It is important first to establish that views on Jews and usury at the time were very different from what they are now. Anti-Semitism had been present in England ever since Jews first arrived. Stories had been contrived of them stealing babies, drinking sacrificial blood and forcing adult circumcisions. They were the scapegoats for everything. Jews had been banished from England since 1290 and only around 1000 converts to Christianity remained in London around the time Shakespeare was writing. In 1591, Marlowe produced "The Jew of Malta" in which the main character, Barabus, the Jew, was portrayed as very evil and was responsible for the murder of his daughter and a convent of Christian nuns. Then in 1594 extreme anti-Semitic feelings were aroused when Queen

He (Shylock) seeks my life, his reason well I know;

Of forfeiture, of justice, and his bond.

Many that have at times made moan to me;

O, be thou damned, inexorable dog!...

But none can drive him from the envious plea

Governed a wolf, who, hanged for the human slaughter,

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Approximate Word count = 1733
Approximate Pages = 7 (250 words per page double spaced)