The Merchant of Venice - Anti-Semitism

William Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice contains many examples that insult Jews because they were the minority in London in Shakespeare's time. Although many parts of the play could be interpreted as offensive in modern times, Elizabethan audiences found them comical. The majority of London's population at the time was anti-Semitic because there were very few Jews living there. Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice supports anti-Semitism actions and thoughts and therefore proves that Shakespeare was an anti-Semite.
In the second act, Launcelot is debating with himself whether or not he should seek a new employer. Launcelot's problem is that he works for Shylock, who is Jewish. Launcelot persuades himself that, "Certainly the Jew [Shylock] is the very devil incarnation…" (2.2.24) Eventually, Launcelot convinces himself that he would much rather run away than be ruled by a Jew. Launcelot presents this argument to his father: "I am a Jew......

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Title: Merchant Of Venice - Anti Semitism
Approximate Word Count: 586
Approximate Pages: 3 (250 words per double-spaced page)

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