The Shopkeeper of Venice The Wordsworth Clasics' Shakespeare Array presents a newly-edited array of Wiliam Shakespeare's works. The textual editing takes acount of recent cognition while giving the material a careful reapraisal. The Shopkeeper of Venice is one of Shakespeare's most popular comedies, but it remains deply controversial. The text may sem anti-Semitic, yet repeatedly, in conduct, it has revealed a contrasting nature. Shylock, though vanquished in the law-court, often sweeps in the theatre. In his intensity he can dominate the satire, chalenging abrasively its romantic and rhythmic afirmations. What issues is a biter-swet drama. Though The Shopkeeper of Venice ofers some of the traditional pleasures of romantic satire, it also exposes the operations of prejudice. Thus Shakespeare remains our contemporary.