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Does religious discrimination
The rise of anti-semitism
Does religious discrimination
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Venice’s reputation among the major cities of the world was known as a wealthy but also a strictly Christian society. One reason that Christians did not accept the Jewish community was the belief that the Jewish community was a problem in society. For example, in Shakespeare’s Merchant of Venice, Shylock, a Jewish man, is compared to the devil. Few Venetians accepted Jews because of the belief of them being evil. In fact, Research conducted by BBC shows that Jewish ghettos were made to cease the activities of the Jewish people and this clearly shows the hatred against the Jewish community. The Jews were forced to wear red hats to tell them apart from others. An incident involving the persecution of the Jewish community was the forcing of the
Jews were also barred from owning land or from holding jobs that they desired and for which they qualified. Even under these constraints, Jews prospered and gained significant values as merchants throughout Europe. During the Middle Age, with the increased spread of Christianity, Jews were looked upon as “allied with Muslims” and many were killed (Carr; Shyovitz). Long before the twentieth century Holocaust, Jews were forced to live in closed communities, known as ghettos, without interacting with the outside world, but under strict regulations from the German authorities (“Ghetto”). Jewish isolation led to a greater increase of their religious background and, therefore, even greater persecution. In the seventeenth century, rulers of the European kingdoms valued the Jews because of their economic status and granted them citizenships. During the eighteenth
In the Holocaust, the Nazis persecuted and murdered over 6 million Jews during a four and a half year period. By the 1930s the Nazis rose in power and all the Jews became victims. One of the ways the Nazis persecuted the Jews, was putting them into tight confined places called ghettos were they suffered for many years.
Today, a ghetto is thought of as an urban slum full of crime, noise, and filth. Seventy years ago, a ghetto would have been the imposed home for thousands of Jews uprooted for the Final Solution. Both are dirty, dark places with an abhorrent lifestyle. One of the many Polish ghettos built under the Nazi regime was Zamosc, which has a history of bleak conditions, forced evacuations, and amazing stories of survival.
“And if you wrong us shall we not revenge?”. Eloquently, Shylock, a notorious Jewish character from Shakespeare’s Merchant of Venice, describes the mindset of many during the Holocaust. Despite the disgusting crimes committed every day during the Holocaust, the world refused to give up. Instead, from the safest corners of the world to the most perilous concentration camps, individuals rose up and opposed history’s most notorious regime.
It is so important for people to recognize how Jews were portrayed during Shakespeare’s life so that historic events such as the holocaust do not repeat themselves. Teachers who plan on presenting their students with The Merchant of Venice should also present them with articles explaining how Jews received their negative stereotype and explain to them that Jews are not as evil as Shylock. The play can still be useful as a high school reading experience only if taught correctly, in a manner that avoids Jews being insulted and non-Jews getting a completely flawed idea about Jews. Although comedic during the 16th century, The Merchant of Venice can no longer be viewed as a comedy in the 21st century due to the diversity of people and general acceptance of their cultures throughout the United States.
The ghetto is a very often commonly misused word. Jews are the only ones who can utilize the word properly. People of Jewish religion are the alone ones who truly recognize what it is like to be in an actual ghetto. This word holds so many stories behind it are nil compared to what its actual significance. At least one thousand ghettos were established by Germans during the Holocaust. Jews were discovered as a minority; hence they were inhabited in small regions which the Nazi SS named ghettos. Jewish quarters were somewhat in similar comparison to concentration camps, although they were very much smaller. Jews were not always subjected to this type of treatment. Treatment in such a way all started with Adolf Hitler. He charged the Jews for
Treatment of Jews in the 16th Century Looking at the history of Jews in England, it is evident that Jews were persecuted and murdered up until 1290, when Jews were expelled from the country. Jews were treated with strong disrespect both because of their alternative religious beliefs, and because of their financial status and ways of living. One can safely assume that Shakespeare never actually met a Jew, because Jews had been expelled three and a half centuries before he lived. Therefore the stereotypically evil character of the Jew was merely a myth, passed down through the generations. Shakespeare obviously intended on demonising the Jew of his play, making Shylock an outcast to the community of Venice.
This is an example of the treatment of Jews at the time. It is very
Some of the audiences in the 16th century, believed that Jews were at a lower stage than them, and they only believed this because the Jews were a different (“different” referred to as “wrong “for Christians who lived in the 16th century), religion they believed they were not people, like them. The play Merchant of Venice shows the evil side of the Jews. The character’s name is “Shylock”. He is the character of evil doing; he is also the character that Shakespeare chose to represent a Jewish character. As a Jew, he represents the race as being wicked, evil etc.
Discrimination is a resounding theme in The Merchant of Venice (Meyers). All of the characters are affected by inequality. This inequity is clearly evidenced in Shylock, the Jewish usurer. He is treated with scorn and derision by all the characters. Shylock’s misfortunes stem not from poor attributes or even a poor background; it stems from the fact he is Jewish, and what is more, he is impeccably of that distinction.
soon have several ships in port, agrees to part with a pound of flesh if the
Everyone who reads The Merchant of Venice must bear in mind that it is, like any other literary work, a creation of a skillful writer, rising a case that can be a subject for many interpretations and not necessarily revealing a specific view of its writer, however it aims to convey a certain moral to the readers. Therefore, the character of shylock, being stereotyped or not, with its controversy is a tool manipulated to convey a moral message: when people live in a society that is open to cultural diversity and that values the contributions of all society members – regardless of cultural and ethnic backgrounds, race, life styles, and beliefs – they will be one step closer to living in a civil society. Works Cited 1) Encyclopaedia Britannica, the definition of "Anti-Semitism". 2) E. E. Stoll, Shylock (an essay in Shakespeare Studies, 1927). 3) John Palmer, Comic Characters of Shakespeare, Shylock. 4) John Palmer, Comic Characters of Shakespeare, Shylock.
During the sixteenth-century there was a very prominent existence of anti-semitism. The English audience had a very clear prejudice towards the Jewish people because of the deep-rooted concept of anti-semitism. This mindset carried from everyday life to plays and productions of the time. This ill will towards the Jewish people spawned from political and religious disputes that were unresolved. The portrayal of Shylock as a villainous Jew is a logical move for the sixteenth-century playwrights because of this common belief. When walking into a production of The Merchant of Venice during this ear, one must keep in mind the predisposition towards the Jewish people as well as the cultural beliefs at that time.
Venice, where this drama takes place, is a largely religious Italian City. Although filled with spiritual people, the city is divided into two different religious groups. Venice was primarily and dominantly a Christian society with Jews as it’s unfairly treated minority. Stereotypes classified Jews as immoral, evil, and foolish people while the Christians were graceful, merciful, and loving. Representing the Christian belief is Antonio who is summoned to court by a Jew who goes by the name Shylock. The cross between Christianity and Judaism begins as Antonio and Shylock create a legally binding bond. The bond’s fine print expresses that if Antonio cannot fulfill his debt to Shylock, Shylock will receive a pound of Antonio’s flesh. As learned in the play, Antonio cannot repay his debt and Shylock publically exclaims his need to receive fulfillment of that bond. Hastily, Shylock is determined to obtain his pound of Christian flesh. Shakespeare provides his audience dist...
Being a Jew in Christian dominated Venice, Shylock is persecuted by society. He is the victim of popular Christian prejudice, which scorns his religion and restricts his means of employment. He is left with no choice but to be a moneylender and earn his money from collecting interest. To the Christians, collecting interest was against their teaching. This is one of the reasons for the Christians hatred.