Racism in The Merchant of Venice
Date Submitted: 02/01/2002 16:11:21
Category: / Literature / European Literature
Length: 8 pages (2234 words)
Category: / Literature / European Literature
Length: 8 pages (2234 words)
Racism in The Merchant of Venice
William Shakespeare's satirical comedy, The Merchant of Venice, believed to have been written in 1596 was an examination of hatred and greed. The premise deals with the antagonistic relationship between Shylock, a Jewish money-lender and Antonio, the Christian merchant, who is as generous as Shylock is greedy, particularly with his friend, Bassanio. The two have cemented a history of personal insults, and Shylock's loathing of Antonio intensifies when Antonio refuses …
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…If you poison us, do we not die? And if you wrong us, shall we not revenge? If we are like you in the rest, we will resemble you in that. If a Jew wrong a Christian, what is his humility? Revenge! If a Christian wrong a Jew, what should his sufferance be by Christian example? Why, revenge! The villainy you teach me I will execute' (II.i.55-69). Quite simply, society teaches by example.
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