New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-07-04
NEW PUBLICATIONS.
THE JEW OF THE DRAMATIST AND
NOVELIST.
THE JEW IN ENGLISH FICTION. BY Rabbi David
Phlllpson, d. ID. 12mo. pp 1o6. Cincinnati:
polo lEe &

THE JEW IN ENGLISH FICTION. BY Rabbi David
Phlllipson, d. D. 12mo pp 1oo. CINCINNATI
Robert Clarke & Co.
DR.. Phnipson's lectures on " The Jew in English
EYcaon, attracted considerable attention the time
OF their delivery and they should be welcomed IN this
more permanent form as the expression OF educated
Jewish sentiment upon an interesting question: Inc
author follows the treatment Of the Jews in the drama
and novel; and shows how gradually the popular odium
which was represented in the conception OF Maaowes
Jew OF Malta has given place to a moro Just and
dispassionatc idea of the Jewish character From the
Jew of Malta even to Shakespeare's Merchant of
Venice is a considerable distance. Dr. Phitpson
holds that In Shylock Shakespeare meant to draw
more dignfed and generally human figure than Mar
lowe had presented in Barabbas though in effect the
ferocity with which shyock insists upon the forfeit
nominated in the bond neutralized the efforts of the
dramatist temper the popular antipathy to the
race Cumb. md. in " The Jew" the first Eng
fish playwright 10 put upon the stage noble concep
ton of a Jew and may think that he overtd the
thing almost as much as in DIR. Philipsons opinion,
Dickens overid It IN his character of Riah In Our
Mutual Friend"
The rabbi has nothing but admiration for Scotts
Rebecca in Ivanhoe' though he does not approve OF
Isaac of York But 1t must be remembered that If
the Jew OF the Middle Ages is always represented as
INSURER the is due far less 10 prejudice malice
than to the superior prominence which history has
given to this class AS Dr. Philipson Observes there
grasping and avsrcious than the Jewish money lend
ers This may be granted, yet It does not affect the
fact that the majority of the old Insurers were Jews
and that their business concentrated upon them the
hatred OF the community. Dickens indeed began with
a very bad Jew-Fagin-and only created Riah, prac-
ncaly atonenent for the sinister conception.
toward the close of his Dr. PhlipsOn thinks
Riah not natural; too good, in fact, for human
natures daily food' Perhaps he IS but he is certainly
very pleasing character. and powerfully drawn.
Dlsrae Of course apotheosized his IN Coningby
and " Tancred7 but Dr. PhillpSon IS not seduced by
the gores of the Great Asian Mystery" and plainly
expresses the opinion that Dlsraei deceived himself
with imaginngs when he wrote about the restora
ton of the ancient people to Palestine and when he
supposed them hold monopoly of divine revelation.
1t is especially interesting 10 note that the rabbi
has no faith whatever in the Palestine restoration
scheme He regards 1t as wholly impracticabe. He
declares that the Jews have long developed beyond
the possbiliy of re-estabshng themselves IN Pales
tine, which ceased TO offer any adequate field TO
their energies. They are, he maintains, longer
separate nation. They have become incorporated
with the nations they live among. American Jews,
German Jews, French Jews. English Jews, are to
day Americans, Germans, Frcnchmen or Englishrnen
Just much the Christian citizens of their re-
spective countries. George Eliot, ia Daniel
Deronda,D he considers the only novelist who has
fully grasped the Jewish character, but unfortunately
she has represented in Morlecai and Deronda only
helpless fanatic and an impractical dreamer Many
OF the views expressed in this little volume doubt
less to most readers, and the lectures generally
are full Of interest and shrewd, sagacious reflection.