Introduction to Merchant of Venice

Racism Racism: means to discriminate someone because of their race, beliefs, values, etc.

Prejudice Prejudice: an opinion formed before hand especially an unfavourable or based on inadequate facts.

Judaism 101 Holy Book: The Torah Place of Worship: The Synagogue

Religious Symbols: Religious Holidays: The Star of David Hanukkah

Jewish Dietary Laws The word “Kosher” means “fit” or “proper”. For Jewish people Kashrut refers to the practice of eating only Kosher food.

Meat According to the Torah, only the meat of animals with split hooves can be eaten. Such animals include sheep, goat, lamb and cattle. Animals that are not included are the pig, camel, and hare.

Milk and Dairy Products Milk must not be stored, prepared along side of or eaten with meat. After eating meat, many Jews wait several hours before eating dairy products.

Kitchen Rules Any utensils used to prepare, serve, eat or clean dishes after eating meat cannot be used with milk and vice versa. If a utensil is used with non-kosher food while it is hot, it cannot be used with Kosher food

Settings: Venice

Jews in Early England 11th century England – Jews not considered citizens and barred from many professions (artisan guilds and owning land) Christians were forbidden from lending money with interest, and many Jews made a living as usurers However, they had to also be their own dept collectors which led to resentment.

Jews in Early England 12th century Crusades brought about anti-Semitism Magna Carter of 1215 (constitutional law) put restrictions on Jewish usury 1275 Jews in England were forbidden to lend money and had to wear badges of identification 1290 Jews were expelled from England With Jews being expelled from England many myths began grow. For example, hey had ritual murders such as “Easter Murders” and Passover murders

Jews in Shakespeare’s England Religious upheaval in England led to religious intolerance Jews returning to England in the 16th century Marranos or Conversos Spanish Jews converted to Christianity 1593 (a few years before The Merchant of Venice) Queen Elizabeth I’s physician, Roderigo Lopez, was accused of trying to poison her Led to a rise of anti-Semitism

Jewish Stereotype Money hungry Greedy Villainous Murderous (ritual)

Setting of Merchant of Venice Renaissance Venice, Italy

Setting of Merchant of Venice Large Jewish population in Venice In 1516 Venetian authorities forced Jews to live in segregated ghettos They were hated by the Christian community although its members went to the Jewish money lenders when they needed to