{"product_id":"the-merchant-of-venice-william-shakespeare-9780743477567","title":"The Merchant of Venice","description":"In \u003ci\u003eThe Merchant of Venice\u003c\/i\u003e, the path to marriage is hazardous. To win Portia, Bassanio must pass a test prescribed by her father's will, choosing correctly among three caskets or chests. If he fails, he may never marry at all. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eBassanio and Portia also face a magnificent villain, the moneylender Shylock. In creating Shylock, Shakespeare seems to have shared in a widespread prejudice against Jews. Shylock would have been regarded as a villain because he was a Jew. Yet he gives such powerful expression to his alienation due to the hatred around him that, in many productions, he emerges as the hero. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003ePortia is most remembered for her disguise as a lawyer, Balthazar, especially the speech in which she urges Shylock to show mercy that \"droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven.\" \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eThe authoritative edition of \u003ci\u003eThe Merchant of Venice\u003c\/i\u003e from The Folger Shakespeare Library, the trusted and widely used Shakespeare series for students and general readers, includes: \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e-Freshly edited text based on the best early printed version of the play \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e-Newly revised explanatory notes conveniently placed on pages facing the text of the play \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e-Scene-by-scene plot summaries \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e-A key to the play's famous lines and phrases \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e-An introduction to reading Shakespeare's language \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e-An essay by a leading Shakespeare scholar providing a modern perspective on the play \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e-Fresh images from the Folger Shakespeare Library's vast holdings of rare books \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e-An up-to-date annotated guide to further reading \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eEssay by Alexander Leggatt \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eThe Folger Shakespeare Library in Washington, DC, is home to the world's largest collection of Shakespeare's printed works, and a magnet for Shakespeare scholars from around the globe. In addition to exhibitions open to the public throughout the year, the Folger offers a full calendar of performances and programs. For more information, visit Folger.edu.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAuthor:\u003c\/b\u003e William Shakespeare\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-10:\u003c\/b\u003e 0743477561\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-13:\u003c\/b\u003e 9780743477567\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e Simon \u0026amp; Schuster\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eLanguage:\u003c\/b\u003e English\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublished:\u003c\/b\u003e 01\/01\/2004\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePages:\u003c\/b\u003e 304\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eFormat:\u003c\/b\u003e Paperback\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eWeight:\u003c\/b\u003e 0.34lbs\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eSize:\u003c\/b\u003e 6.80h x 4.24w x 0.80d","brand":"William Shakespeare","offers":[{"title":"Paperback","offer_id":44053310046463,"sku":"9780743477567","price":6.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0662\/2982\/9887\/files\/img_af0158b4-9e2c-46fa-bd82-9363757818c3.jpg?v=1685023629","url":"https:\/\/www.whiterainbookhouse.com\/products\/the-merchant-of-venice-william-shakespeare-9780743477567","provider":"WR Book House","version":"1.0","type":"link"}