what is the lesson behind the story of THE MERCHANT OF VENICE?
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M$4 Answers
It's not an easy answer. Recently, students walked out of their final exams to protest the play (see sources). The simple truth of the matter is that Shakespeare would have been basing his depictions on the cultural feelings *at the time*, and had as his example plays like The Jew of Malta, which went way way way over the top in its caricature. The play is a comedy. For good or bad, the "sneaky Jew" is used as a funny device - when he finds out his daughter has run away, for instance, and he wails alternately about whether the loss of his daughter or his money is more important ("O, my daughter! O, my ducats!")
The question that people like to pose today is, was Shakespeare in fact trying to shine the light on what he considered to be an unfair depiction? On the surface, the Jew is the bad guy. But after you read the play, there are plenty of others - Christians - who do and say and believe far worse things. So was Shakespeare ahead of his time in trying to portray a more sympathetic Jew than his predecessors?
You could make the case that the play is anti-Semitic in its presentation, or you could try to argue the case that Shakespeare is teaching us a lesson about anti-Semitism. I don't think, however, that you could argue that Shakespeare personally hated the Jews - he wrote what his audience wanted.
If that's not what you had in mind, please let me know - there's plenty to talk about.
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M$
http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2009/1/8/182941/0631/636/681789
I'm an old live theater fan, and really dug this reading. Check it out.
Note I offer no specific, "hard" commentary. This is because, to be frank, this question really does look like one posed by someone looking to do a cut/paste to a term paper. If that's so, then please let me encourage you to not only read, but please *enjoy reading*, Shakespeare! If not, please forgive my presumption.
And be sure to attend any Shakespeare productions you can find. In my experience, quality of such productions in the U.S. is hit-and-miss. But if you luck upon a quality show, it's an enriching experience!
You can leave an optional "tip" with Mahalo's virtual currency, Mahalo Dollars. If you are asking a difficult question that might require some research, or if you'd like a wide variety of feedback, a higher tip often leads to more answers to your question.
M$
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M$"If you prick us, do we not bleed? If you tickle us, do we not laugh? If you poison us, do we not die? And if you wrong us, shall we not revenge? If we are like you in the rest, we will resemble you in that. If a Jew wrong a Christian, what is his humility?" Act III, Scene 1
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M$
