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  • Aug. 1, 1797
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  • AN APOLOGY FOR THE CHARACTER AND CONDUCT OF SHYLOCK.
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The Freemasons' Magazine, Aug. 1, 1797: Page 6

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    Article AN APOLOGY FOR THE CHARACTER AND CONDUCT OF SHYLOCK. ← Page 2 of 4 →
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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 ,

“The Freemasons' Magazine: 1797-08-01, Page 6” Masonic Periodicals Online, Library and Museum of Freemasonry, 29 May 2025, django:8000/periodicals/fmm/issues/fmm_01081797/page/6/.
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Title Category Page
Untitled Article 1
Untitled Article 2
LONDON: Article 2
TO CORRESPONDENTS, &c. Article 3
MEMOIR OF MR. HULL. Article 4
AN APOLOGY FOR THE CHARACTER AND CONDUCT OF SHYLOCK. Article 5
OBSERVATIONS ON THE DESTRUCTION OF SENNACHERIB'S ARMY. Article 9
HISTORY OF THE THE ARTS AND SCIENCES FOR 1797. Article 12
THE LIFE AND ADVENTURES or PETER PORCUPINE; Article 14
MEMOIRS OF CHARLES MACKLIN, Article 18
A BRIEF SYSTEM OF CONCHOLOGY. Article 26
THE COLLECTOR. Article 30
HUMOROUS ACCOUNT OF VENICE. Article 33
THE FREEMASONS' REPOSITORY. Article 34
WHAT IS THE ORDER OF FREEMASONRY? Article 38
REVIEW OF NEW PUBLICATIONS. Article 42
POETRY. Article 50
PUBLIC AMUSEMENTS. Article 54
REPORT OF THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE BRITISH PARLLAMENT. Article 56
HOUSE OF COMMONS. Article 59
MONTHLY CHRONICLE. Article 62
INTELLIGENCE FRONT THE LONDON GAZETTES . Article 67
OBIUARY. Article 70
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Page 6

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 ,

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