That Shakespeare was comparing mankind to corporations that would exist in the far - flung future is readily apparent in this chart, in
which Shylock contrasts the two:
Not exact matches
Shakespeare's audience,
which would have had little chance to associate with Jews, would have found
Shylock's disapproval of plays and revelry familiar enough: «What, are there masques?
The character who immediately begins jeering at
Shylock when Portia turns the tables on him, the character who offers
Shylock only «A halter gratis» nothing else for God's sake» (emphasis added), is named Gratiano,
which of course suggests grazia, the Italian word for «grace.»
Antonio's acceptance of the «merry bond» of a pound of his flesh to be granted
Shylock in the unlikely event of forfeiture allows Antonio to avoid entering an agreement involving interest, to
which he was willing to agree «only to supply the ripe wants of my friend.»
It cites Labour's election campaign last year in
which Conservative leader Michael Howard was portrayed as Shakespeare's Jewish money - lending character,
Shylock.
Additionally, Hoffman received a Tony ® Award nomination for his role as
Shylock in «The Merchant of Venice,»
which he reprised from his long run on the London Stage.