So please my lord the Duke and all the court, To quit the fine for one half of his goods; I am content, so he will let me have The other half in use, to render it Upon his death unto the gentleman That lately stole his daughter一 Two things provided more: that, for this favor, He presently become a Christian; Questions: A. What is the title of the play from which the excerpt is taken? Who is the author? B. What does "I" and "he" respectively refer to in the third line? C. What is your comment on this play?
A: THE TITLE OF THE PLAY IS THE MERCHANT OF VENICE, AND THE AUTHOR IS WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE.B: IN THE THIRD LINE, "I" REFERS TO ANTONIO AND "HE" REFERS TO SHYLOCK.C: THE MERCHANT OF VENICE IS A ROMANTIC COMEDY, IN WHICH SHAKESPEARE SHOWED HIS OPTIMISTIC ATTITUDE TOWARDS LOVE AND YOUTH. THE TRADITIONAL THEME OF THIS PLAY IS TO PRAISE THE FRIENDSHIP BETWEEN ANTONIO AND BASSANIO, TO IDEALIZE PORTIA AS A HEROINE OF GREAT BEAUTY, WIT AND LOYALTY, AND TO EXPOSE THE INSATIABLE GREED AND BRUTALITY OF THE JEW.
