Boika Sokolova, Shakespeare: 'The Merchant of Venice'

This book offers a pedagogical analysis of Shakespeare’s complex and controversial play in its Elizabethan and modern contexts.

Contents

Chapter 1, Shakespeare: His Life, His Education, His Theatre sets Shakespeare’s life and literary career in the context of his age. Chapter 2, Genre; ‘The Merchant of Venice’ in Context considers romantic comedy and 16th century Venice and London. Chapter 3, The Embarrassment of Riches discusses 1.1: Venice, Venetians, Antonio, Bassanio; 1.2: Portia’s Belmont; 1.3: Shylock’s Venice. Chapter 4, Confusions and Exclusions discusses Act 2, Morocco and Arragon; Jessica’s Elopement, Lorenzo, Venetians; Lancelot, the Subversive Fool; Expunging Otherness. Chapter 5, Loss and Gain focuses on 3.1: Xenophobia, Flesh, Blood and Rings; 3.2: Caskets and Cultural Codes; Love and Money. Chapter 6, Trial and Tribulations discusses 4.1: Venetians at Court: Shylock, Antonio, Bassanio; Portia: ‘The quality of mercy’ Venetian Style; Portia: Rearranging Emotional Hierarchies. Chapter 7, The Gardens of Belmont discusses 5.1: Jessica and Lorenzo; Rings and ‘Parchment bonds.’ The book concludes with a chapter on perfornaces and criticism, Suggestions for Further Reading and a Filmography.

Boika Sokolova

Boika Sokolova's books include Shakespeare’s Romances as Interrogative Texts (Edwin Mellen, 1992), Painting Shakespeare Red (University of Delaware Press, 2001) and editions of collections of essays on Shakespeare‘s reception in Europe.

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