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A review by maria_pulver
The Merchant of Venice by William Shakespeare
dark
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
I've read this play first when I was a teen and honestly though I have already experienced antisemitism at that time, I don't remember recognizing the play as such. In June 2023 I've attended a lecture by Dr. Emmy Leah Zitter on how she teaches this play in a Jewish college to students that often come from families of Holocaust survivors and yesterday I've read a chapter on it in People Love Dead Jews: Reports from a Haunted Present, where Dara Horn argues that the play is antisemitic, though the majority of modern critics believe differently.
Therefore I've decided it's time to re-read the play and decide for myself - is it a question of nuanced reading or is it another example of antisemitism. To be blatantly clear: this is awful, disgusting and totally Jew-hating play. There are no sympathetic characters in the play - all are indecent and immoral from my point of view, Shylock included. But while all the other characters are justified, redeemed and get to have their happily ever after, Shylock the Jew is being punished before, during and after the events of the play. First, he gets to live the life of the hated other - being spit at, called a dog and etc. Then he is required to lend money at low profit to someone who refuses to treat him as a human being and still he's being criticized for doing it - regardless the fact that there was no other business allowed for the Jews to take part in. A moment later his daughter Jessica betrays him running away with a Christian and taking his money and valuables with her. She betrays him, but more - she betrays G-d and her people with this choice and it is very difficult to bear. At last, Shylock gets his chance at court, but there his punishment is complete - all of his hard earned money is taken from him and he is forced to give up his religion, which is obviously central for him. Yes, Shylock is not a good person, full of hatred and looking for vedgence. He's similar enough to Marvel's villains in this attitude, but this is not a reasonable justification for either the hateful behaviour towards him at the beginning of the play or the forced conversion from his religion at the end of it.
Therefore I've decided it's time to re-read the play and decide for myself - is it a question of nuanced reading or is it another example of antisemitism. To be blatantly clear: this is awful, disgusting and totally Jew-hating play. There are no sympathetic characters in the play - all are indecent and immoral from my point of view, Shylock included. But while all the other characters are justified, redeemed and get to have their happily ever after, Shylock the Jew is being punished before, during and after the events of the play. First, he gets to live the life of the hated other - being spit at, called a dog and etc. Then he is required to lend money at low profit to someone who refuses to treat him as a human being and still he's being criticized for doing it - regardless the fact that there was no other business allowed for the Jews to take part in. A moment later his daughter Jessica betrays him running away with a Christian and taking his money and valuables with her. She betrays him, but more - she betrays G-d and her people with this choice and it is very difficult to bear. At last, Shylock gets his chance at court, but there his punishment is complete - all of his hard earned money is taken from him and he is forced to give up his religion, which is obviously central for him. Yes, Shylock is not a good person, full of hatred and looking for vedgence. He's similar enough to Marvel's villains in this attitude, but this is not a reasonable justification for either the hateful behaviour towards him at the beginning of the play or the forced conversion from his religion at the end of it.