Sketches from Shakespeare

The character of Shylock in the Merchant of Venice shows the stereotype of a Jew as greedy and will do anything for money.

The Merchant of Venice was written by WIlliam Shakespeare in 1596 – 8. In the story, a merchant named Antonio defaults on a large loan provided by a Jewish moneylender, Shylock. The security for the loan was a pound of Antonio's flesh. When a bankrupt Antonio defaults on the loan, Shylock demands the pound of flesh. Shylock was fueled by revenge, for Antonio had previously insulted, physically assaulted and spat on him. Shylock's daughter, Jessica, falls in love with Antonio's friend Lorenzo and converts to Christianity, leaves Shylock's house and steals vast riches from him, which add to Shylock's rage and harden his resolve for revenge. Shylock put money before everything.
Strangely no Jews were living in England during Shakespeare's time. Jews were expelled from the country in 1290 by Edward I, 300 years before.

Deltiology

Artist: Sydney Carter
Publisher: S. Hildesheimer
Printer: Bavaria
Date: 1907 - 1914 (after the outbreak of World War I, companies stopped printed in Germany
Rarity: ☝☝☝☝☝ (not common)