I’ve chosen scene 1 and 3 of Act 3 to focus on how my understanding has deepened about Shylock.
In scene 1, Shylock expresses his extreme hatred towards Antonio, his pitiful plight due to the racist stereotypes and ostracization on Jews and his anger and agony in losing his daughter, Jessica.
From lines 40-68, Shylock expresses his extreme undying hatred towards Antonio, his agony in how the Christian community has dealt him unreasonably and heartlessly. This can be seen when Shylock ominously says, ‘let him look to his bond’ several time, just on the mention about Antonio by Salerio. This implies that the bond is not ‘merry’ any more. Furthermore, when Salerio asks ‘Why, I am sure if he forfeit thou wilt not take his flesh. What’s that good for?’, Shylock declares that ‘To bait fish withal’ and ‘If it will feed nothing, else, it will …show more content…
Explain what themes might be revealed based on what you learn about Portia. Link you take on the possible themes to your understanding of social context of the play.
The idea on ‘Prejudice’ can be revealed based on what I have learnt about Portia, where she has preconceived opinion about all dark people that they aren’t worth it and do not posses the qualities to win her hand in marriage, which is not based on any valid and justifiable reason or actual experience. This can help me understand how people of other nationality, ethnic backgrounds, or religion, have preconceived stereotype and opinions of others.
3. Discuss how these themes make the play relevant for our study today.
As mentioned previously, it helps us to relate and understand how and why people of different nationality, religion or ethnic backgrounds tend to misunderstand and have a wrong stereotype and opinion of other nationalities, religions and ethnic backgrounds, allowing us to understand about them better. Hence, in conclusion these themes help to make the play relevant and interesting for our study till today and for us to relate with the play
In scene 1, Shylock expresses his extreme hatred towards Antonio, his pitiful plight due to the racist stereotypes and ostracization on Jews and his anger and agony in losing his daughter, Jessica.
From lines 40-68, Shylock expresses his extreme undying hatred towards Antonio, his agony in how the Christian community has dealt him unreasonably and heartlessly. This can be seen when Shylock ominously says, ‘let him look to his bond’ several time, just on the mention about Antonio by Salerio. This implies that the bond is not ‘merry’ any more. Furthermore, when Salerio asks ‘Why, I am sure if he forfeit thou wilt not take his flesh. What’s that good for?’, Shylock declares that ‘To bait fish withal’ and ‘If it will feed nothing, else, it will …show more content…
Explain what themes might be revealed based on what you learn about Portia. Link you take on the possible themes to your understanding of social context of the play.
The idea on ‘Prejudice’ can be revealed based on what I have learnt about Portia, where she has preconceived opinion about all dark people that they aren’t worth it and do not posses the qualities to win her hand in marriage, which is not based on any valid and justifiable reason or actual experience. This can help me understand how people of other nationality, ethnic backgrounds, or religion, have preconceived stereotype and opinions of others.
3. Discuss how these themes make the play relevant for our study today.
As mentioned previously, it helps us to relate and understand how and why people of different nationality, religion or ethnic backgrounds tend to misunderstand and have a wrong stereotype and opinion of other nationalities, religions and ethnic backgrounds, allowing us to understand about them better. Hence, in conclusion these themes help to make the play relevant and interesting for our study till today and for us to relate with the play