Adapting Shakespeare – Converting Shylock in Michael Radford’s the Merchant of Venice

Abstract

This article aims to explore the extension and evolution of Shakespeare’s The Merchant of Venice through Michael Radford’s 2004 cinematic adaptation. By investigating the concept of adaptation and the significance of intertextuality, Shakespeare’s source text is considered alongside Radford’s twenty-first century recreation to reimagine and redefine the construction of Shylock as both a comic and tragic device utilized across film and play. Issues of racial and religious prejudices alongside anti- Semitic views were particularly prominent in Elizabethan England and, by concentrating on recontextualisation, this article looks to expose Shakespeare’s characterization as a reflective commentary concerning societal discriminations at the time of the play’s performance. By focusing primarily on Shakespeare’s Jewish Usurer, Radford is able to reconstruct and reestablish the dramatic devices and characters within the cinematic version, metaphorically converting Shylock from comic villain to tragic victim. Finally, it argues that this dynamic shift inevitably metamorphoses Shylock from a spectator’s perspective and provides Michael Radford with an opportunity to offer a social commentary on social inequality in the twenty-first century.

Re-presenting Shylock: An Examination of Post-Holocaust and Adaptation in The Merchant of Venice Play and Film Adaptations

“…However, Riga's focus on Radford's film adaptation provides a unique perspective and highlights the ways in which the director's creative choices contribute to the film's critique of anti-Semitism. Oakes (2016) argues in -Adapting Shakespeare -Converting Shylock in Michael Radford's The Merchant of Venice‖ that Radford's adaptation reflects larger cultural and historical trends related to the representation of Jews in popular culture. The author contends that the film's nuanced portrayal of Shylock serves as a commentary on the complex ways in which anti-Semitic attitudes have been perpetuated and challenged over time, and how such attitudes have been reflected in various artistic works.…”

“…Through his reinterpretation of the play, Radford critiques anti-Semitism and challenges negative stereotypes associated with the portrayal of Jews. Oakes (2016) argues that Radford's approach to Shylock reflects larger cultural and historical trends, further emphasizing the significance of reinterpretations in shaping contemporary discourse. These contributions to the ongoing reinterpretation of Shakespeare's work offer valuable insights into the role of adaptations in critiquing and re-evaluating cultural and historical norms, particularly regarding the representation of marginalized groups such as Jews.…”