Rumor of Judaism

            Heritage and title continue to be important for other characters in the novel. Instead of the importance of title, Madame Melmotte, Augustus Melmotte’s wife, is primarily concerned with her Jewish heritage and the rumors surrounding that because of it. She “was fat and fair – unlike in colour to our traditional Jewesses; but she had the Jewish nose and the Jewish contraction of the eyes” (Trollope, 31). Mr Alf, one of the editors Lady Carbury attempts to consent to endorse her book, is also “supposed to have been born a German Jew” and Mr Cohenlupe is referred to as “a gentleman of the Jewish persuasion” (Trollope, 13, 73). In assigning these characters their Jewishness, Trollope assumes that certain things are then understood by the reader, e.g. what it means for Madame Melmotte to have the “Jewish contraction of the eyes.” Trollope uses Madame Melmotte to illustrate the role of the “Jewess” in the novel. Her “Jewess” is able to adapt to social changes more readily than the Jewish male. This eventually has greater implications for the financial sphere, again relying on the stereotype, that will be elaborated upon later.

             Rumors or insinuations of Jewishness affect characters just as much as those who are explicitly Jewish. Other characters perceptions are altered and, like Roger Carbury, they have no desire to be seen with these characters out of fear for their reputation. These rumors are perhaps the most clear in the case of Mr Melmotte. He is described as “a large man, with bushy whiskers and rough thick hair, with heavy eyebrows, and a wonderful look of power about his mouth and chin” (Trollope, 31). He is purported to have many characteristics that are indicative of Jewish heritage, and though he is not described as having the “traditional” nose and eyes like his wife, his general physicality suggests that he may be of Jewish heritage. This implies that he does not conform morally or ethically to his Christian counterparts; this is shown to be precisely true in his financial dealings and the insinuations of domestic abuse found throughout the novel. Melmotte is also frequently seen in the company of other Jews, particularly Mr Cohenlupe who “went about a good deal with Melmotte” (Trollope, 77). Through his descriptions and associations, Trollope makes a clear insulation asserting Melmotte’s Jewish affiliation.