Masterpiece Theatre | The Merchant of Venice | Essays + Interviews | Shylock and History. Shylock and Historyby Jami Rogers Towering over Shakespeare's romantic comedy The Merchant of Venice is the tragic figure of Shylock. Before we can begin to understand Shylock, though, we must understand the historical and dramatic influences under which Shakespeare wrote. Although Shakespeare wrote possibly the most famous Jew in English literature, there were virtually no Jews in England during his lifetime. It isn't known whether Shakespeare would have come into contact with anyone who was Jewish. Jews in Early England: Assimilation to Expulsion One of the first documented groups of Jews residing in England comes from Oxford in 1075. In the late 12th century, preparation for the Third Crusade brought a heightened level of anti-Jewish sentiment.
Repressive measures against Jews continued to grow as the century wore on until finally, in 1275, they were forbidden to be money-lenders. Jews in Elizabethan Society The world in which Shakespeare lived was an exceedingly dangerous one. The Merchant of Venice: Scene Index. The Merchant of Venice. How does Act I Scene I set mood of the play 'The Merchant of Venice' throughout? By Shehanaz, May 25, 2013 -The moon shines bright: in ‘such a night’ as thus. When the sweet wind did gently kiss the trees. And they did make no noise.- It is a genre, in which Shakespeare is a master. 1 Comments 119 out of 138 people found this helpful.
Merchant of Venice Study Guide & Literature Essays. Blood Relations: Christian and Jew in the Merchant of Venice by Janet Adelman. Understanding The Merchant of Venice: A Student Casebook to Issues, Sources, and Historical Documents by Jay L. Halio. The Complete Works of William Shakespeare. Masterpiece Theatre | The Merchant of Venice | Essays + Interviews | Shylock and History. The Merchant of Venice Study Guide - William Shakespeare. Bassanio, meeting his wealthy friend Antonio, reveals that he has a plan for restoring the fortune he carelessly spent and for paying the debts he incurred. In the town of Belmont, not far from Venice, there lives a wealthy young woman named Portia, who is famous for her beauty. If he can secure some money, Bassanio declares, he is sure he can win her as his wife. Antonio replies that he has no funds at hand with which to supply his friend, as they are all invested in the ships he has at sea, but that he will attempt to borrow money for him in Venice.
Portia has many suitors for her hand. True to his promise to Bassanio, Antonio arranges to borrow three thousand ducats from Shylock, a wealthy Jew. That night, Bassanio plans a feast and a masque. As the days pass, the Jew begins to hear news of mingled good and bad fortune. Portia, much taken with Bassanio when he comes to woo her, will have him wait before he tries to pick the right casket.