Harrington's Various Impressions of Jews: Nature vs. Nurture

Throughout Harrington, the way that Harrington perceives the various Jews he comes into contact with changes. This is important to consider as Harrington develops as a character as he grows into adulthood, since his opinions on Jews goes from very polarized at a very young age, to much more complex as he grows older.

The first Jewish man that Harrington is exposed to is Simon the Jew, who is a poor peddler who comes to his family's estate in the evenings in an attempt to make a living. His nurse, Fowler, in an effort to convince him to behave tells his a story about a Jew who would wait for small children, capture them, and then eat them She continues to tell him stories that make him so fearful that he actually develops a mental and physical aversion to even the mere sight of a Jew. Simon is a reminder of the myth still surrounding Jewish people, even into the early 19th century, that they are somehow related to evil, or are corrupted by magic of sorts. Simon is representative of a mythical stereotype that kept with the Jews, even though the assertions were clearly outlandish.

This early impression is strengthened by Harrington's parents. As we discussed last class, his parents are against the naturalization of Jews in England, because they consider themselves of higher rank in the political, social, and religious spheres. His mother makes him a form of entertainment to her friends, and allows Harrington to indulge in his fright in order to show her friends that he already identifies with their ideology. His sickness is a testament to the perceived evil and lowliness that Jews are thought to bring, as even a child with no knowledge of them can be so put off by their nature. His father, on the other hand, justifies Harrington's "natural" aversion in reason. He feeds Harrington's initial fear by adding his own hatred into Harrington's mix of negative emotions. Much like his parents' reinforcement of a false attitude, the next Jews to appear in Harrington's life are the mobs of peddlers that show up after his mother pays Simon to go away. On both ends, we see the affirmation of a polarized stereotype. The stereotyping and myths surrounding Simon and the other peddlers are representative of Harrington's simplified notion of the Jews as a child.

The hatred instilled in Harrington by his parents towards Jewish people translates in Harrington's schooling, when he comes into contact with Jacob, the son of Simon, who is also a peddler. Harrington, Mowbray, and other "party members" berate Jacob simply because of his Jewishness. He, like his father, also falls into a stereotype. However, after the incident at school with Mowbray, Harrington is able to see the boy in a new light. He is finally able to see Jacob as a human, and to empathize with him, even though it goes against the ideology that he was bred to believe in. This is a massive turning point, and is made even more important following Harrington and Jacob's discussion while on the road to Cambridge. Jacob, once again, offers a new perspective to Harrington. He is educated, and of good morals. Jacob turns Harrington into a more understanding person, especially after revealing that he is the son of Simon, a man that Harrington had associate with fear and disgust. Yet, Jacob was an upstanding young man. He begins to shatter the preconceived ideas that Harrington had surrounding the Jews.

Harrington respects Jacob enough to read the magazine that he lends him, telling the story of Mendelssohn, a well respected philosopher, which is eye opening. He even agrees to meet Israel Lyons, who is another man that completely goes against the image of the Jew that Harrington knew and believed to be true at such a young age. Israel had a "lively disposition" and was "genius," and completely shocked Harrington. He provides the counter to his father's reason. Israel's reason comes from a point of understanding and knowledge, whereas his father's came from blind ignorance. Harrington, as an educated young man, is better able to understand the position that the Jews are in.

This leads to Montenero, who completely flips Harrington's perception of the Jews in relation to Christianity. Upon discussing the role of Shylock in Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice, he allows a completely new perspective on the stereotype so often used against Jews with a negative connotation. Montenero draws light on the portrayal of Shylock, saying that it was the Christian who demanded the retribution, as so often the Jews are portrayed. Montenero is the final character in Harrington's development who completely reverses his idea surrounding the Jews, and is the person who allows Harrington to see his moral folly with believing in the sickness surrounding learned prejudice.

Here is the scene from The Merchant of Venice that the two are discussing.


Discussion Questions:

Why do you think Edgeworth takes Harrington's character down the developmental path that she does? What boundary does each character aid in breaking in regards to Harrington's preconceived ideas surrounding the Jews?

What effect does each character have in shaping a new identity regarding Jewishness? Why does Edgeworth choose to use a non-Jewish person to shape this identity?