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| Merchant
of Venice by William Shakespeare
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“Jewishness” in the play
Traditionally, the attitude of British to Jews was quite negative
and works of many writers and poets, including Shakespeare,
illustrate the negative attitude of English people to Jews.
Basically, the relationships between representatives of English
and Jewish peoples were tense, if not to say hostile, but,
what was even more important, was the fact that Jewish were
severely oppressed and, as a rule, they were treated as a
second-class citizens. It should be said that one of the most
famous works by William Shakespeare, The Merchant of Venice
may be viewed as one of the woks that reveals the extent to
which the attitude of Englishmen to Jews was biased and unjust.
In fact, it is possible to speak about the obvious discrimination
of Jews and emphasizing the superiority of Englishmen in relation
to this ethnic group.
On analyzing The Merchant of Venice, it is possible to refer
to its title in order to better understand the attitude of
English people to Jews and the relationship that existed between
these peoples. In fact, it is estimated that the subtitle
or another title of the play was The Jew of Venice, while
the existing and known title The Merchant of Venice may be
viewed as more tolerant, but still revealing the essence of
the attitude of English people to Jews. To put it more precisely,
traditionally, and the play proves this fact, Jewish people
were viewed as successful merchants, which, though, could
hardly be characterized as honest or noble people. In stark
contrast, Englishmen viewed them as the absolute opposite
to their national ideal of a virtuous and noble man.
Primarily, it is necessary to underline that in the epoch
of Shakespeare, merchants were a lower class of society compared
to nobility. Practically, this means that English aristocrats,
noblemen were the superior layer of society, the superior
caste which dominated over all the others, while Jews being
rich and successful in their trade were deceitful, mercantile,
dishonest men that had nothing in common with a real English
nobleman.
At the same time, it is necessary to underline that it was
not only personal qualities and social status that distinguishes
Jews from an English nobleman. In fact, Shakespeare emphasizes
in his play that one of the most arguable subjects which actually
made Jews outcasts in England as well as in Europe at large
was their religious beliefs. It is not a secret that in Europe
where dominated Christianity, namely Catholicism, Judaism
was absolutely rejected as a true religion. In stark contrast,
religious beliefs of Jews were considered to be inferior in
comparison to religious views and beliefs of English people.
No wonder, in such a situation, the author views conversion
into Christianity as the great virtue and benefit for Jewish
people. In such a context, it is possible to estimate that
the forced conversion of Shylock into Christianity was probably
viewed by William Shakespeare as a sort of happy ending for
the character because it was a kind of enlightenment and inclusion
of Shylock to the higher caste of Christian who are perceived
as superior to Jews. At the same time, such a conversion is
a kind of rescue of Shylock’s soul from his impure thoughts
to kill Antonio.
Thus, it is possible to estimate that Jews, being treated
as second-class citizens, could find salvation from themselves
through the conversion into Christianity, which could rise
them at the upper level of spirituality.
Attitudes to Jews and Christian mercifulness
In general, the play The Merchant of Venice by William Shakespeare
perfectly reveals the attitude dominating in the Elizabethan
England to Jews, especially in the field of religion. Basically,
Jews were viewed as absolutely unable to perceive the same
values and views as Englishmen or Christians. As a result,
they were treated as second-class citizens
In fact, Shakespeare emphasizes that the attitude to Jews
was extremely biased and in such a situation the repulsion
of Shylock, which was treated as a villain, seems to be quite
natural since he perceives himself as equal to any other man,
believing that he is as human as any other person. This is
why he argues:
Hath not a Jew eyes? Hath not a Jew hands, organs,
Dimensions, senses, affections, passions; fed with
The same food, hurt with the same weapons, subject
To the same diseases, heal’d by the same means,
Warm’d and cool’d by the same winter and summer
As Christian is? (Shakespeare, 1994)
In this respect, it is necessary to point out the fact that
such an important aspect of Christian religion as mercifulness
is considered by non-Jewish characters of the play, as well
as by English people in the epoch of Shakespeare, absolutely
incomprehensible to Jews.
In fact, the entire structure of the play implies that Shakespeare
attempted to contrast the mercy of the main Christian characters,
which is considered to be one of the main Christian virtues,
with the vengefulness of a Jew, who, according to Shakespeare,
lacks the religious grace to comprehend mercy. In such a way,
the religious views of Jewish people seem to be primitive
and absolutely inferior compared to the religious views of
the main Christian characters of the play. This is why it
is possible to estimate that Shakespeare supported Christianity
as dominant religion and rejected Jewish religious beliefs.
At the same time, it is necessary to underline that the traditional
Christian mercifulness is often opposed in the play to Jewish
revengefulness. But, in actuality, Christians prove to be
not more merciful and not less revengeful than the Jew. This
is why he emphasizes:
Revenge. If a Christian wrong a Jew, what should his
Sufferings be by Christian example? Why, revenge.
The villainy you teach me, I will execute,
and it shall go hard but I will better the instruction.
(Shakespeare, 1994).
In such a way, it is Christians who prove to be the source
of revenge of the Jew and mercifulness is not such a characteristic
of Christians as it is considered to be.
Thus, it is possible to conclude that the attitude of Englishmen
to Jews were biased but the Christian virtues and Jewish sins
actually do not depend on their ethnicity or religious beliefs
as Shakespeare shows.
References
Shakespeare, W. (1994). The Merchant of Venice. New York:
Penguin Classics.
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