Not Worth Laughing About: Anti-Semitism in The Merchant of Venice
Summary :
Table of Contents
- Introduction
- The strong focus on the many aspects of Jewish culture
- Theodore Komisarjevsky's 1932 staging of Merchant
- Komisarjevsky's attempt to overshadow the anti-Semitic undertones of Merchant
- Shylock: Not just an ambiguous 'moneylender'
- Showing the difference between religion and personal beliefs
- Conclusion
- Bibliography
Abstract
As time changes, so do the interpretations of Shakespeare's dramas. Newer productions are supposed to appeal to modern audiences by reflecting current attitudes and cultural beliefs. anti-Semitic viewpoints existed long before Shakespeare and his play, The merchant of venice, which is considered by many to be anti-Semitic. However, the reasons for anti-Semitic thought have changed greatly over the past century. Tension between Christians and Jews is one of the play's most important aspects, and is emphasized in earlier productions. In more recent productions, however, more weight has been placed on personal beliefs, and less on religion. Shylock's profession overshadows his faith. This change represents a shift in modern culture: looking at the individual beliefs, not the religion or ethnicity of a person to define his or her actions.
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