The merchant of Venice plays off some racist stereotypes. Shylock is the "evil" Jewish money lender, and Antonio is the "good" friend who is victimized by Shylock. However, if it weren't for Shylock's adament demand that he be given a pound of Antonio's flesh, I might have actually liked him. It sounded as though Antonio said some pretty derogatory things about Shylock and his fellow Jews. Antonio also looked down on their profession of lending money with interest. Although the interest rates seem high now, they were fairly normal back in that time, and money lending was one of the few ways Jews were able to make a profit. To see some common ways that Europeans set Jews apart, check out the following link:
http://www.pbs.org/wnet/heritage/episode4/presentations/4.3.6-1.html
For more about Jewish Stereotypes, check out this link:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stereotypes_of_Jews
I also just read Alicia Tovar's blog. She discusses more about what sort of statement Shakespeare is trying to make in his play. Here is the link:
http://tovaralicia382.blogspot.com/2012/01/shylock.html?showComment=1327469270057#c278187373941382486
Isn't it interesting how Shakespeare manipulates us to almost want to feel sympathy for Shylock? Shylock's monologue is something that I, as someone who has been often condemned because of my race or religion, deeply sympathized with. Yet, we cannot go with him all the way as he demands for the right to LEGALLY murder his condemner--Antonio. So it is Antonio we must pity: we pity the bully himself. How strange and twisted evaluating this makes me feel!! :) I talk a little bit more about these complexes in my own blog: http://tovaralicia382.blogspot.com/
ReplyDeleteYou should check it out. Thanks for bringing out this complexity found in Merchant of Venice. :)
Thanks! I added the link above for anybody else who is interested.
ReplyDelete