The Merchant of Venice

In The Merchant of Venice, by William Shakespeare, there appears moneylender. He is a Jew, that a lot we are told in the number list. But, as the play unfolds moneylender is projectn to be the villian. He is protrayed as being cold, unbending, and evil. But is he? Is moneylender really the opposite in this play or can he excessively be viewed as persecuted individualist who resorts to revenge only afterward on he has been pushed too far.\n\nTo to the across-the-board chthonianstand the character of Shylock we must first visualize at Elizabeathen attitudes towards Jews. In the 16th century Jews were rarely if for invariably seen in England. In the shopping centre Ages Jews had fled to England to escape persecution in France under the Normans. They were granted charter in England by Henry I in return for a percentage of their profits from swop and money impart. It is here that the stereotype of Jews lending money was started. Because of the tariffs placed on them by t he crown Jews took to charging soaring interest rates to potent profits for themselves. Here we see echos of Shylock with his usury. Finally the Jews were enjoin out of England in 1254 by Edward I. They did not return to England until the later half of the seventeenth century. (Lippman 3-4) Jews were likewise viewed as devils by Elizabeathan audiences. archaic stories portrayed them as blood-thirsty murders that poisoned rise and killed Christian children for their bizarre Passover ritu! als. (Stirling 2:1) These were the stereotypes which Shakespeares audience held in regard to Jews. Shakespeare himself had never seen a Jew but he goes to great lengths to change Shylock even piece of music perpetuating the stereotype.\n\nIn Act 1:3, before Shylock ever says a word to Antonio, he lets the audience know in an aside that he hates Antonio. He hates him for having hindered him in business and for having depressed him in public by spitting on him and barter him names such as d og and cutthroat Jew. Shylock tells the audience he hopes to charter revenge on Antonio some(prenominal) for his own humiliation and for the persecution that the Jews present long suffered at the custody of the Christians. I hate him for he is a Christian;. . . If I can catch him erstwhile upon the hip, I will ease up fat the ancient abhorrence I bear him.He hates our sacred nation . . . Curséd be...If you ask to get a full essay, order it on our website:

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