Anti-semitism In The Merchant Of Venice :: Free Merchant of Venice Essays

Anti-Semitism in The Merchant of VeniceIt is my strong belief that the act, "The Merchant of Venice", should betaught in classes. If this play was banned from schools it would most certainlybe a form of censorship. While minors rights are somewhat limited when it comesto this right, I think that all the same Minors should not be censored from this writing.The play teaches us about prejudice, and why it is wrong. People would seehow everyone was hurt at one time or another by a prejudice, whether it was theChristians making fun of Shylock or Shylock showing his prejudice to theChristians. I imagine that anyone watching, listening or read this playwould see how everyone was hurt, and would learn of racisms faulty basiss forjudging someone.Some people would get down you think that the play itself is racist, andprovides a forum in which racism weed grow and become only a bigger problem. Ithink that this is a flawed way of looking at it. I see the play as aconfrontation of a modern day problem which society still faces. Rather thanproviding a forum for racism to grow, the play provides a forum for anti-racismdiscussion, if all proper steps are taken. When I say if all proper steps aretaken, I am referring to having this play taught by a teacher, who can explainthe plays meaning in its fullest so that the students do not miss any importantpoints from it.Another point that may have been missed when the presentation was made tothe school board to ban the material from universe taught inside the school systemwas that everyone is bad in the play. The Christians portrayal was retributory as badas the Jewish man, Shylocks portrayal. In fact I think that the play gave aworse portrayal of the Christians because they ended up being the most evil,through taking away everything that Shylock had and making him become Christian.While Shylock did want to kill someone, the punishment invoked on him was evenworse.As you can see, there are many reasons why "The Me rchant of Venice" shouldbe taught in classrooms. A. Whitney Griswold said in a speech (1952), "Bookswont stay banned. They wont burn. Ideas wont go to jail. In the long run ofhistory, the censor and the inquisitor have always lost.