Around the year 1596, Shakespeare was called in as a guest editor of a play by Anthony Munday called The Life of Sir Thomas More. Shakespeare contributed to the play a single speech linked in the video below: “The Stranger’s Case.” The speech is delivered by an advisor of King Henry VIII named Sir Thomas More. It depicts a real historical incident from May Day in 1517, when a bunch of angry English people started violently attacking the foreigners and immigrants residing in London. In this speech by Shakespeare, Thomas More condemns the English people for their lack of empathy for the plight of immigrants to who came to their land seeking refuge from the violence and desperation they left in their home countries. More condemns them for their “mountainish inhumanity.” Watch the speech, and then answer the following questions about The Merchant of Venice. Speech: This is Shakespeares rallying cry for humanity What was the status of Jews in early modern Venice? How is Shylock treated by Antonio and the other characters? Is Antonio guilty of “mountainish inhumanity” in his treatment of Shylock? Make sure to quote The Merchant of Venice in your response. (Hint: Answers to these questions can be found in Shylock’s speeches from Acts 1 and 2 of the play).
