Some of the evidence that has been cited to support the claim that Shakespeare was antisemitic includes:
* The play "The Merchant of Venice" contains several negative stereotypes of Jews, including the character Shylock, who is a greedy and vengeful moneylender.
* The play "Titus Andronicus" contains a scene in which a Jewish woman is killed and mutilated.
* In the play "Love's Labour's Lost," the character Costard refers to a woman as "a Jew." This was a common term of abuse at the time, and some scholars have argued that Shakespeare's use of it suggests that he shared the negative views of Jews that were prevalent in Elizabethan England.
However, there is also evidence that has been cited to support the claim that Shakespeare was not antisemitic, or that his views on Jews were complex and nuanced. For example:
* The play "The Merchant of Venice" also contains some positive portrayals of Jews, such as the character Jessica, who is a kind and compassionate woman.
* In the play "As You Like It," the character Jaques refers to a Jewish man named Orlando as "a worthy fool." This suggests that Shakespeare was capable of seeing Jews in a positive light, and that he did not share the view that all Jews were evil.
* Some scholars have argued that Shakespeare's plays reflect the antisemitic attitudes that were prevalent in Elizabethan England, but that they do not necessarily reflect Shakespeare's own personal views.
Ultimately, it is impossible to say definitively whether or not William Shakespeare was antisemitic. There is evidence to support both sides of the argument, and it is likely that his views on Jews were complex and nuanced.