“Catholic and Protestant, Jesuit and Jew: Historical Religion in The Merchant of Venice” by John Klause

Who is George Santayana?
What does Klause say that George Santayana posited with regards to religion and Shakespeare?
Why does Klause say that “interpreters have considered the search for religious meaning in Shakespeare’s works regrettable?”
What does “positivism” mean? How does Klause explain it when talking about Shakespeare?
What are the three “kinds” of religion that Klause argues Shakespeare deals with in TMOV? 1. Biblical2. Piety and devotion3. Credal and political
What does Klause say about Robert Southwell? Why is he important for Klause’s interpretation? Klause talks about how Southwell’s understanding and “definition of issues” as it came to Catholicism was “essential to know.” Why would Shakespeare value one Catholic interpretation at the expense of others?
What does clandestine mean? “done in secrecy or in concealment;” when I think of this term I consider Portia; she does things in a clandestine manner that has received criticism; my question is whether or not she would have been criticized during the time frame for her ideas??;
What does Southwell say about Catholicism that was intriguing to Shakespeare, according to Klause?
What does Kaluse say Shakespeare is doing with the texts of Southwell?
Why does Klause bring up the texts of Southwell? What connections does Klause make between Southwell’s writings and Shakespeare’s writings?
Why does Klause say that “some instances will seem less probative than others” when he talks about the “verbal parallels in several texts?”