Subconscious Racism

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Covert or subconscious racism is a form of racial discrimination that is disguised and subtle, rather than public or obvious. It often discriminates against individuals through unnoticeable or seemingly passive methods. Those that exhibit subconscious racism often believe themselves to be liberal or open-minded, unaware that they harbour these racist beliefs. William Shakespeare’s The Merchant of Venice is an example of the playwright's subconscious racism through how he has written the non Angolo-Christian characters in the play: The Prince of Morocco, Jessica, and Shylock.

The first major instance of Shakespeare’s covert racism in this play is found in The Prince of Morocco. His first lines are “Mislike me not for my complexion,” ( Shakespeare