Collana | Studi e ricerche
Miscellanea | The Merchant in Venice: Shakespeare in the Ghetto
Capitolo | Trying Portia

Trying Portia

Abstract

Extraordinary in itself, the 2016 performance of The Merchant in the Venetian Ghetto produced an equally extraordinary collateral performance. Staged in the Scuola Grande di San Rocco, a ‘Mock Appeal in the Matter of Shylock vs Antonio’ was heard by a bench presided over by Ruth Bader Ginsberg. A curious aspect of the Appeal was that Portia made an appellee. This essay investigates the decision to try Portia. What cultural, political, religious needs were served by bringing Portia into court? Thinking about Justice and Mercy, law, bonds, and love, this essay asks: when the verdict was pronounced, was antisemitism recuperated by misogyny?


Open access

Pubblicato 10 Giugno 2021 | Lingua: en

Keywords PortiaThe Merchant of VeniceAdaptationRuth Bader GinsburgThe quality of mercyAntonioMock Trial: Shylock vThe Merchant of Venice in the GhettoChildren reading ShakespeareShakespeare’s comedies of loveShakespeare’s trial scenes


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