audience and contextualisation

after the 1290 edict act which was a royal decree issued by Edward I taking
measures concerning the jewish population letters were sent to sheriffs advising
that all Jews in their counties had until 1st November to leave the realm.This
lasted about 300 years so the english population in the shakespearean era had
absolutely no contact with any jewish population and jews were mostly
considered as subhuman urban legends.this explains alot because we can safely
assume that shakespeare has never encountered a jew which explains the
stereotypical depiction of the jewish money lender.Even if today we can find this
borderline offensive the audience in the shakespearean era found this depiction
true to reality and were in no case sympathizing with shylock. Even if the play
itself has not changed a bit the way of interpreting the play has changed alot
which shows the genius of william shakespeare because even tho a character
might seem stereotypical it manages to keep important nuances which makes the
play such a timeless piece of work

theme
the theme justice and mercy is one of the most crucial ones as it illustrates in my
opinion the opposition between judaism and christianity but before understanding
the correlation between our main themes we have to define justice and mercy
justice is by definition the ethical, philosophical idea that people are to be
treated impartially, fairly, properly, and reasonably by the law and by
arbiters of the law, that laws are to ensure that no harm befalls
another, and that, where harm is alleged, a remedial action is taken -
both the accuser and the accused receive a morally right consequence
merited by their actions. this is what shylock believes in and this is
why he has so much faith in justice as the duke says he is
“uncapable of pity, void and empty from any dram of mercy.” ultimately
his philosophy of justice is the one of the old testament his sacred book
The passage in Leviticus states, "And a man who injures his countryman – as he
has done, so it shall be done to him fracture for fracture, eye for eye, tooth for
tooth. Just as another person has received injury from him, so it will be given to
him." (Lev. 24:19–21). This is in complete opposition the new testament which is
in favor of treating evil with love to stop an ever-escalating cycle of revenge. “You
have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I say to
you, do not resist an evildoer; but whoever strikes you on your right cheek, turn the
other also; and if anyone wants to sue you and take your coat, give him your cloak
as well; and if anyone forces you to go one mile, go also the second mile. Give to
everyone who begs from you, and do not refuse anyone who wants to borrow from
you.”. this is in some sense dramatic irony and it indicates the hypocrisy of the
christians as they do the opposite of what they preach and instead of treating evil
with love they perpetuate an overescalating cycle of revenge by punishing shylock
even tho the biblical definition of mercy relates to forgiveness or withholding
punishment.