Anti Semitism In The Merchant Of Venice

Throughout history many minority groups have been maltreated; African or Japanese Americans, the LGBT community, and even at one point Christians. Each group has been oppressed, but none have come anywhere near the level of torture Jews have endured. This torture is prevalent throughout Shakespeare’s comedic play The Merchant of Venice. In the play the Jewish moneylender Shylock is subject to much anti-Semitism. Shylock is indirectly characterized as a victim of past Anti-Semitism in his everyday life and present Anti-Semitism in court by diction and repetition.
Using diction and repetition Shylock indirectly characterizes himself as a victim of past anti-Semitism. In one scene, Antonio (a Christian) is asking for money from Shylock. Shylock

One way he is victimized is the way he is referred to. When Christian characters are discussing him during the court case they often don’t even call him by his name just referring to him as “Jew” (IV.i.14). By constantly referring to Shylock as “the Jew”. The Christians show they can only see him for his religion. And by reducing him only to his religion and refusing to call him by his name they are making him a victim of Anti-Semitism. Thus, indirectly characterizing him as one. Another way he is victimized is through the laws of Venice. The judge is about to rule in Shylocks favor and he is about to cut off a pound of Antonio’s flesh when Portia reminds everyone of a law that states “If thou dost shed one drop of Christian blood thy lands and goods are by the laws of Venice confiscate Unto the state of Venice.” (IV.I.301-304). The law means that if any Jew sheds “one drop of Christian blood” all his possessions would be taken away and given to the state of Venice. It is a cold hearted reversal because Antonio signed a legally binding contract with Shylock stating, if he didn’t pay his bond back he would owe him a pound of flesh. Shylock had every right to take the pound of flesh, but Portia stops him when she reminds everyone of the law. It again indirectly characterizes Shylock as a victim because even though the bond was legally binding, there was an Anti-Semitic law that kept him from having it. The last way he is indirectly characterized as a victim in court is through Antonio’s final requirements. Antonio has been relieved of his debt to Shylock and instead of being thankful and merciful. When the judge is making his final ruling he asks Antonio what to do with Shylock and he demands “He presently become a Christian; the other, that he do record a gist here in the court, of all he possessed unto his son Lorenzo and his daughter” (IV.I.