Show how the tension between Jew and Christian Is brought to ahead in the trial scene of 'The Merchant of Venice'

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Marie                                                                                            6/11/2002

Show how the tension between Jew and Christian

Is brought to ahead in the trial scene of

‘The Merchant of Venice’

When Shakespeare wrote his play ‘The Merchant of Venice’, Christians hated Jews. Christians had believed since the Elizabethan times that the Jews killed Christ. This became the reason for banning the Jews from England for 300 years; Jews had just been let into Christian societies when the play was written. The play would’ve had large audiences as it was set in an exotic place, Venice. No one would have been to Venice, which would of made the play more intriguing. In 1597 when the play was written, families would visit the theatre regularly; people loved a bit of comedy so Shakespeare had to write a play that entertained his audience. Many things went on whilst the play did and people would carry on talking throughout the whole production. If the audience were not happy then they would feel obliged to show their appreciation by throwing vegetables at the actors. Every actor had to be a male so a boy would play a woman. Acting for women was thought to be a profession as low as prostitution.

In the lead up to the trial scene, Shakespeare shows the tension between Jews and Christians. Shylock (Jew) and Antonio (Christian) clearly hate each other and have no respect for each other’s religion or way of life. When Shylock and Antonio meet for the first time, in the play, Shylock tells us just how much respect Antonio has for him, “…you spat on me Wednesday last,

You spurned me such a day, another time

You called me dog: and for these courtesies

I’ll lend you thus much monies.”

This short little speech of Shylock’s is showing us the kind of things Christians did to Jews. To spit on someone you must not have a care in the world for them and think of them as disgusting or “an inhuman wretch”. Calling Shylock a dog was just as bad, because back when the play was written dogs were not man’s best friends. Dogs could be treated as bad as the next Jew, kicking them would have been a favourite pastime of the Christians.

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Shylock’s opinion of Antonio is very low, but Antonio gives Shylock no reason to like him, even just a bit, or to show mercy on him, when the trial scene comes. Antonio answers Shylock after his small speech with,

“I am as like to call thee so again,

To spit on thee again, to spurn thee too.”

This statement shows how little respect Shylock and Antonio actually have for each other. The hate is clear and for Antonio to say that he will continue to treat Shylock badly even if he was to lend him money, Jews must have ...

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