"The Merchant of Venice before Act I scene 1"

The comments added in the film before the actual beginning of the play are posted with the other 30B documents, as well as pasted below:



Intolerance of the Jews was a fact of 16th century life even in Venice, the most powerful and liberal city state in Europe.



By law the Jews were forced to live in the old walled foundry or Geto area of the city. After sundown the gate was locked and guarded by Christians.



In the daytime anyman leaving the ghetto was forced to wear a red hat



They were forbidden to own property. So they practiced usury, the lending of money at interest. This was against Christian law.



The sophisticated Venetians would turn a blind eye to it but for the religious fanatics, who hated the Jews, it was another matter…