Mondays, Wednesdays, & Fridays 1:25 pm – 2:20 pm
Dr. Mark Raider
This course examines William Shakespeare’s The Merchant of Venice (c. 1596) in historical perspective. It explores the place of the Jews in premodern Christian European society and the backdrop against which Shakespeare composed his play.
A close reading and in-depth study of the play serves as a vehicle for examining the social, economic, and political status of the Jews in the early modern period.
Film versions of Merchant of Venice will be used to illustrate the play’s iconic status in Western theatrical tradition and raise questions about the complexity of Jewish stereotypes, artistic representation, and historical reconstruction.
This course is cross-listed with ENGL 3063 & JUDC 3063.
