People tend to view and judge things by how they see them. However, appearances can be deceiving, and lead one to misfortune by their own mistake. Someone could find a cool and popular person, and think they're really nice. But the person is actually really mean and doesn't want to associate with them. In the book, Merchant of Venice, suitors were given a lottery of three caskets, and had to choose the right one in order to marry a girl. Two have promising appearances and one didn't look very valuable at all, but when opened their contents are the opposite of their appearance. In The Merchant of Venice by Shakespeare, it explains that the appearance of something is simply a lie to deceive others.
When the Prince of Morocco visits the rich young lady Portia to choose the correct casket and have her hand in marriage, he chooses what he finds most suitable for the lady by appearance, but ends up being wrong. "In England they have a gold coin called an Angel, with the image of an angel stamped on it. It's only engraved. But inside here an angel lies upon a golden bed," (2.7.55-59). The Prince of Morocco chose the gold casket because of a gold coin that had the engraving of an angel, which, in relation to the caskets, the gold one had the picture of Portia, an "angel.". However, he only looked at the appearance with no thought that it could be a trick. "what have we here? A rotting skull, and in its empty eye socket there's a rolled-up manuscript. I'll read the writing on it: All that glitters is not gold; Often have you heard that told. Many a man his life has sold Just my outside to behold," (2.7.62-68). Despite the casket looking valuable, its contents were the complete opposite. The outside of the gold casket was a lie to deceive him, holding a rotten skull instead of Portia's picture. The Prince of Morocco made a foolish decision because he determined what was right and wrong through appearance.
Bassanio, another man who wanted to win marriage to Portia, made his choice with something that didn't look promising but held more that what it seemed. "Ornament is the treacherous shore of a very dangerous sea, the beautiful scarf veiling an uncertain beauty; in short, it is a mock-truth that on swindling occasions can deceive the cleverest of men. Therefore, gaudy gold, food for Midas, I want none of you. nor of you, silver, the stuff of common currency. But you, worthless lead, which threatens rather than promises, your plain speaking appeals more than the eloquence of your rivals. This is my choice," (3.2.97-107). Bassanio made it clear that appearances are lies, and knocks away the valuable gold and silver caskets in favor of the worthless lead. He ignores the dull lead's appearance, knowing that its contents don't match its display. "What do I find here? Fair Portia's portrait! How close to the divine this is!... Just as my praises undervalue the portrait, the portrait falls short of the reality. Here's the scroll, on which my fortune's summarized: You who choose not by the view Take fair chance, and choose quite true," (3.2.114-116,127-132). Bassanio, in choosing the casket that had no promising appearance, found Portia's picture and won her marriage. He knew that appearances are lies. Bassanio made a wise decision because he determined what was right and wrong through thought.
When the suitors chose the caskets, they made decisions based on what they thought of the three metals that lied before them. The Prince of Morocco, choosing appearance to determine what was correct, chose the precious gold and ended up being wrong. When Bassanio chose the worthless lead, he ended up being right. In The Merchant of Venice by Shakespeare, it notes that one can't determine someone or something's value just by their appearance. Anything can look deceiving, so it's never easy to tell what's right or wrong. A person could be given a present in fine wrapping paper and a carefully detailed ribbon, but will find that the gift held a worthless object. The present looked promising, but the object was the opposite. People need to stop judging things by appearance, or they could get opposing results.
Friday, April 22, 2016
Tuesday, April 5, 2016
Merchant of Venice Q/A
1. What is the setting of the story? What are the people like, the culture etc.?
The story takes place in Italy 1600's. The culture had a mix of of English and Italian, with polite and trusting people.
2. We meet Antonio in the first scene, who exactly is he and what is his worries that he faces early on?
Antonio is an Italian merchant in Venice who is depressed and doesn't know why. He's worried about his investments.
3. We also meet Bassanio a friend of Antonio, what does he ask of Antonio? Explain.
He asked Antonio for a loan so that he can bug something for Portia.
4. Portia worries about finding a husband, so what does she decide to do that she thinks will be best solution to her problem? Explain.
She decides to give a test to the suitors by making them choose out of three caskets to find one with gold. The one who gets the gold will be her husband.
Act I Scene III Questions
Revisiting the Portia situation, why is the choosing of a man suitable for her out of her hands?
Her father had decided the casket test, which she had no say in.
Who is Shylock? What is his importance in the story thus far?
Shylock is a Jewish man who confirmed a loan with Bassanio and made a deal with Antonio to pay back the loan in three months.
What is the agreement Shylock and Antonio come to terms with?
Shylock will cancel interest on Antonio, but if he fails to make his pay in time, Shylock can take a pound of flesh from him from any part of the body he chooses.
Why is Shylock so hesistant of this agreement with Antonio? While answering this question you should also explain their history and relationship between each other.
Shylock is hesitant to agree due to his reputation for having usury and making a deal with a Christian, whom he hates.
Would you trust Antonio? Why or why not.
No, because the deal he made was quickly thought with no second thought, so he may have made promises he'd regret to keep.
Reflection question: Many times people say friends don't make good business partners, or you should never live with your best friends. Why do you think this is so? Is it smart that Antonio and Shylock are doing business together?
People probably say that because when they made business choices, they would either fight over which decision should be made, or they would willingly choose the option their friend decides regardless of how they feel of it.
It probably isn't a good idea for Antonio and Shylock to work together due to their history, how they perceive each other, and their ideas on what is better.
The story takes place in Italy 1600's. The culture had a mix of of English and Italian, with polite and trusting people.
2. We meet Antonio in the first scene, who exactly is he and what is his worries that he faces early on?
Antonio is an Italian merchant in Venice who is depressed and doesn't know why. He's worried about his investments.
3. We also meet Bassanio a friend of Antonio, what does he ask of Antonio? Explain.
He asked Antonio for a loan so that he can bug something for Portia.
4. Portia worries about finding a husband, so what does she decide to do that she thinks will be best solution to her problem? Explain.
She decides to give a test to the suitors by making them choose out of three caskets to find one with gold. The one who gets the gold will be her husband.
Act I Scene III Questions
Revisiting the Portia situation, why is the choosing of a man suitable for her out of her hands?
Her father had decided the casket test, which she had no say in.
Who is Shylock? What is his importance in the story thus far?
Shylock is a Jewish man who confirmed a loan with Bassanio and made a deal with Antonio to pay back the loan in three months.
What is the agreement Shylock and Antonio come to terms with?
Shylock will cancel interest on Antonio, but if he fails to make his pay in time, Shylock can take a pound of flesh from him from any part of the body he chooses.
Why is Shylock so hesistant of this agreement with Antonio? While answering this question you should also explain their history and relationship between each other.
Shylock is hesitant to agree due to his reputation for having usury and making a deal with a Christian, whom he hates.
Would you trust Antonio? Why or why not.
No, because the deal he made was quickly thought with no second thought, so he may have made promises he'd regret to keep.
Reflection question: Many times people say friends don't make good business partners, or you should never live with your best friends. Why do you think this is so? Is it smart that Antonio and Shylock are doing business together?
People probably say that because when they made business choices, they would either fight over which decision should be made, or they would willingly choose the option their friend decides regardless of how they feel of it.
It probably isn't a good idea for Antonio and Shylock to work together due to their history, how they perceive each other, and their ideas on what is better.
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