The Merchant Of Venice Anti Semitic Essay

The merchandiser Of Venice Anti Semitic EssayMany texts are classed as racist stringently because they contain whatsoever element of racism, whether or non this is intended to be taken literally. Specifically, The merchant of Venice is often viewed as anti-Semitic, and thence regarded in a worse light than other, less contentious, Shakespeare assumes. However, it is shady as to the extent to which the play set up be considered entirely anti-semitic, or whether it is but a social commentary, still pertinent today.The primary disapproval regarding Anti-Semitism at bottom The Merchant of Venice is the presentation of shylock. His portrayal as the uninspired Elizabethan Jew has caused much controversy, gaining further poignancy after the plays use as Nazi propaganda. However, the bardolatry evident in modern society has limited our power to see the play as racist, preferring to blame the anti-semitic stance on alternative influences, and flawed interpretation. However, th ere are certain instances within The Merchant of Venice that are surely anti-semitic, such as Lancelots assertion the Jew my master is a kind of devil1. There is no effort to disguise the horror for Shylock, despite the fact that universe Lancelots master, he should rightly command some degree of respect, yet he is ridiculed for his inability to control, perhaps the reason wherefore he asks for such a barbarous forfeit.Consequently, Shylock is viewed as queer an al some pantomimic villain. Yet there are few more disorder dialectes in Shakespeare than Shylocks to Solanio and Salerio (III.i.49-68). For whilst his initial statements are eloquent and justifiable I am a Jew. Hath a Jew non eyes?, forcing sympathy from the audience, his words dissemble a darker sen durationnt. He must remind the Venetians that he too has hands, organs, dimensions and intellects2, and and then feels the same emotions and pains that they themselves do, proving himself an theoretical disturb. Yet this is not a speech of exaltation for shared experience, nor an exercise to force acknowledgement of his humanity. On the contrary, Shylocks monologue is anguished, high spot a deep-rooted desire for vengeance, as seen when he states if you reproach us, shall we not revenge?3. The use of first person adds a sense of imminency, making it more personal, forcing the audience to evaluate their own stance. Furthermore, the use of magniloquence adds to sense of internal conflict, demanding a sympathetic response, yet that he goes on to state the villainy you teach me, I will execute4, shows a lack of culpability for his revengeful actions, solely that he blames his need for military group and revenge on his maltreatment, and thus Christians. Despite the empathy we are forced to feel, the terminus reaction to this speech is more one of pity whilst Shylocks motivation is understandable, the lengthiness of malevolence and racism is not, considering us against the Jew, and Judaism as a hearty.It could be argued, however, that anti-semitism is perpetuated by the characters within the play, and the audiences interpretations, as fence to the play being anti-semitic as a whole. For example, whilst many characters founder reason to spurn Shylock, due to his lack of mercy, the fact he is rarely referred to by his veridical name, and simply as Jew, implies that his malevolence is an embodiment of his Judaism. Furthermore, this derogatory referral (with parallels evidently drawn between the alternatively named Jew of Venice and Marlowes clearly anti-semitic The Jew of Malta), gains signifi kindlece as it is restate it becomes a term with connotations that infuse it with additional meaning. As such, it is not needs the act of the disparaging use of Jew that can be construed as anti-semitic, still the repetition of the insult. This is comparable to the use of the phrase the moorland, in Othello (interestingly, the phrase the moor5was in addition used offhandedly in The Merchant of Venice, highlighting the honest fashion in which racism was used in Elizabethan society). Whilst the behavior is clearly racist, it is the recurrence of the term, such as at the climax of Othello, when Othello is at his weakest (the Moor may unfold me to him6), that creates the overall disparaging effect.It could be argued, however, that rather than an anti-semitic play, The Merchant of Venice could be classed in modern terms as Brechtian, in the sense that societal flaws concerning racism as a whole are highlighted, causing the audiences reflective detachment from the performance. For example, the Prince of Morocco, an evidently respected individual, states mislike me not for my complexion7, showing his ability to objectively observe the racism that was unglamourous at the time, forcing the other characters into recognition of their discrimination. The use of the personal pronoun, as opposed to Shylocks earlier use of the collective we is interesting, as it highlights the sense of personal victimisation the Prince feels, and is demonstrative of a more personal vendetta. However, it is questionable as to whether this statement is aimed at the other characters, or at the audience, with the racism of the characters embodying the views of the public at the time of writing Lancelots image of the Jew as the devil incarnate conforms to a common medieval notion8. This questions whether the play was created as a watercraft through which societys failings could be highlighted, or as genuinely anti-semitic, which at the time of writing would have been wholly unexceptionable, and thus the plays moral stance would have been less poignant.That is not to say that because racism, and in particular anti-semitism, was socially acceptable that it was morally correct. On the contrary, Shakespeare frequently refers to equality between religions. For example, when Antonio states The devil can cite scripture for his purpose, and evil soul producing holy wi tness, he adds cant over to the dichotomy of the play, demonstrating how Jews and Christians will both argue that their interpretation of scripture is correct, purely because they naively assume the other point of view is that of the devil. Shakespeare highlights that scripture is in fact subjective, and open to various interpretation, a profound ambiguity that is alike true of The Merchant of Venice.Furthermore, there is equal hatred from both sides, with Shylock proclaiming he hates our sacred nation9, mixing his own personal feelings with anti-semitism, but also Ill go in hate, to feed upon the prodigal Christian10. Here, he accepts a dinner invitation purely to fuel the mutual spiritual hatred. That there is so much previous animosity between the twain parties proves that the invitation cannot be taken as a real gesture, but merely as a cloying flattery, and thus he responds with hatred. This further emphasises the contextual view of race overriding intention and personality , a sentiment abruptly summed when Lancelot leaves a rich Jews service to become the follower of so scurvy a gentleman. Evidently, Lancelot has chosen religion over wealth, preferring a poor valet de chambre over Jew. Interestingly, although Shylock has admittedly treated him badly, Lancelot criticises the religion, rather than the individual. However what is approximately significant in this assertion is the comparison between the referral to a Christian as a poor gentleman versus simply Jew. This implies the impossibility of ingest contrast, denoting an inequality between the two. It could be argued that there is no need to delineate a gentleman as Christian as Christianity would have been the norm at the time, perhaps everyone was assumed a Christian, yet either modality, to be Jewish is portrayed as abhorrent.Consequently, Shylocks forced conversion to Christianity is one of the most disturbing scenes in literary history. Although it could be construed as a way for Shyloc k to access heaven, and thus an act of compassion and acceptance, the fact that it is foreshadowed when Antonio states the Hebraical will turn Christian, he turns kind11, creates a sense of inevitability, and thus a feeling of resolution when it occurs. That Antonio also states he will turn kind is a further insult, the implication being that personality is ground upon race and religion, and thus Shylock cannot be considered kind or equal until he relinquishes his faith.Yet there are flickers of moral justice within the play, particularly visible in the character of Jessica, insinuating that the play is a wind to highlight societys moral injustices. For example, she states I shall end this strife, become a Christian and a loving wife showing how she prises love and family above race, and can accept the racist Venetian ideals in order to find love. That Shakespeare also satirises the stereotypes of many nations, creates a link with the audience, and whilst also gaining popularity, adds a sense of clearness and societal significance outside the plays boundaries.Ultimately, The Merchant of Venice is a play not centralised around the glorification, or acceptance of anti-semitism, but about highlighting racism as a whole. Whilst, in recent times, Shakespeare has been overly revered, the play is undeniably captivating and thought provoking. Whilst it may not be an anti-semitic play, or even a play wholly about anti-semitism, The Merchant of Venice is an accurate social commentary on human nature, still relevant today.