Mojo, The Bard, & Me

 Today’s Totally Random Lines

 

What, what, what? Ill luck, ill luck?

Shylock

The Merchant of Venice                Act III, Scene i, Line 96

This is Shylock hearing for the first time that one of Antonio’s ships may have failed, and consequently that Antonio may not be able to pay the bond. It would appear that Shylock is pretty excited about this prospect. At least, that's a common way to interpret this scene. And this can lead us right into what could be a long and potentially contentious discussion about Shylock, his Jewishness, and what that means to this play. In fact, it is this topic which has made this play a very touchy subject and has led to it being discontinued as subject matter in many schools. 

So, is The Merchant of Venice an Anti-Semitic work? It depends on who you ask. If you ask me, the answer is no. Will's works are among the most complex bodies of literary works in existence, and much of what you see in his works goes far beyond what it appears to be. So, whilst there is no one answer to the question of whether or not it is Anti-Semitic, like much of Will's work, this play is many different things to many different people. 

But as I noted, it depends on who you ask.

He's such a contemplative little fellow. I read today's post to him, and he just looked up at me for a moment saying nothing. Then he hopped down and walked slowly over to the door and sat down there to think. And he's been sitting there contemplating the complexities of Will's works ever since.

It's either that or he's just looking for some birds to bark at.