Sydney's Blog

          My response project for the Merchant of Venice was writing a script, which was acting as an Act VI or a sequel. I did this project with Izzie. I think it went really well. We did an even amount of work. We worked together on a day to come up with some content, and then we would help each other come up with the lines and help each other with the formatting. We had Nathan C., Nathan T., and Charlie helped Izzie and I perform our script in front of the class. They were very helpful, cooperative, and they made the play go really well.            Izzie and I work very well together. We get along really well, and our minds worked every well together for this project. I am very happy with how our project turned out. The audience seemed to respond very well, and I was very happy. I would definitely do this project again, it was fun, and I enjoyed the outcome. 

One of the things that interested me the most was Antonio and Bassanio’s affection for each other. They are always putting each other first, even in front of Portia, who is Bassanio’s wife. Antonio is always giving Bassanio money, even when he doesn’t have it. Bassanio tells Antonio everything, they are very very close, and there was speculation in my group after the reading that they might have romantic feelings for each other.     They seem to care about each other more than anything else, and my group had a small discussion about whether Shakespeare might have tried to hint some romance between them. They both love each other so much, and to the audience that was a possibility. I think Antonio and Bassanio had a very intriguing relationship, and that was something that interested me a lot while reading this play.

In Act 4, Scene 1 (pp. 78-79) Portia gives a speech about the mercy vs. justice ("The quality of mercy is not strained..."). Explain what Portia is saying about justice and mercy, and why it is important in the play. In this scene, Portia is talking to Shylock in court dressed as a man, and she starts by saying, “ The quality of mercy is not strained” (Shakespeare, 78-79). In the remainder of this speech, she is saying how mercy is temporal power, and, “An attribute to God himself” (Shakespeare, 79). She is telling Shylock that although he wants justice, he needs to think about the fact that he cannot look for redemption in this. “Though justice be thy plea, consider this: That in the course of justice none of us should see salvation” (Shakespeare, 79). This play is about a Christian and a Jew. In that time period, the Christian would have the upper hand. In this case however, they make a deal that the Christian could not abide to. This gave the Jew the upper hand and h...

    According to the 5-act play structure, the climax or turning point of the play should have happened in the third act. Did it happen? If so, what was it and what central conflict was addressed? If not, discuss the central conflict that has not yet been resolved.     My group acted out and discussed the third act together, and I think we can all agree a lot happened in this act. First off, Bassanio picks the right chest, (with Portia’s help) and wins her hand in marriage. But shortly after, he has to leave for a little bit and Portia says she going to join a coven until he returns, (she is actually going to dress like a man and find some people with Nerissa). Another big thing that happened in this act is Shylock’s daughter Jessica, runs away with her lover and takes a bunch of Shylock’s money and possessions with her. One of the things she took was her mother’s ring, (which Shylock later finds out she traded for a monkey). Something else that happened is the rum...