Generalisation of people in society is the key to understanding struggle with adversity and its effect on the human experience. This idea is displayed through the struggle of racial and religious stereotypes and their negative effects on the actions of individuals. These themes are evident throughout both William Shakespeare’s The Merchant of Venice (Circa 1596) and George Orwell’s political essay, Notes on Nationalism (1945). The Merchant of Venice uses the character of Shylock to demonstrate how severe alienation of an individual based on their religion can affect a person’s actions. This is shown through the character of Shylock. Similarly, Notes on Nationalism utilises the ideas of anti-semitism in Nazi Germany as an extreme example of alienation of people based on generalisation.
The negative effects of religious stereotypes display the way in which adversity forms an aspect of the human experience. This is evident through Shylock’s actions within the latter parts of the play, specifically the vendetta he holds. This portrays the negative connotations that are associated with alienation of a group of people. In this case, the alienation committed by the Christian characters is based on religion. The Christian characters discriminate against Shylock on the basis of his Judaism. Salanio refers to him as the devil through his phrase “The devil …. here he comes in the likeness of a Jew”. The imagery in this line is referring to Shylock as satan, where Christian characters view the devil as the personification of evil. A very powerful comparison which clearly demonstrates the way in which the many Christian characters view and mistreat Shylock. Because of this, Shylock’s behaviour is changed in the way that he is seeking revenge for the conduct he receives. This is displayed through his attempt to retrieve a pound of flesh from Antonio, in order to follow through on the bond held between him and the aforementioned Antonio . Thus, Shylock’s anti-social behaviour can be attributed to the treatment he receives as a person of Jewish faith. This demonstrates adversity that Shylock faced based on his religious beliefs, therefore generalisation.
Nationalism is a method of generalisation in which ostracisation can be allowed to occur. This idea is evident in Notes on Nationalism. Orwell demonstrates this through his idea of nationalists simply desiring more prestige for their unit, no matter the connotations. Orwell is not describing nationalism in its traditional sense, he is instead referring to a person identifying themselves to a single nation or other unit. For example, a person identifying oneself with the Catholic church. “As soon as fear, hatred, jealousy and power worship are involved, the sense of reality becomes unhinged.” Orwell is describing the thought process that people he deems to be “nationalists” experience. He also states that “Every event that happens seems to him a demonstration that his own side is on the upgrade and some hated rival is on the downgrade.” This statement furthers any notions of nationalists essentially desiring more power for their own unit. Through this concept of nationalism in Orwell’s sense, a link can be drawn to the The Merchant of Venice where there is the notion that the Christian characters almost have their own nationalist group. Attempting to destroy the man of another faith that they deem to be a threat. This is further perpetuated by the phrase “Nationalism is power-hunger tempered by self-deception.” What Orwell is referring to here is obvious, simply the concept that nationalist group are reaching for power based on their own false feeling, idea or situation is true. In the case of The Merchant of Venice, this is demonstrated through the innate belief that the Christian characters are superior because of their beliefs. Choosing to despise Shylock based on this. Demonstrating the struggle with adversity that Shylock faced through generalisation.
The notion of a nationalist’s group’s goal of prestige is a key idea in understanding adversity in regard to the human experience. This is especially obvious throughout Act IV of The Merchant of Venice with the trial of the play being illustrated. The trial sees a kind of lynch mob that is out to destroy Shylock, in regards to his reputation as well as his faith. Shylock’s bond with Antonio stated that in the event that Antonio does not repay 3,000 Ducats within 3 months, then Shylock was entitled to one pound of his flesh. When Antonio does fail to repay this bond, every possible precaution is taken by the Christian characters in order to dismiss this. Shylock states “The pound of flesh which I demand of him… If you deny me, fie upon your law – There is no force in the decrees of Venice.” By this, Shylock is stating that he is legally entitled to this pound of flesh as a result of the bond he holds. He is indicating that the Venetian laws hold no substantial validity. This is almost foreshadowing in the way that in the later part of the act, he is betrayed by the laws of Venice that are unfairly acted upon him. Shylock has all of his wealth taken from him as well as the act of denouncing his faith as a Jewish man all as a result of the plot of the nationalist group of Christians. Demonstrating the fact that all Shylock faces throughout Act IV is adversity, he is constantly attacked as a result of a religious beliefs until he is betrayed by the very law that he believes in to uphold equity within Venetian society. All of this as a result of generalisation.
Anti-semitism is an example of how generalisation can form adversity within the human experience. George Orwell discusses how this is prevalent throughout Europe at the time of publication, 1945. Orwell is referring to the Nazi regime, and the phenomenon of persecution based on the belief of racial superiority. However, throughout Notes on Nationalism, Orwell continually refers to the fact that this persecution is not exclusive to the Nazis during this time period as well as the fact that these vast crimes have failed to penetrate their conscience. “A known fact may be so unbearable that it is habitually pushed aside and not allowed to enter into logical processes.” Orwell is discussing the method in which vile acts are ignored throughout history. He uses the example of Chiang Kai Shek to further this point. Sheik was a politician and military leader whom in 1927, participated in the boiling of hundreds of Communists during the Shanghai massacre. Even after this extremely violent act Orwell points out that, “He had become one of the heroes of the Left.” Orwell’s argument is that nationalist groups will ignore events based on their own ideas of morality, no matter the extremity of them. This notion illustrates the method in which generalisation can allow adversity to fester.
Through this analysis, it is clear that the struggle of of racial and religious stereotypes is the key to understanding the role of adversity in the human experience. The Merchant of Venice uses themes present in Notes on Nationalism of nationalism of the Christian characters to perpetuate their own desire for power. This is demonstrated through the unfair treatment that Shylock receives as a result of being a man of Jewish faith. This idea of adversity is furthered by exploration of the concepts that Shylock’s actions were simply that of self-defence against the treatment he received and the horrific events in history’s parts. All before finally being resolved in the point that some events in history are ignored on the basis of one’s own morality. Therefore, Adversity is the most important aspect in understanding human experience.