please comment on the theme of culture in the novel

The Merchant of Venice Theme of Race as Culture

In The Merchant of Venice, Judaism and Christianity aren't just religions – they're constructed as racial (and even national) identities as well. In its portrayal of a bloodthirsty Jewish moneylender, the play famously dramatizes 16th century racial stereotypes that are deeply unsettling, especially for modern audiences. While there's no doubt the play depicts anti-Semitism, literary critics are divided over the question of whether or not the play itself endorses racism.