Shakespeare 's The Merchant of Venice, written between 1596 and 1598, is questionable as to whether or not it is considered racist. Some scholars say the play is anti-Semitic, while others say it is misogynistic. There are times in the play where the characters discriminate against each other, and times when it is stereotyped to life in the 1500s. Each character displays a part of discrimination, misogyny, and stereotypes throughout the play.
Anti-Semitism the discrimination against Jews. Antonio shows this towards Shylock when he spits on him, dismisses him, and calls him a dog because of his dislike for Jews. Luxon quotes, "Christians, then, are Jews grown up, the full grown children of father Abraham” (Luxon np). This is shown in the play …show more content…
This is a very important quote that shows how Shylock hates the Christian, not the merchant. He believes all Christians are foolish. Andrea Solomon researched that “by Shakespeare 's time, in a country of over five million, several hundred Jews quietly practiced their faith at home” (Solomon np). According to this quote, Shylock is very outnumbered in his culture. This is how Shakespeare stereotyped Shylock.
The same way Shakespeare stereotyped Shylock, he stereotyped Portia. Portia is described as, “a lady richly left, and she is fair, and, fairer than that word, of wondrous virtues…” (Shakespeare 1.1.168-170). She is represented as a beautiful woman with a huge amount of money. Many people in this life time were not marrying for the right reason. Benjamin Thomas Aikens supports this in his quote, “in the 1920s couples were not marrying for love, they were merely marrying because they wanted to be betrothed” (Aikens np). This is how Shakespeare displays life back then through Portia and
Anti-Semitism the discrimination against Jews. Antonio shows this towards Shylock when he spits on him, dismisses him, and calls him a dog because of his dislike for Jews. Luxon quotes, "Christians, then, are Jews grown up, the full grown children of father Abraham” (Luxon np). This is shown in the play …show more content…
This is a very important quote that shows how Shylock hates the Christian, not the merchant. He believes all Christians are foolish. Andrea Solomon researched that “by Shakespeare 's time, in a country of over five million, several hundred Jews quietly practiced their faith at home” (Solomon np). According to this quote, Shylock is very outnumbered in his culture. This is how Shakespeare stereotyped Shylock.
The same way Shakespeare stereotyped Shylock, he stereotyped Portia. Portia is described as, “a lady richly left, and she is fair, and, fairer than that word, of wondrous virtues…” (Shakespeare 1.1.168-170). She is represented as a beautiful woman with a huge amount of money. Many people in this life time were not marrying for the right reason. Benjamin Thomas Aikens supports this in his quote, “in the 1920s couples were not marrying for love, they were merely marrying because they wanted to be betrothed” (Aikens np). This is how Shakespeare displays life back then through Portia and