Conclusion

            Trollope’s use of Jewish stereotyping in the novel frequently crosses over into the realm of the anti-Semitic motifs so prevalent in Victorian Literature. He is able to alter the trope just minimally enough that they are still identifiable by readers while giving these character enough positive attributes to make them human and realistic. By offering these characters redemptive qualities, he does not lessen these tropes’ effects, rather he creates realistic characters that readers can easily identify and identify with. Trollope presents these stereotypes through libelous rumors of the slightly manipulated Jewish bloodlust trope in order to mirror the way these stereotypes are perpetuated, through hearsay and exaggeration. Blood Libel is altered to align with the financial field in order to fit with a more realistic setting and contemporary social structure. However, by creating these characters in such a realistic manner, Trollope does more to reaffirm these stereotypes than detract from them. Trollope offers a situation wherein the characters realism only enhances the assumption that these characteristics are indeed inherent to Jewish characters and that the rumors are, in fact, true.