Libraries at University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Abstract
For nearly a century, teaching Shakespeare'sThe Merchant of Venice in schools has been questioned, because of perceived religious prejudice . Defenders of Shakespeare are encouraged to fight censorship with a constitutional right to read. Definers of literature are left out when a defense of the play is required. Both potential censor and concerned parent could better observe reasons to protect the play through explanations of its merits presented alongside legal discourse. The school librarian will defend controversial classics more effectively if legal and literary judgments are used together to answer the wrath of the censors.
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