PREJUDICE

DefinitionUnreasonable or unfair feelings, opinions, or

attitudes

Prejudice is biasness that one has against another. This causes the person to have a

certain impression or opinion in his/her mind and thus treating the person differently. This can happen between sexes, races, religions

etc. prejudice is a form of discrimination too

Types of Prejudice found in MOV

Racial

Religious

Sexism

Concepts of Prejudice• Religious– Shylock’s hate for Christians and Antonio’s dislike

for Jews.

• Racial– Portia’s dislike for the Prince of Morocco because

of his skin colour.

• Sexism– Portia and Nerissa disguising as male lawyers.

Root Cause of Prejudice• Hatred • Vengeance• Differences• Societal Opinion

Characters • Antonio– Against Jews– Show of viciousness towards shylock:– Insults him critically.– Forced Shylock to become Christian; that is like

destroying what the basis of what he is. E.g. Shylock sees himself ultimately as a Jew.

Characters• Portia– 1) Court case: seeks mercy for Antonio and yet does not

show much mercy to Shylock, forced Shylock to become Christian; that is like destroying what the basis of what he is. E.g. Shylock sees himself ultimately as a Jew. However, due to the vicious nature of Shylock’s crime, it can be said that the verdict on him was quite merciful.

– 2) Against people who are of a different race: e.g. the suitors. Badly dressed Englishman, uncouth and drunken German, hyperactive Frenchman Made stereotypes of them (Nerissa also made stereotypes with her)

Characters• Shylock

– 1) Against Christians. More of bitterness because of their treatment towards him. Evil: Gloats over Antonio’s misfortune, plotted revenge etc.

– 2) The prejudice restricts his means of employment. Hence, he is forced to become a moneylender but this subjects him to even more discrimination by Christians against lending out money with interest (usance)--à vicious cycle that has made Shylock all cold-hearted. Maybe Jessica does not become like that because she is supported by her father and therefore does not need to face the difficulties yet. Also, by being protected in such a way she can remain as a “good” character and is able to say that although she is a Jew she does not follow after her father.

Characters• Minor Characters:– Salerio and Solanio: Against Jews.

Contemptuously mock Shylock and gloat over his misfortunes.

First Appearance of PrejudiceRacial First appeared in Act 1 scene 2 where

Portia and Nerissa were discussing Portia’s suitors.

First Appearance of Prejudice

Religious First appeared in Act 1 Scene 3 where

Antonio and Bassanio went to Shylock to request a loan.

First Appearance of Prejudice

Sexism• Act 3 Scene 2 where Portia sees herself

as a property of Bassanio.

Instances Theme Appears in PlayReligious

• Act 1 Scene 3 ‘I hate him for he is a Christian’ (page 55), ‘fawning publican’, 55 to page 59

• Beginning of page 55, Shylock’s speech “ I will buy with you, sell with you, talk with you, walk with you and so following; but I will not eat with you, drink with you, nor pray with you.”

• Page 115, Shylock’s image of Christians and how he tries to ensure that Jessica does not come into contact with them.

• Page 63-65. Act 1 Scene 3, Shylock’s speech on his views on Antonio and Antonio’s outburst following that.

• Act 4 Scene 1, Shylock is forced to convert to Christianity.

Instances Theme Appears in PlayRacial

• Act 1 Scene 2, Neapolitan Prince’, ‘French lord’, ‘young baron of England’, ‘Scottish lord’ ,’young German’, Generalizations of people according to their nationality.

• The Prince of Morocco, before seeing him, just by his ‘complexion of a devil’, Portia would want him to ‘shrive [her]’.

• Act 2 Scene 7. Page 137, ‘Let all of his complexion choose me so’

Instances Theme Appears in PlaySexism

• Throughout the court scene, Portia and Nerissa have to be dressed as guys to be able to act as lawyers. They couldn’t go in as themselves.

Implications/Consequences

• Jews being portrayed as the natural, stereotypical evil and money-minded persona.

• Jews, in the example of Shylock also ends up getting punished by the law and after that he totally disappears from the play. Instead, the plot moves on to the Christians and the romantic love story in Belmont, leaving behind the cruelty of Venice and similarly the cruelty that they have just dealt Shylock the Jew.

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