The Merchant of Venice Should be Studied in High Schools Essay

Since middle school, I have seed that all of Shakespeares works, similar to A Mid Summer Nights Dream, were plays that 1 would demonstrate to hear a happy, entertaining story but, it was not until this year, by and by reading The Merchant of Venice, that I recognized the darker, more sinister, side of Shakespeares plays. The Merchant of Venice supports the Jewish, anti-semitic stereotype as the wicked character of shylock is developed. Many individuals fear that it is improper to teach and discuss The Merchant of Venice in graduate(prenominal) school classrooms because of the negative way it presents Jews however, I believe that it is burning(prenominal) to read this controversial play in high schools because it enables students to learn anti-Semitic history and because reading Shakespeares works, due to their complexity, expands the literary mind of those who read it.It is so important for people to recognize how Jews were portrayed during Shakespeares breeding so tha t historic events much(prenominal) as the holocaust do not repeat themselves. Teachers who plan on presenting their students with The Merchant of Venice should also present them with articles explaining how Jews authoritative their negative stereotype and explain to them that Jews are not as barbarous as Shylock. The play can still be useful as a high school reading experience only if taught correctly, in a manner that avoids Jews being insulted and non-Jews getting a completely flawed idea about Jews. Although comedic during the 16th carbon, The Merchant of Venice can no weeklong be viewed as a comedy in the 21st century due to the diversity of people and general acceptance of their cultures throughout the linked States.Without proper instruction from teachers, non-Jewish students may begin to express h... ...ent in their society.In reading Shakespeare, minds of readers are expanded due to his use of Early fresh English and extensive vocabulary. Shakespeares works also pro vide readers with great entertainment whose portrayal of the human condition transcends the generations. The Merchant of Venice contains many humorous lines and sub-plots. Prejudice feeds on ignorance (Leggatt 215). If teachers do not teach their students the origin of such stereotypes, then they are developing ignorant students who will forever believe that Jews are incarnations of the devil. Considering the Jewish Stereotype that is supported and developed in Shakespeares The Merchant of Venice, the play is, indeed, still useful as a high school reading experience because, due to its sensitive topics, assists in eliminating pureness and creates a more discerning eye for world issues in students.