Category: Communication

My essay will be based on the question “is the merchant of Venice anti-Semitic”. I will look at how Shylock is seen as a criminal rather than a victim because of stereotypical terms of Jews liking money. The play is seen to be anti-Semitic in it’s first scene. Jews are hated by Christians in the play due to there different views in religion which is why they’re spat on and mistreated This results in an anti-Semitic play, anti antisemitism being discrimination towards Jews. I will look further into how stereotypes are used to distinctly separate the Christians from the Jews especially in the Venetian Rialto and the Jewish ghetto .

First of all Shylock makes a good stereotype when it comes to Jews liking money, I know this because in the play when his daughter Jessica runs away from him with his ducats he’s more infuriated about the loss of ducats than the loss of a child.”O my ducats! O my daughter! Fled with a Christian! O my Christian ducats! Justice! the law! my ducats”. In modern day life Jews are seen to like money and Shylock portrays that. It is as if Shakespeare wanted to build the perfect stereotype by putting in a character like Shylock.

Although on the contrary some may disagree with this statement because: since Shylock is in a deal with Antonio where Antonio is dealing with Shylock’s money. Since Shylock knows that Antonio ships are common with mishaps and unsuccessful returns he tells Antonio that if his money is lost than a pound of flesh will taken from him instead of the money being paid back.”If you repay me not on such a day, In such a place, such sum or sums as are Express’d in the condition, let the forfeit Be nominated for an equal pound Of your fair flesh”. So in this scenario Shylock seeks flesh over money.

Where antisemitism really strikes in the play is when Shylock is spat on and has no right whatsoever to react unless wanting to face greater punishments.You, that did void your rheum upon my beard. And only ever when in need does Shylock have an actual chance where the power is in his hands.The fact that cases like this in the play are common is a real factor towards Shakespeare creating an anti Semitic play. but what really startles you is that when you look back, Shakespeare intended this play to be a comedy but we see this as a tragedy so does this mean that when spat on we were meant to be humored by it and laugh at the low status of Shylock.

The play is slightly based on its reality at the time. In Venice 1596 the case was that Jews wore yellow scarves when leaving the Jewish ghetto to distinctly point out there religion, which in the play is represented as wearing red hat. which leads on to my next point where that the Jews where only permitted to leave the ghetto during day time where they were again restricted because there only job was to lend money or work in pawn shops. So is the play anti-Semitic or just based on the truth and historic facts based on Jews in the 16th century?

Furthermore into the play when in court over a dispute with shylocks money happening to have not made it back from Antonio ships.even though shylocks  case against Antonio is very sturdy the judge is Christian so the rules may be tweaked in the state of antisemitism. Anti semitism being the case would mean that all of shylocks ducats had gone to waist But what is even worse is that he will not get his revenge.before in the play he had stated That in the case of there being a mishap with the money that a pound of flesh will be taken. This means that no matter the case, that the majority of the time Jews will not get there way, also meaning that Antonio will have the upper hand and shylocks points will be irrelevant .So has anti semitism completely ruined a contract by also making it only one sided.

In the play shylock is mocked for his religion when lore no says to him that for if he goes to heaven it will be for Jessica converting religions into Christianity. This shows that he feels only Christians have the right to go to heaven in honour.

In conclusion I think that the merchant of Venice is an anti Semitic play because of the discrimination against Jews in the play and the way the are mistreated (Like being spat on being cussed and the main reason of Christians always having the upper hand over Jews who will always be looked down upon and there points to be useless , simply, only on there race and religion

Portia tries to slow down bassanio’s decision. She wants to tell him to pick the right casket but doesn’t want to break her oath of secrecy.

The 2 main things that happen in act 3 scene 2 is the marriage of bassanio and portia, it’s also the marriage of nerissa with gratianio.

Caricature / stereotype (caricature uses stereotypes to mock people, making them laugh).

I think that free land feels as though the play is anti-semitic. I feel this because until I read his view on the play I had thought shylock was the victim yet now I see shylock as the villain. In the article he uses very descriminating language. Free land says ” thus he is shown as obsessed by money, a man who dreams of moneybags.” This shows that he is trying to use the modern day stereotype of Jews being good with money . when Jessica flees, shylocks concern is about his ducats not about the loss of a child.

I think that even though the play is anti-semitic we should continue in Learning about to help us understand the descrimination and it’s use.

Why were Jews discriminated against?

Shakespeare’s play the merchant of Venice was made in 1596. Many of the scenes in the play have anti-semetic speeches. Even though Shakespeare was born in Stratford upon Avon on the 26th of April 1564 he based his books on Venetian reality. For instance both in Shakespeare’s book and in real life Jews were forced to where distinct clothing to show their religion when leaving the ghetto which was the confined space where only Jews lived. In reality Jews wore a yellow scarf which is represented as wearing a red hat in Shakespeare’s play.

The Christians problem with the Jews was purely based on religion. Christians therefore had disputes with the Jews, there where cases of spitting on Jews which in the play is re-in acted . An example of this is when Shylock reminds Antonio of the time he spat on him “you that did void your rheum upon my beard”. Evidence of this was taken off spark notes and Jewish virtual library.

-Shylock shouldn’t give Antonio the money especially after everything he’s done to him in the Rialto: like spitting on him and Antonio has just ignored it “Signor Antonio, many a time and oft in the Rialto you have rated me about my money’s and my usances still have I borne it with a patient shrug.

-Shylock and the rest of the Jews weren’t treated equally and with respect when leaving the ghetto yet now the tables turned and Antonio needs his help “you call me misbeliever, cut throat dog and spit upon my Jewish gaberdine and all for use of that which is mine own well then it now appears you need my help.

-he mocked and cussed him yet wants a large amount of money “you called me dog and for these courtesies I’ll lend you this much money’s.

Are people with lighter complexion considered more beautiful: I think that it is not true because people have their own tastes and opinion it is also up to people making pre-deceived ideas of people with different complexions.

should skin lightening be banned: I think that it should be on a religious point of view Christians are sinning as in the bible it talks about how God has made you a certain way and it’s a sin to change your looks. Also it’s a matter of peer pressure: many white people want to tan and many dark skinned people want to put skin lightening creams on, so it looks like everyone wants to be light skinned.

By entering the stage and saying “mislike me not for my complexion” the Moroccan prince feels that he shouldn’t be singled out or seen as different or having a disadvantage of marriage because of his darker skin tone.

Fairest-positive, lightest, born in Europe

shadow-prince is saying he’s dark and she’s light.

how is skin colour seeing in the prince of Morocco’s lines: this is evident in the text ” I would not change this hue, except to steal your thoughts, my gentle queen”. By saying this he feels that the only way that he will change his complexion is by a certain yes on his and hers marriage.

Summary points: this scene opens with bassanio and Shylock In the Jewish ghetto in Venice. Bassanio asks Shylock for money:”Three thousand ducats for three months, and Antonio bound”.

shylock thinks Antonio’s ships are not secure and thinks he can get money from him. He doesn’t like Antonio and wants to hurt him:”But ships are but boards, sailors but men.

shylock gives Antonio a reason why he shouldn’t give him the money:”Signor Antonio many a time and oft in the Rialto…”.

If Antonio fails to pay Shylock on the deadline, Shylock will cut him open:”Let the forfeit be nominated for an equal pound of you fair flesh.

Prince of Morocco: intimidating, flamboyant, wealthy.

In my version (modern life in the inner city) of the merchant of Venice the Moroccan prince would enter to rap or hip hop. His followers would only be able to talk unless if introducing him.

-Shylock shouldn’t give Antonio the money especially after everything he’s done to him: like spitting on him.
-Shylock and the rest of the Jews weren’t treated equally and with respect when leaving the ghetto.
-Antonio isn’t trustworthy as a person but also with ships and is in a shady business.
-If Shylock gives the money he will look like a push over and will be looked Down on by fellow Jews as a traitor.

The merchant of Venice,scene summary:

portia was to find a new suitor.

portia did not approve of an English man to be her suitor.

Portia’a father had died but still left a list of suitor.

nerissa and portia discussed possible future husbands.

her choices were from a Neapolitan prince, a country palatine, French Lord, baron of England…

on the list of suitors that portias dad had left, bassanio.

language devices :

1. “As gallant as a full in flight ”              2. “All too dread for words “.              3. “So ghastly in the cold sunlight ”

I think that the poet has used these language devices to give them a feeling and affects of what each of the three men are experiencing. I think that these devices will affect the audience as they understand the shock and awe. It put the audience through an emotional ride.

I agree with the motion “This house believes that extreme views should be given a public platform”. I think that everyone should be entitled to speak aloud their views and opinions. If not then what people would like to say aloud becomes bottled up inside of them. Until all of the anger of not being able to express themselves suddenly explodes. Do you really think that big abolishments such slavery could have occurred if people were not later given public platforms? peoples thoughts are something that they personally think and believe in and once telling and also restricting boundaries of what they think is right they feel as if being pressurized to think certain things and ways, to suppress and please others on what they view. These are a few of the reasons why I strongly agree with the motion.