Stylistics Issues in Translating Metaphors of Shakespeare's Merchant of Venice

This study investigates some stylistic issues in translating metaphors in Shakespeare’s Merchant of Venice by two well-known Arabic translators. This article detects metaphors in the ST compared to their equivalence in the TTs (Arabic). It analyses the different meanings of metaphors whether they are denotative or connotative. This study is based on Newmark (1988); Catford (1969); Neubert and Jäger (1985); Holz-Mänttäri (1984); Vermeer (1999); Hermans (1998: 61); Venuti (2018); Toury (1995); and Goatly (2011) as they use different perceptions of translating metaphors. The results show a dilemma in translating metaphors for different reasons; one is related to the translator’s main work as a writer and a translator together or as only a translator. The other is related to the purpose of translation whether it’s for theater or for cultural interaction. The translators somewhat successfully translated the metaphors and nearly kept the style and the meaning of the ST.