Judaism in literature

Shakespeare's Merchant of Venice is examined on an allegorical level, with Shylock the Jew portrayed as representing the Mosaic Law, and Antonio the Merchant of Venice portrayed as a Christ figure who represents the New Law. The religious convictions of the era are presented by examining the works of Richard Hooker as representative of his milieu. Traditional religious theology, both Jewish and Christian, is examined to establish a basis for the battle that ensues. Evidence is presented to establish a Jewish presence in England prior to their admission by Oliver Cromwell. This presence is argued to have influenced Shakespeare in his writing and precipitates a battle in which the two opposing philosophies do battle. The sides are carefully drawn and a celestial battle takes place. The allegories are described and then used to define the antagonists in terms that fit their allegorical nature.

Saul Bellow's Herzog is more than just a story of a man on the verge of a nervous breakdown as a result of his wife's ruthless infidelities. It is a story about the re-affirmation of life in spite of horrible circumstances. Although Bellow is widely recognized as a Jewish author, Herzog is written with a foundation that also focuses on Christian idealogy, a belief that Bellow was introduced to as a young child. Being an ardent admirer of Saul Bellow's work, I was surprised that few critics have paid close attention to the prolific amount of religious parallels that can be found in his novels. This thesis is a result of my interest in both the Old and New Testament allusions that appear in this novel.