Shakespeare’s portrayal of Shylock as a cruel and vengeful Jew in the early 16th century gave rise to some of the most enduring racial stereotypes. He also gave Shylock depth and sympathetic qualities. In one of the most stirring speeches in all of Shakespeare, Shylock underscores his humanity, famously asking, “hath not a Jew eyes?” Yet the conclusion of that monologue requires further examination as it ends with the Jew’s assertion that he learned revenge from his Christian neighbors. Is there a basis for this claim? What is the Jewish understanding of revenge and retributive punishment? How do we reconcile the divine prohibition against revenge in the Hebrew Bible with its description of God as vengeful? And of what relevance is the long-suffering biblical Jacob, whose life is discussed by the characters in this play?
In this episode, Rabbi Dr. Dov Lerner offers a master class on biblical exegesis, the relationship between interpretation, law, and justice, and what we can learn from Jewish tradition about how to end the cycle of vengeance.
Twice Blest was recently selected as one of the top 20 Shakespeare podcasts by Feedspot.
Audio Credits:
The Merchant of Venice: Arkangel Shakespeare
Mentioned in This Episode:
The Jews as They Are by C.K. Salaman
The Beginning of Wisdom by Leon R. Kass
The God Delusion by Richard Dawkins
Violence and the Sacred by René Girard
Theater of Envy: William Shakespeare by René Girard
The Warrior’s Honor: Ethnic War and Modern Conscious by Michael Ignatieff
Hosted by Straus Center Resident Scholar Dr. Shaina Trapedo
Produced by Uri Westrich and Sam Gelman
Outro by Straus Scholar Ayelet Brown
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