The Merchant of Venice.The Merchant of Venice (MGM MGM in full Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Inc. U.S. corporation and film studio. It was formed when the film distributor Marcus Loew, who bought Metro Pictures in 1920, merged it with the Goldwyn production company in 1924 and with Louis B. Mayer Pictures in 1925. , 2004). Shakespeare's dark comedy about Venetian merchants and moneylenders repels and attracts modern audiences. We are uneasy about its blatant anti-Semitism, about the rendering of Shylock Shylock shrewd, avaricious moneylender. [Br. Lit.: Merchant of Venice] See : Usury (Al Pacino) the moneylender as a hateful, venal VENAL. Something that is bought. The term is generally applied in a bad sense; as, a venal office is an office which has been purchased. caricature. He reminds us of all our bigoted stereotypes and all the cruelty and injustice that go along with them. But he is also an articulate spokesman for all that rages against the injustices we perpetrate per·pe·trate tr.v. per·pe·trat·ed, per·pe·trat·ing, per·pe·trates To be responsible for; commit: perpetrate a crime; perpetrate a practical joke. on those whose pound of flesh is simply a piece of meat to us. Some comedies make us uncomfortable--but that's no reason not to see them. *** 1/2 |
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