The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-01-27
THE THEATER.
MR.. EDWIN Boo-H AND Mr.. LAW
RENEE BARkETTs ENGAGEMENT.
The Play OF the Merchant OF Ven-
ioe." and the Interpreters Of the
Character OF Shyiock.

memorable not only because Of their appear
ancc, but for the plays for which they are
announced. Following ''The Moor Of Ven
Ice" the public is tonight 10 have "Thc
Merchant of Venice" a play that is tempting
for It's delicious comedy and for that IL bor-
ders on tragedy, having It's foundations In
cupldity aud religious intolerance and hate
Schlegcl declared IL 10 be one OF Shakespearc's
most perfect works, and that Shylock Is one
Of his inmitable masterpieces. A man Of
the very highest qualifications as a merchant
2 money, and rising TO place Of considcra-
non In the teeth of the prejudlces against his
rnce and the laws that we're made against that
race in common with the Turk and the hea-
then, ho was sensitive as 10 tho treatment
10 which he was subjected and which he
describes 80 ileroely for himself. In the marts
Of trade lac was aomaster who made himself
felt as one rising superior 10 the mischanccs
with which the law ovcrwelghted him, but
like man Of natural parts lac could not for
get the bulIetings the sc0rn aud rcvilemont TO
which he was subjected and when occasion
offered In the person of one Of the most noted
Christian merchants Of Venice, lac poured out
his pent up wrath and would enforce his
bond even TO the peril Of that merchants life.
In the scene wherein they are the actors
there may be found all the forces that under
lie tragedy-as hate and revenge, with their
accumulations Of aggrayation as the plot un.
folds Shylock Isl well finished, well bal
anced and complete character. There 10
nothing wanting 10 It's naturalncss-thc love
Of his daughter Jcssca, the pride Of race
the rationalism which is the finest outcome
of the jewish faith aud all the strong common
sense In the application Of that rationalism
that puts the jew up 10 tho moment Of the
execution Of sentence, and even to the last,
as always the just and upright man, squar-
ing his purpose by the law Of Venice, It's Gus
toms and It's usagcs. Shakespeare here right
y understood makes fine appeal for the
equality OF man and emphasizes the Unjust.
ice that springs out Of religious assumption Of
superiority In faith aud revelation ut all
timos Antonio Is humiliating picture Ia
his supplcatory interview: ~ pray thee,
good ShylOck," contrastcd with Shylock's
dcnunciation Of him: "lou spat ON me on
Wednesday last" Out Of the power Of the
Jew, Antonio used his privilege and treated
him like n dog. A borrower at heavy risk.
he was rs obsoquious as the dog he tried 10
make the Jew. hut the jew spurns him.
and seeing that he has him ON the hip,
prepares Ia overthrow him, aud 80 make an
example % one Of tho purest and richest
merchants In a republic some Of whose chief
glorics were won In the risks OF trade.
shylock, as painted by Shakespeare, Is a
man; all that Is lower and below
that standard Is OF tho accident Of
environment, OF situation, OF education.
Of training In trade, Of religious bias aud the
secrctiycncss forced by persecution. The
character analysed from tho outside by
Christian critics Il that Of Jew, aud anal.
yxed from the inside by Jewish critics II 4.
still that Of the Jew. II Is con-ummate and
ovcrshndowing In spite Of Portia aud her
pretty why's and romance This We must
overlook. Il Is the weak point Of the play.
whore romance. In the person Of gentle
girl comes To work out a poetic justice at
variance with tho truth. Herr the poet rs.
sertz himself aud tints the angry controversy
with the glow Of pairician beauty, exalted
chastity OF the heart aud n conndlng NJ.
lection and purpose by n wife 10 be the
friend 81 her ncw-won husbands friend In
that dear friends extremity. Hut even
when rortia lights up the gloom In couri by
her gentle courtesy and intellectual bril-.
lance. the figure Of shylock riycis the aticn.
ton most as the avcngcr Of his race, rising
Ear above bis personal wrongs and awful
avowal Of his demand Tor the pound Of
flesh. Himself under the thumb -scrcw Of the
Law ~ a merely licensed "vagabond'' Pink.
sp"aw gocs with the Jew as fu as popular
prejudice would permit, and ut tho momcn,
when Anlonio's life hung In the balance he
turns the scales In his favor by the suggcs.
ton II blood. How did this prejudice arise
IN England, whcw commonly Il l. supposed
there were no Jews from 1890 10 iGl5i Not
irom The jew and rtolome ShoWnc at the
Hull, or from Marlowo's Jew Of Malta. "
Hut few of the people knew any.
thing about thosc plays. aud even
20 learned Rabbi as sonncschin.
OF 81 Louis, NJ we'll NJ shmkcspcarcnn
scholars generally, believe. ~ be- asserts.
that 'thc citizens Of London had not seen
Jew Tor hundreds OF years" Mr. \. Ice.
~ iialliol College, oxford. an lsrclile
aud a scholar answers the question
Tor ~. lie proves this 10 be orron.
cous lie points out that In the state
papcn relating 10 the marragc u katherine
Of Armgon with Arthur. Prince II Wales.
King Henry VII had a long interview With
n Spanish envoy TO Discuss the presence "
Jews In England. A very mu tnct also.
written within the iir.t quarter IT the .cy.
cniocnih CENTURY, states that "A stnrc II
lcwcs have We In England, few In the
Court many Z III city mcr In the coun.
try" In 1919 ihcw was a Jewish professor
Of Hebrew ut Cambridge and thcrc wcro
somc few Jewish physicians In England.
/ Mr. lcu believes that be- has found IN ono Of
these Rodcrifo Lopez, the Jewish court phy.
stefan oi Queen Elizabeth, the original Of
Shylock. THIS doctor. Just prcyiou. lo the
/ production ~ the Merchant of Venice" be.
came the victim Of n court intrigue. and Il
IL more than probable Shakespeare. Hike a
shrcwd business man, A. he proved himself
10 have been, would avail himself 81 the
general excitement which nr. iopcs's exc.
cullon hal caused TO write play whose hero
should he a Jew. aud thus recall many Incl.
dents which had then but rcccntly imnsplrcd
This Rodcriro lnPcS, Mr. Ice informs IA.
early In Tie became a member Of the newly
founded body II the College OF Physicians
Of London. lie married q Jcwc~
named Sarah, who probably had
wealthy connections NJ Antwern and
he became tho father Of a larrc family