Enter the Jew. This is how Shakespeare introduces the character of Shylock in his play The Merchant of Venice, and it is here that the greatest controversy that plagues this work begins. The Elizabethan era, the era in which Shakespeare lived, was a time rife with hostility toward Jews. Elizabeth's own court physician, a Portuguese Jew, was sentenced to death (unjustly, so the story goes) after rumors spread that he might assassinate the queen. Shakespeare's own playwright, Christopher Marlowe, had already written The Jew of Malta, a play full of prejudices and stereotypes - the main character, Barrabbas, named after the infamous serial killer from the Bible, is one of the characters the most bloodthirsty and heartless of the literature of that time, and it is no coincidence that he is Jewish. The Merchant of Venice is also an apparently very anti-Semitic work. Shakespeare demonstrates anti-Semitism in his play through the terrible things he writes for the Jew to say, what he makes other characters say about this Jew and conversely Christians, and in the very way in which he chooses to describe Jewish culture. to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get an original essay Shylock the Jew says many things that appall the audience. To what would probably have been (in Shakespeare's time) an almost entirely Christian audience, he says that he hates a certain merchant, "because he is a Christian..." (I.iii.42) Already during his Shylock's first appearance caused the audience to dislike him. Throughout the play he also embodies the common stereotype of the time that Jews are greedy, stubborn, heartless and bloodthirsty, but most notably during Antonio's trial and the events that just preceded it . Shylock is a loan shark, one who lends money at high interest in order to make large profits at the expense of his clients. He repeats, to Antonio pleading in the presence of a jailer, “I will have my bail.” (III.iii.13-17) The bond he wants is a pound of Antonio's flesh, and so Shylock exposes himself in a single statement to possessing three of these sinful qualities: he is stubborn in repeating his desire, heartless in showing no mercy, and bloodthirsty in desire itself. Throughout the trial, Shylock further shows the quality of heartlessness. Even in light of Portia's speech about the "quality of mercy" (IV.i.190-212), he refuses to show mercy to the Christian he so hates: "I implored...the penalty and the loss of my bond” (IV. i.213-214) Shylock is made to seem like a terrible villain through his own words. There is, however, another side to Shylock's words. In some cases, rather than losing face in the public eye, Shylock actually begs the public to consider his point of view. He asks: “Doesn’t a Jew have eyes? Doesn't a Jew have hands, organs, dimensions, senses, affections, passions? Fed with the same food, wounded by the same weapons... as a Christian? (III.i.57-60, 63) He asks to be recognized as a human being similar to this opposing race of Christians. Certainly, this seems to serve to confuse the argument whether or not this piece is anti-Semitic, but it is not, in fact. Because the vast majority of Shylock's comments serve to condemn him in the public eye, his words can be said to have an overall anti-Semitic effect. Shakespeare, in hindsight, perhaps saves his reputation for being learned and broad-minded when he includes this appeal of the Jew to his audience, while being of his time in maintaining a generally anti-Semitic atmosphere in order to play on the public prejudices of thisthat day. Other characters contribute to painting a bad picture of the Jew. Shylock's servant Lancelet has an entire monologue devoted to the question of whether or not to "flee from this Jew [his] master" (II.ii.1-2), and calls Shylock a demon and a devil everywhere. Shylock's own daughter, Jessica, laments: "What heinous sin is there in me/To be ashamed to be one's father's evil child?" » (II.iii.16-17) She ends up fleeing her father, converts to Christianity and marries a Christian. All this serves to instill in the audience the feeling that he must be a terrible man, a villain (who, by definition, gets what he deserves) so despicable that even his own daughter will distance himself from him, physically and by changing clothes. religion. Shylock is also referred to by Christians as "the most inscrutable priest that ever kept with him." men” (III.iii.19-20) and as “an inhuman wretch, /Incapable of pity, empty and void/Of every glass of mercy” (IV.i.3-6). These only serve to reinforce public stereotypes that the Jew is stubborn and heartless, and that he is a terrible man - this is what Christians say, and the public, probably being predominantly Christian, would side with these opinions. Other characters serve to praise the Christians in the play as, well, further villainize the Jew. In fact, there are two distinct plots in the play – one involving the conflict between Antonio and Shylock, and the other involving Portia's marriage, ultimately to Bassanio. One of them (Portia/Bassanio) serves exclusively to show the goodness of Christians, while the other shows the wickedness of the Jew. Portia is seen as fair, kind, “a blessing” (III.v.74), and possessing countless other excellent qualities. Bassanio, by making the right choice of coffins, appears as a wise Christian, unlike these other foolish pretenders to whom no religion is specified. Shakespeare made sure to tie together the qualities of “Christian” and “good” in every way. In the Antonio/Shylock plot, Christians are also praised. Antonio, the tragic hero, had the tragic character of being only too generous and benevolent: "good Antonio, honest Antonio - oh, that [there was] a title good enough to keep his name company!" (III.i.13-15) He transforms into a simple hero when, in the trial, it becomes clear that he will not die for his fault, but he still remains a good Christian. Throughout each plot of the play, Christians are praised and shown to be on the whole good. Shakespeare's portrayal of Jewish culture misrepresented Jews to audiences of the time. For example, when Shylock first enters, he is almost certainly wearing "[his] Jewish gaberdine" (I.iii.122), a traditional black robe worn by those of the orthodox Jewish faith. Shakespeare's audience, however, would interpret black clothing to mean that this character is evil – which, of course, certainly promotes anti-Semitism. Then, when Shylock's daughter runs away from him to convert to Christianity and get married, Shylock wishes that "[his] daughter was dead at [his] feet...[he] would like her to be heard" . (III.iii.87-89) The truth is that when a member of an Orthodox Jewish family converts to Christianity, the family actually holds a funeral for him; this person is essentially dead to the family. Shakespeare's audience, however, would certainly not know this and would interpret it as a rather harsh comment, which further fuels anti-Semitism. Thus, even Shakespeare's accurate portrayal of Jewish culture presents the Jew to the audience as a terrible man. Keep in mind: this is just a sample. Get a personalized item now from.