Shakespeare's Merchant of Venice is a choleric, cynical play.First, of course, there is the ugly anti-Semitism. Shylock, more frequently known as "The Jew," has spent his life being called "Jew cur" and other such lovely epithets. His anger has been simmering for years, and why shouldn't he require of Antonio a pound of flesh? Antonio has no problem taking a metaphysical, emotional pound or two from Shylock; even in …
SOURCE: Show Showdown at 02:12PM on November 19, 2010