oh, shocker, my Bassinio won. Let me bat my eyes.” Shylock is pretty straightforward. Integrity is not at issue.) 4y

GingerAntics @Graywacke what you see is what you get with Shylock. I completely agree with that. Other characters, I‘m always kind of wondering what their angle is. I don‘t ever have to wonder with Shylock. 4y

batsy @Graywacke I like Shylock, too :) In the same way I liked Aaron in Titus. They are perceived as despicable and certainly do bad things but they have an integrity that comes from being characters that reveal the hypocrisies and prejudices of that society, I think. I'm not sure I'm explaining it well... 4y

GingerAntics @batsy that‘s a good way of putting it. They‘re honest about themselves and the people around them in a way none of the other characters are. 4y

Graywacke @batsy @GingerAntics completely agree. In that way, they are victims of racism who accept that reality and deal with it as it is. (Aaron, however, is more sophisticated. Shylock is an open book. Maybe that will be his undoing. ??) 4y

GingerAntics @Graywacke oh poor Shylock, I always feel bad for him in the end. 4y

Gezemice This is such a great act and I am such an ass that I did not read it on time. I think Shylock‘s speech “Hath not a Jew eyes” speech is one of the finest Shakespeare has written and a clear denounciation of how Jews are treated (if not antisemitism itself). He is also clear on that Shylock has learned cruelty from the Christians: “The villainy you teach me I will execute”. @batsy @Graywacke (edited) 4y

Gezemice @Graywacke @Riveted_Reader_Melissa @batsy Portia is a great character and she is just starting. I did love her quip about men when they get ready to dress as men: “I have within mind a thousand raw tricks of these bragging Jacks, which I will practice.” 4y

Gezemice I also very much enjoyed the banter at the end of the act between Lorenzo, Lancelot and Jessica. “he says you are no good member of the commonwealth, for in converting Jews to Christians, you raise the price of pork.” 4y

Graywacke @Gezemice interesting how Shylock‘s speech echoes the Moor‘s on the color of blood and, i think, Aaron to an extent in Titus. 4y

GingerAntics @Gezemice I totally agree with that. If you treat Jews poorly from birth, how do you expect them to treat others? People act the way they‘ve been treated by people. We can claim “but you can choose something different” and “treat others the way you want to be treated,” but if there is no one to model that, people have no idea how to act beyond the way they‘ve been treated. 4y

GingerAntics @Graywacke we can never know for sure, of course, but I really think Shakespeare wasn‘t a huge fan of racism, antisemitism, or prejudice in any form. Maybe he was secretly a black, Jewish, woman. 🤣😂🤣 4y

Gezemice @Graywacke Interesting point - I will have to look that up. I shamefully admit that I skipped Titus - I just had too many group reads. Hopefully I will fix that one day. 4y

Gezemice @GingerAntics I think Shylock is seeking revenge in particular on Antonio. I don‘t think that in everyday life he would have been cruel. Miserly, yes, but I am quite sure that any community would model compassion within it towards their own, especially such a persecuted one as the Jews. 4y

Gezemice @GingerAntics @Graywacke Yes, Shakespeare was a compassionate man, and especially capable to put himself into the shoes of people different from him. That makes him sucha timeless writer. While his plays display the time they have been written in, they also transcend it. Especially this play: there is overt antisemitism but also compassion for the Jew; and a definite support for the idea that women can do as well as men if given the opportunity. 4y

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