For centuries, stories, plays, poems, and novels helped shape how Jewish people were perceived by wider society. Long before social media, harmful stereotypes were being passed from generation to generation through some of the most influential works in Western literature.
Many readers who encountered these portrayals had probably never met a Jewish person. Literature became their window into Jewish life. When Jewish characters were repeatedly depicted as greedy, dishonest, manipulative, or dangerous, those ideas did not stay on the page. They shaped public attitudes and helped normalise prejudice.
This does not mean historical texts should be removed or ignored. Studying them is important. But they should be taught with context, honesty, and an understanding of the harm these portrayals caused.
Literature has the power to build empathy, but it also has the power to reinforce stereotypes.
Understanding the history of antisemitism in literature is not about censoring the past. It is about learning from it.

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