The Social Stereotyping of Jews in The Merchant of Venice and The Arabian Nights

Abstract

This essay compares depictions of Jewish characters in The Merchant of Venice and The Arabian Nights to reveal the opposing views the two works provide of the internal aspects of their Jewish characters and their behavior towards others. The comparison will focus on the nature of the social relations between the Jewish people and society at large on the one hand and, on the other hand, the intimate relationships among the Jewish characters themselves within their families and communities.