Subject: Re: Words, words, words
AntiUtopia@aol.com
Date: Sun Jan 23 2000 - 23:24:41 EST
In a message dated 1/23/00 11:15:03 PM Eastern Standard Time,
mkozusko@parallel.park.uga.edu writes:
<< I don't know, Aaron, but it really doesn't have anything to do with
Shakespeare's play. Not in any reasonably direct sense, anyway. A few
posts ago, you granted my point that _Merchant_ deals particularly with
anti-semitism than with racism. The distinction is important, if we're
discussing the play. That anti-semitism and racism are similar in
motivation is true, and unfortunate, but that is not the topic at hand.
--
Matt Kozusko >>
Alright, this is what I've heard.
Christians back then weren't allowed to loan money to other Christians and
earn interest. So what they'd do is give their money to Jews, who would then
loan it out at interest -- and both the Jews and their Christian backers were
making a profit. Technically, all debt was owed to Jews, although it was
good Christian money behind it. When debts became serious enough,
occasionally all the Jews were "run out of town" to protect those who owed
large amounts of money. Course, I could see how all the dirty work --
collecting debt, etc. -- would be left to the Jews.
Shylock's speech -- you guyst made me this way -- carries a heck of a lot of
weight in this light.
Now, back to our topic, the scandal of being Jewish in Merchant didn't have
to do with attending synagogue or keeping kosher, but with being a Merchant.
Not race, but economics...
Jim
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