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The Shylock subplot of Merchant of Venice turns on a contract for the lending and repayment of money. The Jews were a group of people notoriously involved in this business (banking). It thus made sense to have the moneylender be a Jew. In addition, Jews were treated contemptuously by European society, which fact is referred to in the play and provides Shylock with a motivation and allows his humiliation and destruction at the end.
Merchant of Venice is the only one of Shakespeare's plays to have Jewish characters in it, and they are there for a reason. Contrast this with Christopher Marlowe's play The Jew of Malta, in which the Jewish villain is just villainous without any subtext or explaination.
What else can I help you with?
What were Jews called in Shakespeare's time?
They were all called Steve even the ladies
Why were Jews treated with such disdain in Shakespeare's time?
Jews were treated with disdain in Shakespeare's time because Anti-Semitism was quite prevalent. The idea that all people are equal and that each person should be allowed to choose his faith was an idea that did not exist while Shakespeare was alive.
What was the attitude of the English toward Jews during Shakespeare's time?
They thought that the Jews were their their aflictions and all sorts of stuff. Very similar to Hitler's views
What separated Jews and christians during Shakespeare's day?
* Religion * Stereotypes * Ignorance * PrejudiceAt that time people were pretty much dugongs by their religions. Catholics, Protestants, Jews and all other sects were separate.
Why is the Holocaust all about Jews and only a small mention for non Jews?
The main victims of the Holocaust were people of the Jewish religion. There were other victims, but the Natzis were mainly focused on the Jewish religion when the Holocaust began.
Did harry styles ever mention he was Jewish and when?
so what im jewish and i eat pork not all the jews r realigiouns .. but i dont think he is
What has the author James S Shapiro written?
James S. Shapiro has written: 'Shakespeare and the Jews' -- subject(s): Jews, History, Judaism in literature, 16th century, Shakespeare, William, 1564-1616, 18th century, 17th century, Characters, Jews in literature, Shakespeare, William, 1564-1616. Merchant of Venice, Shylock (Fictitious character)
What is judeophobia?
Judeophobia is a term which should replace anti-Semitism. I see it in action, and people who make nasty comments about Jews do not mention Semites at all.
How where the foreigners treated during Shakespeare's time?
How where foreigners such as the Spanish, Portuguese, the French, the Jews, and the Africans treated in England during Shakespeare's time?
Why didn't the Jews have no concept of the trinity?
there is no mention of such a concept in the Hebrew Bible, and Jews feel that the idea violates the notion of one God.
How many times is Jews mention in the Bible?
The word "Jews" is in the King James Version of the Bible 257 times. It is in 244 verses.
What are facts about Shakespeare's will?
The most well-known fact about Shakespeare's will was that he left his second-best bed to his wife, Anne. He doesn't mention his first-best bed.
