The Politics of Differentiation in The Merchant of Venice : Social and Economic Contradictions of Power

In The Merchant of Venice the Jew is marginalized in the Venetian Christian society.Antonio's attitude towards Shylock shows that the Christians regarded usury as a base profession.The idea of a Jew piling up a large fortune by moneylending was historically an unfavorable one, and in the Middle Ages Jews were often regarded as a symbol of Avarice."But viewed against the backdrop of the late sixteenth-century English economy, the money-lending business itself indicates another reason for anti-Semitic feeling: in spite of its negative associations the business of usury was important to enterprises rising with the growth of capitalism.The 1571 Act eased prohibition against usury, virtually allowing it.?)Not only artisans and peasant small land holders, but also most of the aristocratic landlords facing financial crisis became increasingly in debt to usurers.? As a result the usurers with accumulated wealth became more deeply despised.The animosity felt toward them was exacerbated by the grip they had on the finances of the aristocracy.Behind this hatred lay the threat of losing the traditional social order.Though Tudor England had experienced unprecedented economic expansion, social stability was under threat during this period of transition towards capitalism."It was no coincidence that particularly in the last third of the sixteenth century usury was fiercely attacked in a series of sermons.? Under these circumstances, the Jews, who were traditionally identified with usurers, were all the more marginalized as a demoniac enemy.|The denouncement of the Jews here is appropriately interpreted as an attempt to restore community's order, which seemed to be in a dire predicament.Cultural order in a society is maintained by ensuring a differentiated hierarchical structure.Alienating the Jew ensured a hierarchical difference between the Jews and the other members of the community.In other words, the Jews were theThe Politics of Differentiation in The Merchant of Venice