Language:
English
Year of publication:
2000
Titel der Quelle:
Manna; the Forum for Progressive Judaism
Angaben zur Quelle:
68 (2000) 8-11
Keywords:
Shylock In literature
;
Shakespeare, William,
;
Jews in literature
;
Characters and characteristics Drama
Abstract:
Argues that the text of "The Merchant of Venice" presents Shylock as a complex character, not a simple villain. Describes Shylock's underlying humanity: his evil is only in his reaction to the antisemitism in his environment, mercantile Venice. This reading suggests that Shakespeare had a sympathy for the Jewish experience, and that Shylock's desire for revenge was legitimate. Attributes the acute moral/psychic tension of Jewish viewers of the play to the "Jewish shadow", or their indentification with the stereotyped Christian image of the Jew, e.g. as money-hungry. This self-hatred leads Jews to want to ban the play. That, however, would be counter-productive. Believes that expelling thoughts from the conscious mind will only exacerbate problems, i.e. both adoption of negative self-images by Jews and antisemitism among non-Jews.
URL:
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