Shakespeare, Jonson, and the Myth of Venice
by David C. McPherson
Category: Literary Criticism

This work outlines the bright and dark sides of the Myth of Venice, dwelling on four aspects: Venice the Rich, Venice the Wise, Venice the Just, and Venezia-citta-galante. After describing the channels through which Shakespeare and Jonson could have become aware of this myth, this work uses it to generate new understandings of the Merchant of Venice, Othello, and Volpone.