![[IMAGE] Two actors stand close behind each other in the dark shadows. One is wearing a three piece suit, and holding a lit tapered candle that drips wax over their hand. The other is wearing a purple knitted jumper, and holds a lit match.](https://images.shakespearesglobe.com/uploads/2022/02/The-Merchant-of-Venice-Shylock-and-Jessica-Shakespeares-Globe-Helen-Maybanks.png?resize=1990%2C796&gravity "The Merchant of Venice Shylock and Jessica Shakespeare's Globe Helen Maybanks")
The Merchant of Venice Resources
These resources were supplied in support of our 2022 production of The Merchant of Venice.
The Merchant of Venice engages with many themes including race, religion, and gender. In conversation with the creative team, company, and external consultants, we have gathered some suggested resources for those who may be affected by the play’s themes, or for those who want to read further about Shakespeare, Jewish theatre artists, antisemitism, how to be an ally, Anti-Racist Shakespeare, celebrating Jewish artists, and more. This is not an exhaustive list, but we hope it provides some useful information.
Most of these books, websites, zines, and blogs are available freely online.
Explore the Shakespeare’s Globe blog, including a series exploring race and religion in Shakespeare’s The Merchant of Venice, Early Modern England and the Venetian Ghetto.
You can read The Globe’s Statement of Intent here.
EXPLORE FURTHER
Learn More:
- Shylock is My Name, Howard Jacobson
- The Past Didn’t Go Anywhere, April Rosenblum
- How were the Jews regarded in 16th-century England?, James Shapiro
- Maus, Art Spiegelman
- My Jewish Learning
Celebrating Jewish Culture:
- Jewish Museum – Jewish Britain: A History in 50 Objects
- JW3
- Jewish Music Institute
- Forge, Rachel Mars
Further reading:
- Blood Relations: Christian and Jew in The Merchant of Venice, Janet Adelman
- Fascism: A Warning, Madeleine Albright
- Strange Hate, Keith Kahn Harris
- On Being a Jewish Feminist, Susannah Heschel
- What Are Jews For? Adam Sutcliffe
- Chicken Soup and Barley, Arnold Wesker
- Understanding Antisemitism, Jews For Racial and Economic Justice
- Once Upon A Time in Nazi Occupied Tunisia, Josh Azouz
- Bubble Schmeisis, Nick Cassenbaum
- Salty Irina, Eve Leigh
- The Shylock Play, Julia Pascal
- The Birthday Party, Harold Pinter
- The Merchant, Arnold Wesker