The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1916-05-06
Minded Honorable Generous Jew

not intend this. then why did he permit TN
whole court scene 10 be turned into trav
esty and the judgment twisted TO the adyan
tage OF the Christian on a pettyfogging plea,
Why suffer the Jew. though defeated. TO ris,
In grandeur and sublimity. overawing by hi
personality the entire scene as he makes nj
FINAL departureg
Had Shakespeare intended TO demean Shy
lock he would have caused him 10 have been
smitten and rodden on. after the judgmen
was rendered. he would have had the mol
turn on him and drive him with derision An,
blows. from the court: Iago was in defeat
inundated and disgraced. But this is not III,
scheme OF the author. lie suffers Shylock e
De defeated by a legal trick and then he In.
PRODUCES the most subtly whitening sarcasm
OF the entire performance when be pronounces
hnai condemnation on him
Remember the argument which Portia had
introduced was one OF mercy 1t was by that
plea she sought TO soften the Jews heart: TO
save the Christian victim
The quality Of mercy Is not strained:
" droppeth as the gentle dew from heaven
But when the plea falls and the Jew 4,
caught ON his own petard. the good Christian
merchant. about whom the whole trouble had
arisen, himself suggests the climax OF the pun.
ishment that shall be inflicted And what il
that judgment? II is the unkindest the hard.
est. the meanest the most revengeful that a
Christian of that age could impose upon "A moor
and defenseless Jew
For 1t was not enough that the Duke had
taken away all the property OF Shyock and
the poor soul moaned. You take my life when
you do take the means whereby live: IL wa,
not enough that half that property should go
20 Antonio and the other half TO the Gentle
'hlei' Lorenzo. who had stolen his daughter
and his ducats. but II remains for the good
christian Merchant OF Venice to suggest a still
more fearful Judgment on the broken aud un.
happy man. He viii be granted his life III
he do presently become a Christiani" Tba
last stab. the deepest. the bitterest the most
painful came as climax TO a series OF mis-
fortunes
And what A.,
Does he scream out his spiritual torture as he
sees himself forced to become that TO him
most detestable OF all heresies and apostasies
christian? No. he lifts his broken body al.
most on the verge of fainting and with a nobla
poise OF his head and shoulders IN calm but
moaning dignity. he merely replies y am con.
tented"
Think what that meant to that age, Think
OF the thousands and hundreds OF thousands
who then. through torture abuse persecution
the threat OF the wrack and the thrust of the
sword. the scorching of flame and the shadow
OF the gallo~s. were forced 10 yield to a ma.
Nclous enemy who thought that IL had IL in
us power to send soul 10 heaven or to hell
Think OF that vast multitude who. with tears
ana anguish, rather than forfeit the dismal Dor.
ton OF life still left them. yielded to the ban.
tismal font and shivered under the ruthless
pressing OF hating and prosecuting priest.
Such the Christianity of that age Sucb
was the Judaism Of that age
And such vas Shakespeare who dared IN
the race OF all that evil disposition toward the
oesplsed Jew. 10 picture him upon the stage q
noble victim. an object OF pity a human bein,
more sinned against than SHINING who 4
defeat rises triumphantly above his oppre;
sors and deriders. He even forces the cou.
10 take merely the word OF Shylock that I
Will sign the deed without compelling him
do IL:
pray you give me leave 20 co from
heneei am not we'll; send the deed after
me: ! will sign It.
And then as IL to emphasize the hardin,
OF the hypocritical Christian attitude OF N
day. Shakespeare suffers Gratiano 10 burl
Shylock this Parthian shot as he departs:
Had been Judge thou shouId'st have had
ten more Ourymen) TO bring thee to the
sallo"s. not TO the font.
II my analysis be correct. then the Jew
all time should be grateful to Shakespeare thu
ever this comedy was written. Instead of
Wiling Shakespeare because he is supposed
have maligned the Jewish people, they thel
selves should recognize in him their true
friend who. in an age when they we're mot
despised. burst call a halt to the persecution
and shame OF centuries.
Shakespeare has taught US in this play the
worth OF all humankind. the unrighteousnesE
OF race hatred and race enmity He saw thre
centuries ahead Of him the rising Of the pet
secuted Jew 10 positions of fame and socia
recognitiOn. His voice and pen were ever TO-
humanity. for love. for justice. To read init
this comedy that very race hatred agains
which sincerely believe he wrote Is 10 de-
his noble reputation n wrong and is merely ~
read surface thoughts without penetrating the
deeper sense.
Shakespeare seeks IN all his characters =,
reveal truth that sometimes lies buried be
meath superficial error His IS ever the a.
vine voice Of love that often lisps propheticalk.
the triumph OF justice the world awaits