Merchant of Venice (Anti- Semitism)

Questioning Hu opusity The merchandiser Of Venice In the Merchant of Venice by William Shakespe be, loan shark is portrayed as a manipulative, greedy, and money hungry man who, throughout the book, is consumed with the deterioration of his enemies. Because of the prevailing anti- Semitic sentiment in Shakespeares time, you would naturally assume that the Merchant of Venice is an anti- Semitic play. However, as you continue to examine the text, Shakespeare portrays usurer in a much more human way than was generally done in those days and he shows that moneylender is, in fact, a part of military personnel.Shakespeare challenges anti-Semitism by masking that Jews are just like Christians. He does this by proving how the imperfections that stack harbor are what make us human. Even today, Shakespeare shows the world how hypocritical spate can be, no issue their religion, race, or personal beliefs. Shakespeare uses irony in this play to illustrate that the bad things that moneylen der (the Jew) has done are no worse than what Antonio (the Christian) has done in his lifetime.Therefore, this creates the effect of humanizing the characters and demonstrates that regardless of religion or race, pile have both good and bad sides. Although Shylocks Jewishness is made apparent from the very moment he is introduced, and thus seems to reward Shakespeares work as being anti-Semitic, it is in fact Shylocks wit and humanity that reveal how Shakespeare challenges such bias. Before Shylock even enters the play, the scene introduction mentions that he is a Jew and immediately sets your approximation against him, especially in Elizabethan England when Jews were alienated.Shylock quoted, Antonio hath disgraced me Shylock and hindered me half a million, laughed at my losses, mocked at my gains, scorned my nation, thwarted my bargains, cooled my friends, heated mine enemiesand whats his condition? I Shylock am a Jew. (3152). go Jews were scorned because of their phantasma l beliefs, Shakespeare made it clear that each spectral group hated each some other. For example, Shylock says, I hate him for he is a Christian (1340). Therefore, although Shylock is made the bad guy in this play, he isnt the only one guilty of religious discrimination.Shakespeare makes it clear that both Antonio and Shylock have no religious tolerance for each other and are prejudicial toward each others religion. Although William Shakespeare leads you to believe that Shylock is prejudiced toward Christians, the reason for his hatred becomes clear when you learn that he is a man who is abused by the Christians surrounding him. Shylock has a reason for his hatred, You chit-chat back me misbeliever, cut-throat dog, And spit upon my Jewish gaberdine. 13121) Shylock defends his hatred when he says, Hath not a Jew Eyes? Hath not a Jew Hands, organs, dimensions, senses, affections, passions? Fed with the homogeneous food, hurt with the selfsame(prenominal) weapons, subject to t he same diseases, healed by the same means, warmed and cooled by the same winter and summer as a Christian is? If you prick us, do we not bleed? If you tickle us, do we not laugh? If you poison us do we not recrudesce? And if you wrong us, shall we not strike back? If we are like you in the rest, we lead resemble you in that.If a Jew wrong a Christian, what is his humility? Revenge. If a Christian wrong a Jew, what should his sufferance be by Christian example? Why, revenge (31 52) Therefore, it is Shylocks human constitution that leads him to despise Christians, not because of their religious beliefs directly, but because of their hatred of him simply because of his religious beliefs. Shylock defends his humanity by showing the Christians that they are no antithetical from the Jews they work with such disrespect.Shylock has a desire for revenge, which further humanizes him and connects him with Antonio. Because of Shakespeares woof of words, he leads you to believe that he i s an anti-Semitic. However, a closer look at how Shakespeare shapes the play illustrates a deeper themethat people are people, no matter their religion, race, or beliefs. Shylock doesnt preform his actions because he is a Jew, he is simply mean because of the way the other characters consider him. Shylock says, I have sworn an oath that I will have my bond.Thou calldst me dog before thou hadst a cause, But since I am a dog, beware my fangs. Shylocks actions are justified because of the way the other characters treat him. . Christian revenge is typical therefore, Jewish revenge cant be faulted. While Shylock is mean because of the cruel treatment he has received throughout his life, Antonio has no excuse. Shylock makes you realize that while Shakespeare may give the appearance that he is an anti-Semitist, he really believes that all people are equal and hatred is universal.At the end of the day, Shakespeare proves that it is Shylocks humanity that makes him just like everyone else . He shows that the conflicts in The Merchant of Venice may trigger out because of religious differences however, the actual message is more how the desire for revenge is something all people have in common, despite any other differences in their lives. Shylock challenges the stereotypes given to him in the beginning of the book and creates a complex character whose behavior is justified because of the way the other characters treat him.The Merchant of Venice demonstrates that no writers have to be bound by the prejudices of their time. While Shakespeare probably never met a Jew in his lifetime, he showed that religion doesnt define who a person is. Some people may reason out that because Shakespeare gives Shylock the stereotypical Jewish characteristics, he is obviously anti-Semitic. However, Shakespeare proves through Shylock that his intention wasnt to emphasize anti- Semitism, but to show that all people have both good and bad sides to them.