The Merchant of Venice is a painful read, much more so than Shakespeare's other plays, because it portrays oppression without taking sides one way or the other . Portia is undermined by gender inequalities in society, the Prince of Morocco fights racism, and Shylock was written so that audiences could dislike him based on his Jewishness and occupation. However, this bias is what makes the work so important to read and reflect on. The reasoning behind censorship is to protect students from controversial and politically incorrect opinions, but it is counterproductive to omit topics from a class rather than use them as a vehicle to raise awareness. Learning about structural oppression is daunting, overwhelming, and exasperating, but discussion can encourage people to move beyond guilt and anger and start thinking about how to reduce oppression. Because school provides a controlled, safe, and informative learning environment for people, it should be used to broaden the discussion of social issues that continue in our postmodern society. Literary works that provide a variety of points of view, even unethical ones, are critical to intellectual growth. As long as there is discussion and criticism of the amoral or unethical views contained in such stories, they should be required reading in schools. The Merchant of Venice, with its strong anti-Semitism, underlying sexism, and overt racism, is a perfect resource for students to clearly understand the social and interpersonal mechanisms behind real-world prejudice. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay The Prince of Morocco's black skin is vilified before the character actually appears on stage himself, further contributing to the racial stigma against people of color in Shakespeare's Time. Portia treats the prince's skin color, a physical and uncontrollable factor, more as a negative personality trait. He treats him and his country as “others,” or people so foreign that they are practically uncivilized compared to the play's main characters. “If I could welcome the fifth as kindly as I can bid farewell to the other four, I would be happy with his arrival; if he has the condition of a saint and the complexion of a devil, I would rather he acquit me than marry me” (1.3.127-131). Here she says that she would never want to marry the prince of Morocco, even if he were a “saint” (1.3.130), because the prince has a dark complexion like “the devil” (1.3.130). Her casual, casual racial intolerance is cruel because it unfairly judges the prince based on his physical differences while rejecting potential white suitors based on flawed character traits. Even the prince dishonors his own skin color, and his opening line is "I don't like myself for my complexion" (2.1.1). In Shakespeare's time, black men were often associated with evil, thus often filling the role of the villain. In today's society, being black is still associated with corruption, poverty, and malice, and dark-skinned people are still rarely seen in leading positions in modern media. There is an implicit racial hierarchy conveyed throughout media history, reflecting the systematic racism woven into our society over centuries. Whether the media depicts superheroes, animated animals, fairies, or automobiles, this same racial pyramid persists throughout the kingdom: white or white-voiced characters at the top and other ethnicities at the bottom with lighter skin.dark at the bottom. Audiences are immersed in this unexpressed and virtually imperceptible racism, and the way diversity is represented on screen, on a stage or in a play plays an important role in learning about this prejudice. Allowing discussion and criticism of the discrimination committed against the Prince of Morocco in The Merchant of Venice is one way to counter the ongoing dehumanization of people of color in the media and its translation into the real world. Shakespeare portrays his female characters as victims of a patriarchal society, their characters convey the restrictions placed on women. Portia's father's power over his daughter, even in death, demonstrates the control that men have in women's affairs, as if they were property rather than human beings: "Thus the will of a living daughter is restrained by the will of a father dead" (1.2.24-25). In fact, in describing the test that the suitors will have to undergo, she says: "If you choose what I am contained in, our nuptial rights will immediately be solemnized" (2.9.5-6). Portia is “contained” (2.9.5) in the box, imprisoned by this test created by her father to control her. Furthermore, women were not allowed at court, but when Portia disguises herself as a man, she is recognized as cultured and wise. Portia, teasing each suitor for being drunk or obsessed with her horse, compares her great intelligence to the flaws of her male colleagues. Although she is a witty and intelligent character, she is only able to wield power and authority when in the guise of a male. Female characters achieve their goals better than their husbands' goals as “males,” only to return to the “prize up for grabs” or “annoying wife” cliché as females. As a woman, her opinion, personality and character are negligible compared to her as a man. Throughout history, most anonymous writers, artists, and workers have been women; otherwise their work would have gone unnoticed and been discarded. Confronting structured gender roles and sexist ideals rooted in historical circumstances requires a clear example of what sexism looks like. The Merchant of Venice supports anti-Semitism by portraying Shylock as a stereotype of a greedy Jewish loan shark who intends to usurp the “good” Christian character. . Shylock's suggestion that they pay for a pound of Antony's flesh reminds Shakespeare's 16th-century audience of false stories about murderous Jews who sought Christian blood for religious rituals. Shylock is driven by an inherent cruelty based on the current time period's contempt for the Jewish people. Incidentally, Shylock describes his nemesis, Antonio: “How a flattering publican he seems! I hate him because he is a Christian” (1.3.41-42). Shylock is shown to be just as hateful and spiteful as Antonio: the only difference between the two is that Shylock is not just an old loan shark tried in court, but the maligned stereotype of an entire religion. Greedy, ruthless and obsessed with the letter of the law, he chooses to turn away from the clemency of Christ and not take Anthony's flesh, thus condemning himself and his religion. Shakespeare intended to contrast the Gentile main Christian characters with the vengeful Jew, who lacks the ability to understand mercy. Furthermore, by condemning Shylock and giving Antony a happy ending, Shakespeare condones the racist actions committed against Shylock, including calling him a "miscreant, merciless dog, and spit on my Jewish gabardine" (1.3.121-122). Therefore, Shakespeare's portrayal of Shylock in the play reinforces the stereotype of Jews as bloodthirsty and miserly. Throughout history, Jews have been blamed for everything from the attacks on the Twin Towers.