The Merchant Of Venice - Jews :: Free Merchant of Venice Essays

William Shakespeares The merchant of Venice contains m some(prenominal) examples that insult Jews because they were the nonage in London in Shakespeares succession. Although many parts of the walkaway could be interpreted as offensive in modern times, Elizabethan audiences found them comical. The majority of Londons population at the time was anti-Semitic because there were very few Jews living there. Shakespeares The Merchant of Venice supports anti-Semitism actions and thoughts and therefore proves that Shakespeare was an anti-Semite.In the second act, Launcelot is debating with himself whether or not he should seek a new employer. Launcelots problem is that he plant life for Shylock, who is Judaic. Launcelot persuades himself that, Certainly the Jew Shylock is the very devil incarnation (2.2.24) Eventually, Launcelot convinces himself that he would often quite run away than be ruled by a Jew. Launcelot presents this blood to his father I am a Jew if I serve the Jew any lon ger. (2.2.104) Before Launcelot accepts a new job with Bassanio as his master, he is reminded that Bassanio is much poorer than Shylock. His reply to Bassanio was, You have the grace of / God, sir, and he Shylock hath fair to middling. (2.2.139-40)Lorenzo insults Shylock behind his choke when he tells Jessica (Shylocks girlfriend) that if Shylock ever makes it to heaven, it is provided because Jessica converted to Christianity. Lorenzo said, If eer the Jew her father come to heaven, / It will be for his gentle daughters sake (2.4.36-7) When Lorenzo says this, he is implying that Shylocks faith and his Jewish heritage is not strong enough to get him into heaven. Lorenzo says that if Shylock is saved, it is by his Jessicas sake, because she has chosen Christianity over Judaism. This statement implies that Lorenzo believes that Christianity is the religion that is powerful enough to admit one into heaven therefore Lorenzo is biased against anyone that is not a Christian, such as Sh ylock the Jew.Later in the play Jessica is insulted by Launcelot. Launcelot believes that parents sins are passed down to their children. He also believes that being Jewish is a sin. Launcelot frankly tells Jessica his opinion of her For truly I think you are damned. (3.5.5) He explains that she is damned by both her father and mother because she was born Jewish. Launcelot tells Jessica that her only hope is that, Your father got / you not--that you are not the Jews daughter.