Anti-Semitism in The Merchant of Venice Anti-Semitism in The Merchant of Venice Throughout "The Merchant of Venice" William Shakespeare portrays anti-Semitism through many of his characters. Audiences today might interpret the play as offensive, while people of Shakespeare's time would have accepted the play as part of everyday life. Most of the population of London at the time was anti-Semitic because very few Jews lived there. Shakespeare's "The Merchant of Venice" advocates anti-Semitic actions and thoughts and is therefore an anti-Semitic play. Anti-Semitism manifests itself very strongly through the character of Antonio. It is clear that Antonio has prejudices against Jews. Shylock confronts Antonio for spitting on his gabardine, calling him "dog" and scolding him at Rialto for his money. Antonio replies: "I would like to call you that again, to spit on you again, to despise you too" (1.3.140-141). Antonio does not deny his actions and instead of apologizing he says he will do them again. She does not hold back her feelings for Shylock and, more broadly, her feelings toward the Jews. In the second act, Lancelot is debating whether or not to look for a new employer. His problem is that he works for Shylock, who is Jewish. Lancelot thinks to himself, “Surely the Jew is the very incarnation of the devil” (2.2.24). Ultimately, he decides to run away from Shylock rather than continue working for a Jew. He then presents the argument to his father: “I am a Jew if I still serve the Jew” (2.2.104). Before accepting the new job, Antonio discusses the matter with his father and reminds himself that Bassanio is much poorer than Shylock, but that he would much rather work for a Christian than for a Jew. Lorenzo harshly insults Shylock when he tells Jessica that if her father ever gets to heaven, it is only because Jessica converted to Christianity and this is described through the line: "If ever her father the Jew comes to heaven, it will be for love of his kind daughter" (2.4.36-7). Lorenzo describes Jessica using the word kind. The word kind in Shakespeare's time can also be pronounced kind, meaning against Judaism. In this quote and later in the play through the line "Our house is a hell and a merry devil" (2.3.2-3), Shakespeare informs the reader that Jessica does not like her father and that the house she has living with him is hell.