Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
An Apology For The Character And Conduct Of Shylock.
He does not appear , knowingly ; to avoid any divine or human law ; but boldly avows , in conscious " integrity , before a court of judicature , that' he dreads no judgment , doing no wrong / ' We are in general sufficiently candid with regard to the civil or relig ious prejudices of dramatic characters . When a Catoor a Brutus stabs himself , we allow , for the manners and opinions of the times ;
for the imperfect state of morality when they existed ; we ever applaud their unwarrantable conduct ; we sympathize with their distresses , and yet we exult over those of Shylock . But if we reasoned impartially , we should no mere condemn a Jew for usury and revenge , than a Greek or a Roman for suicide , according to Christian precepts , of a much deeper dye . We commiserate Cato , in spite of his Stoic
pride and invincible obstinacy . We love Brutus , notwithstanding his ingratitude . But in Shylock , the insulted and injured old man , the deceived and plundered father , make not the least impression on us . Nay , so engrossed are our minds \ vith the detestation of him , that no one , who peruses , or sees the' Merchant of Venice' represented , ever conceives an unfavourable opinion of the undutiful Jessica , or the prodigal Lorenzo . ¦ And why ? Because the person whom ha robs of his wealth and of his daughter is a JEW . A most exquisite reason ! On the same admirable principle he is supposed to have been
persecuted by Antonio , who ' disgraced him , hindered him of half a million , laughed at his losses , mocked his gains , scorned his nation , thwarted his bargains , cooled his friends , heated his enemies , and for what reason ? Because be was a Jew . ' ' But hath not a Jew eyes ? hath not a Jew hands , organs , dimensions , senses , affections , passions ? Is he not fed with the samefood , hurt with the same weapons , subject to the same diseases , healed by the same means , warmed and
cooled by the same summer and winter as a Christian is ?'* Were any of Shylock ' s countrymen poets , I am convinced they would represent him in a very different light , and indeed a much fairer one , than that in which he appears to us . They would most probably convert his story into a deep tragedy , and by giving it a different catastrophe , softening some harsh expressions , and introducing others of a pathetic kind , interest every sentimental and tender-hearted descendant of Abraham in his favour .
Let us , and the supposition will cost nothing , conceive the Jews to be again settled in their former territories , or any where else you please ; dramatic entertainments to be a fashionable amusement , and the story of Shylock . brought forward on their theatre . In such a case it might be" easily imagined that some Jewish stage-enamoured critic , a correspondent-of the Jebusite Morning Post or the Jerusalem DailAdvertiser would communicate his opinion in terms not
y unlike the following : ' On the fourth day of the first week , in the month Nisan , was represented the tragedy of ' Shylock , ' written by Nathan Ben Boaz . The plot is borrowed ' from an old British bard , who flourished in the seventeenth century of their sera ; atrd who composed it under the influence , of the spirit of inveterate malice again st our nar . io . ri , for which ,
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
An Apology For The Character And Conduct Of Shylock.
He does not appear , knowingly ; to avoid any divine or human law ; but boldly avows , in conscious " integrity , before a court of judicature , that' he dreads no judgment , doing no wrong / ' We are in general sufficiently candid with regard to the civil or relig ious prejudices of dramatic characters . When a Catoor a Brutus stabs himself , we allow , for the manners and opinions of the times ;
for the imperfect state of morality when they existed ; we ever applaud their unwarrantable conduct ; we sympathize with their distresses , and yet we exult over those of Shylock . But if we reasoned impartially , we should no mere condemn a Jew for usury and revenge , than a Greek or a Roman for suicide , according to Christian precepts , of a much deeper dye . We commiserate Cato , in spite of his Stoic
pride and invincible obstinacy . We love Brutus , notwithstanding his ingratitude . But in Shylock , the insulted and injured old man , the deceived and plundered father , make not the least impression on us . Nay , so engrossed are our minds \ vith the detestation of him , that no one , who peruses , or sees the' Merchant of Venice' represented , ever conceives an unfavourable opinion of the undutiful Jessica , or the prodigal Lorenzo . ¦ And why ? Because the person whom ha robs of his wealth and of his daughter is a JEW . A most exquisite reason ! On the same admirable principle he is supposed to have been
persecuted by Antonio , who ' disgraced him , hindered him of half a million , laughed at his losses , mocked his gains , scorned his nation , thwarted his bargains , cooled his friends , heated his enemies , and for what reason ? Because be was a Jew . ' ' But hath not a Jew eyes ? hath not a Jew hands , organs , dimensions , senses , affections , passions ? Is he not fed with the samefood , hurt with the same weapons , subject to the same diseases , healed by the same means , warmed and
cooled by the same summer and winter as a Christian is ?'* Were any of Shylock ' s countrymen poets , I am convinced they would represent him in a very different light , and indeed a much fairer one , than that in which he appears to us . They would most probably convert his story into a deep tragedy , and by giving it a different catastrophe , softening some harsh expressions , and introducing others of a pathetic kind , interest every sentimental and tender-hearted descendant of Abraham in his favour .
Let us , and the supposition will cost nothing , conceive the Jews to be again settled in their former territories , or any where else you please ; dramatic entertainments to be a fashionable amusement , and the story of Shylock . brought forward on their theatre . In such a case it might be" easily imagined that some Jewish stage-enamoured critic , a correspondent-of the Jebusite Morning Post or the Jerusalem DailAdvertiser would communicate his opinion in terms not
y unlike the following : ' On the fourth day of the first week , in the month Nisan , was represented the tragedy of ' Shylock , ' written by Nathan Ben Boaz . The plot is borrowed ' from an old British bard , who flourished in the seventeenth century of their sera ; atrd who composed it under the influence , of the spirit of inveterate malice again st our nar . io . ri , for which ,