Jewish-related Metaphors in English and American Literature --Intolerance and Tolerance Intertwined

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In my first project essay "Jewish-related Images in Medieval and Renaissance English Literature"(1992), I had to start with a historical survey of theological antisemitism--how early Church Fathers distorted Pauline precepts arbitrarily, and as an inevitable result how these radically anti-Jewish prejudices permeated the medieval English society. The mystery plays such as York Cycle evidence how contemporary Jews were regarded with suspicion and abhorrence. Among interpretative essays on "The Prioress's Tale"(Chaucer) and The Merchant of Venice as well as on the mystery plays there is a conspicuous lack of understanding as to Jewish history on the part especially of gentile scholars including those in Japan. Naturally Jewish authors have tried to redeem such malicious Jewish images as represented in Shylock with every accusatory or vindicative turn of expression imaginable. Anglo-Jewish playwright Arnold Wesker, for example, created an entirely different Shylock as a liberal intellectual. This certainly ridded Shylock of a semi-devilish predisposition, but at the same time deprived Wesker's play of that overwhelming dynamism or dramatic effect which characterized Shakespeare's original, thus hinting anew at the complexity of the human psyche.In my second essay "Jewish-related Images in Early Modern English Literature"(1993), I tried to find out if there was any literary work that managed to create a well-balanced image of the Jew who is neither saint nor villain entirely. After analyzing Scott's Ivanhoe (Rebecca and Isaac), Dickens's Oliver Twist (Fagin), and George Eliot's Daniel Deronda, I had to conclude that almost all Jewish characters depicted in these novels were mythical or "anti-mythical,"thus proving anew the difficulty of Jewish-Christian mutual understanding. I will write three more essays to pursue the same theme in late modern English literature and also in American literature.