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The Arc of Character in The Merchant of Venice
Year
2013
Language
ENGLISH
Duration
30m
Rating
TVPG
Publication Information
The Great Courses
Summary
Begin this episode by tracing the historical background of Judaism in Elizabethan London, and how the portrayal of Shylock conforms to contemporary conventions of comic villains. Then see how Shakespeare breaks free of the stereotypes of his time, developing the character and the play as a penetrating meditation on justice and mercy.