Treatment of Shylock by the Christians in William...

Treatment of Shylock by the Christians in William Shakespeares The Merchant of Venice Two thousand years ago Jews were known as Hebrews or Israelites and lived in Israel. At the time their land was occupied by Romans who tried to crush the Jewish faith and culture. Due to this, Jewish people fled Israel to make new lives and Jewish communities in other countries. In these communities Jews were known for their intelligence and business sense which led to them being mistrusted and resented. This was especially the case in Christian terms; where anti-Semitic feelings were very strong. This is shown in a Merchant of Venice by Shylock who constantly suffers verbal abuse and gives a vivid account of†¦show more content†¦In Act 2, Scene 3 the audience is shown how Shylock is treated abusively by some local boys, when Solario and Salerio give an account of what happened in the streets. They say how it starts by Shylock being seen in the street lamenting the loss of his daughter and his ducats, and how he is being publicly humiliated. Solario and Salerio are totally d isrespectful to Shylock and imitate and mock him. Solario says, ‘My daughter, O my ducats! O my daughter. Fled with a Christian!’ They also disrespect him by calling him, ‘ the dog Jew’ and not using his name, which is anti-semitic as Solario and Salerio are both Christians and hate Shylock as he is a Jew. This is an example of the hatred and prejudice shown by Antonio, Bassanio and Gratiano in the play. The way Shylock is treated in this scene I don’t feel is justified and they are disrespectful without a justified reason. In Act 3, Scene 1 Shylock tells Solario and Salerio why he wants a pound of flesh from Antonio. ‘If it will feed nothing else, it will feed my revenge. He hath disgraced me and hindered me half a million, laughed at my losses, mocked at my gains, scorned my nation, thwarted my bargains, cooled my friends, heated mine enemies, and what’s his reason? ‘I am a Jew’. This is a very strong speech and is aimed to get sympathy for how Christians has treatedShow MoreRelatedAntisemitism in the Middle Ages1616 Words   |  7 PagesChristianity’s view of other religions as inferior is portrayed in many well-known pieces of literature, including one of William Shakespeare’s most famous plays, The Merchant of Venice. Towering over Shakespeare’s romantic comedy The Merchant of Venice is the tragic figure of Shylock, a man who represents the treatment of the Jewish people in his time period. Before beginning to understand Shylock, it is vital to understand the historical and dramatic influences under which Shakespeare wrote. These feelingsRead MoreMerchant of Venice and the Crucible Comparison Essay1691 Words   |  7 Pagesmaintain balance and stability. 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