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Main theme of merchant of venice
Anti-Semitism on the merchants of Venice
Merchant Of Venice By William Shakespeare Character Analysis
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“The Merchant of Venice” is one of William Shakespeare’s most complex and controversial stage plays. “The Merchant of Venice” is a comedic, tragedy that enveloped everything that an audience wants to experience. From love to hate, justice to revenge “The Merchant of Venice” has it all. William Shakespeare focused many themes that were controversial in society during his time and some that are still controversial in society. This essay will focus on analyzing and connecting the major theme of 16th century anti-Semitism to underplayed racism and anti-Islamic ideas of today’s society. Anti-Semitism is the hatred and prejudice of Jews. In 16th century Europe, the majority of the population was Catholic while the minority was Muslim, Jewish, …show more content…
For example, an article entitled Jews Are a ‘Race,’ Genes Reveal by Jon Entine, details a book written by Harry Ostrer, a medical geneticist and Albert Einstein College of Medicine professor. Ostrer’s book Legacy: A Genetic History of the Jewish People states scientific evidence that Jews are genetically different. Ostrer’s book is divided into six chapters that all feature a prominent scientist or historical figure who advanced the understanding of Jewishness (Entine, "Jews Are a 'Race, ' Genes Reveal"). Although this idea is very controversial and still borders on anti-Semitism and Jewish inferiority, Ostrer’s research opens doors for Jewish superiority and advancement in genetics. Entine quotes Ostrer’s justification of his …show more content…
“On the other, it might provide fodder for anti-Semitism by providing evidence of a genetic basis for undesirable traits that are present among some Jews. These issues will newly challenge the liberal view that humans are created equal but with genetic liabilities.”
Although there are only slight differences between all races there are still differences that set races apart and that lead to answers on why certain ethnicities are more prone to certain diseases. Some examples of race related disease are African Americans and Hypertension or Jewish and Tay - Sachs disease. The idea of Jews as a race is still highly controversial but there is some evidence that the Jewish people can be considered a race. The one thing that everyone can agree on is that Jewish is a religion. There are many different sects or denominations of Judaism just as there is in Christianity. There were many movements of Judaism from the oldest Pharisees, Sadducees, Essenes, and Zealots to the medieval movements such as the Karaites and Rabbinical Judaism which splits into the four movements in the United States (Rich, "Movements of Judaism"). According to the Jewish Outreach Institute there are only four main denominations of Judaism: Orthodox, Conservative, Reform, and Reconstructionist ("Intermarriage
According to the Merriam Webster Dictionary, anti-Semitism is hostility toward or discrimination against Jews as a religious, ethnic, or racial group. There are two main types of anti-Semitism: classical anti-Semitism and modern anti-Semitism. Classical anti-Semitism is the hatred and intolerance towards Jews because of their religious differences. According to remember.org,
Anti-Semitism, hatred or prejudice of Jews, has tormented the world for a long time, particularly during the Holocaust. The Holocaust was a critical disaster that happened in the early 1940s and will forever be remembered. Also known as the genocide of approximately six million European Jews during World War II, an assassination by the German Nazis lead by Adolf Hitler.
Anti-Semitism has been a plague on humanity since biblical times. According to Merriam Webster Online Dictionary, anti-Semitism is defined as “hostility toward or discrimination against Jews as a religious, ethnic, or racial group.” This is one of the major themes of Philip Roth’s fictional novel The Plot Against America. In his novel, Roth creates an alternate universe where Charles A. Lindbergh, Nazi sympathizer and friend of Hitler, was picked as the republican candidate and ends up winning the presidency over the democratic candidate, Franklin D. Roosevelt. Throughout the novel, Roth shows how this theoretical change in history could have affected both the outcome of the war and the future for Jews in America, all through the eyes of a young Philip Roth and his family.
the historical features of eugenic theory while presenting a new veneer, hesitant to argue outright for the inferiority of particular racialized or classed bodies.
In the Sixteenth century, as we see clearly from Othello and other works of both Shakespeare and Cinthio's original version of Othello, race was a topic of great debate and discussion. Today, in the twenty-first century the debate retains its controversy and passion. However, attitudes towards race have taken a dramatic turn during the last century. In the developed world people are now living in an increasingly cosmopolitan society would undoubtedly be more tolerant and would reject or even be offended by racial discrimination to any person or sections of the community. Openly 'racist' people today are seen as outcasts. Taking this into account, the way a modern audience would react to race and racism in Othello is dependent upon the way in which that modern audience would interpret 'Othello'. This prompts the questions of what sort of message Shakespeare wanted to send to his audience and was Othello the moor portrayed as a tragic hero or did his character eventually come to resemble the prejudices of which he was a victim. Shakespeare also discusses the issue of race with other characters such as the hateful Iago and the prejudices hidden deep in Barbantio.
In reading Shakespeare, minds of readers are expanded due to his use of Early Modern English and extensive vocabulary. Shakespeare’s works also provide readers with great entertainment whose portrayal of the human condition transcends the generations. The Merchant of Venice contains many witty lines and sub-plots. “Prejudice feeds on ignorance” (Leggatt 215). If teachers do not teach their students the origin of such stereotypes, then they are developing ignorant students who will forever believe that Jews are incarnations of the devil. Considering the Jewish Stereotype that is supported and developed in Shakespeare’s The Merchant of Venice, the play is, indeed, still useful as a high school reading experience because, due to its sensitive topics, assists in eliminating innocence and creates a more discerning eye for world issues in students.
First we need to clarify what is Anti-Semitism, a term that references the prejudice or hostility against the Jews. Known as the persecution of Jews, Anti-Semitism did not only happen in Germany, it had long been part of the history and tradition of other countries including the United States. However, the level of persecution in Germany changed dramatically after Hitler came to power in 1933.
This is an example of the treatment of Jews at the time. It is very
In the Merchant of Venice, we see a truly anti-Semitic play by Shakespeare. However, we also see a tale of money (greed and generosity), love (heterosexual and homosexual), and emotion (joy and sadness).
Response to Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice by a Modern Audience Since the time of Shakespeare, The play “Merchant of Venice” has had a dramatic effect on the modern audience today. In the 16th century, Jews were completely disliked, & Jews were not allowed to live in England unless they had converted to Christianity. = == ==
Being a mirror of the age, Elizabethan literature was not in isolation from the currents of the era including these stereotypes. All these attitudes of ethnocentrism and xenophobia was skillfully interpreted through literature in general and drama in particular. One example of this is Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice which is about a miser money-lender Jew. Portrayal ...
Religion was a major factor in a number of Shakespeare’s plays. Religion motivated action and reasoning. In Shakespeare’s “The Merchant of Venice,” religion was more than a belief in a higher being; it reflected moral standards and ways of living. In the “Merchant of Venice,” “a Christian ethic of generosity, love, and risk-taking friendship is set in pointed contrast with a non-Christian ethic that is seen, from a Christian point of view, as grudging, resentful, and self-calculating.” (Bevington, pg. 74) Although Shakespeare writes this drama from a Christian point of view he illustrates religion by conflicts of the Old Testament and the New Testament in Venetian society and its court of law. These Testaments are tested through the Christians and Jews of Venice.
William Shakespeare’s The Merchant of Venice presents a battle between love and hate, influenced by money. Written during the 16th Century, Shakespeare depicts an anti-Semitic era through the eyes of both Jews and Christians. Each perspective has it’s struggles, but what stays consistent between them is what makes this play so historical. Throughout this play, it becomes clear that culture affected by love and hatred, under the influence of money, can deliver a powerful message that still speaks to readers today.
Evans, J. H. Playing god: Human genetic engineering and the rationalization of public bioethical debate. Chicago: The University of Chicago, 2002. Print.