Shakespeare's knotty tale of justice and mercy between money lenders and borrowers is, technically, a comedy. But it is not exactly a laugh a minute. Even the occasional bouts of cross-dressing and the appearance of a clown are used as symbols to flesh out the play's central themes. Five hundred years after its first performance, the character of Shylock has come to represent the historic prejudice faced by Jewish people, while his demand for a "pound of flesh" is now a common euphemism for vengeful justice. It is no wonder, then, that productions of the play are often considered a "barometer" for the mood of the times.
The Merchant of Venice
Glossary
Enmity - Feelings of hate.
Mercantile - Relating to trade.
Antisemitic - Hostile to or prejudiced against Jewish people.
Propaganda - Information, which may be biased or misleading, used to promote a certain viewpoint.
Ghettos - An area of a town, particularly a poor area, where members of one ethnic or religious group live closely together.
Multifaceted - Having many sides.
Caricature - An exaggerated description or picture of someone.
Retribution - A punishment given to somebody who is perceived to have done something wrong.
Bigoted - A bigot is a person who hates or refuses to accept the members of a particular group.
Reified - Make something more concrete or real.