historical events and classical allusions in merchant of venice
Answers
In 1290, King Edward expelled anyone of the Jewish faith from England. While some converted to Christianity to stay in England, most of the Jewish population moved out of the country. This means that by the time Shakespeare wrote this play in 1596, there were few to no Jews living in London. Due to lack of exposure, irrational fear of religious difference, and the general prevalence of racist ideology, anti-Antisemitism was rampant in early modern England. Many plays featured despicable Jewish characters to perpetuate this unfounded hatred. Shakespeare’s play was largely a rebuttal to rival playwright Christopher Marlowe’s then famous play The Jew of Malta. Marlowe’s play features Barnabas A Jewish man who is portrayed as scheming, sinister, and villainous. Many critics have read Shakespeare’s Shylock as a similarly despicable character. However, unlike Marlowe, Shakespeare humanizes Shylock and gives him the most famous lines of the play. While the play contains anti-Semitic sentiments, Shylock’s complexity and how the Christian characters treat him provide modern readers with a look at the ethics in Shakespeare’s time. Such ethics and beliefs clash with today's perceptions, and understanding the difference in these views is important to modern readings of the play.