Overview

A key theme of The Merchant of Venice is anti-Semitism, but Shakespeare’s audience would have reacted to the treatment of Shylock in a completely different manner than modern audiences. This handout provides important background information about how anti-Semitic attitudes influenced Jews’ lives in England and Italy and also explores how Jews’ valued role as moneylenders often stood at odds with the prejudice against them. Use this handout to inform students’ reading of the play and to spark discussion about the historic treatment of Jews in Europe. Invite students to draw parallels with discrimination that groups of people face today.

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