Page "The School for Scandal" Paragraph 34

On the other hand, the play has also in modern times been criticized for some hints of anti-Semitism, specifically " the disparaging remarks made about moneylenders, who were often Jewish.

" It is true that the moneylender Moses is portrayed in a comparatively positive light, but the way he is described ( as a " friendly Jew " and an " honest Israelite " by Rowley in III. 1 ) suggest that he is in some way to be considered an exception to Jews in general ; also, his own usurious business practices as stated to Sir Peter are clearly less than exemplary ( e. g., his statement " If he appears not very anxious for the supply, you should require only forty or fifty per cent ; but if you find him in great distress, and want the moneys very bad, you may ask double " ).

It may be significant that in Johann Zoffany's portrait of Robert Baddeley as Moses, we find that " Under his arm Moses holds a rolled parchment of the Surface family tree that is used as an auction hammer, and he seems to be ticking off pictures in the catalogue ," although in the play Careless is the auctioneer in the relevant scene ( IV. 1 ) and Moses has a relatively minor role.