Venice has it all: love and hate + Comedy and Tragedy

The story takes place during the XVI century in Venice, Europe’s most liberal capital. Int hose times, Venice was divided between Christians and Jews, the former considered as real citizens and the latter, members of a ghetto who could only earn money through the practice of usury. Bassanio a merchant full of debts requests his beloved friend Antonio, a rich Merchant, money in order to go and marry Portia, a wealthy heiress who lives in Belmont. Since Antonio has invested all his money in trade ships, he could only accept to cover a bond on his name. That’s when Shylock, a Jew, receives a request from Bassanio, 3000 ducats for 3 months. Shylock’s surprise was evident when he realized who would be the loan’s guarantor. Was that the appropriate moment to take revenge on Antonio for all the mistreatment received throughout his life?



Shylock accepts loaning the money, without charging interest, but he proposes a condition. If Antonio is unable to pay for it, he will have to provide Shylock with one pound of his own flesh. After agreeing and signing the contract, Bassanio departs to Belmont where he would have to choose between 3 caskets, if he makes the right decision and chooses the casket in which portia’s portrait hides, she will be his and they’ll get marry.



Portia’s role in the movie is essential; in fact she is the heroine of the story. When Bassanio opens the lead casket and discovers her portrait, she couldn’t be happier. She sticks to the rules, not even knowing that he was the love of her life she gave him a hint to find the right one. She seems very submissive, but in fact she is quite independent and driven. She portraits a strong and in love woman, who does whatever it takes for her husband. In the movie, you’ll see that image that Shakespeare tries to illustrate, someone strong, feminine, eloquent and very intelligent.

The Merchant of Venice is a comedy in many ways, but a real tragedy in others. Shylocks intentions to avenge the pain and humiliation caused to the Jews took a different way and went against him. After losing his daughter, who escaped with a Christian, he became full of anger and hate. Later, when acknowledging that Antonio couldn’t pay his loan, he wouldn’t take any money offered by Bassanio, but Antonio’s pound of flesh. Law triumphed, but to what extent? The climax of the story happens during Antonio’s trial, a breathtaking moment. Don’t miss it!




The Merchant of Venice, a catchy story, interesting setting and characters. The ones who caught my attention were Portia and Shylock. She illustrates love and comedy, whereas he represents anger and tragedy. Still, both of them are strong-willed and no doubt intelligent.


In a way it’s easy to feel sympathetic for Shylock; Jews are mistreated and underappreciated by venetians. He loses his daughter and with her, some of his wealth stolen the day she eloped with a Christian. He is important too because he portraits the hypocrisy which lies in Christianity. Tragedy involves this character, especially the way his life concludes in this play. The fact of forcing him to convert to Christianity is the cruelest act towards Shylock.



On the Other hand, Portia provides comedy and love. She falls in love with Bassanio, and she does everything for him and beloved friend Antonio. She is not the type of woman who falls in love and becomes blind. But Shakespeare shows her as someone so intelligent that’s capable of getting whatever she wants no matter the price and effort made. For instance, when she probes Bassanio with the ring, she is trying to see beyond the caskets luck, she wanted to see how much he really loved her and how honest he was.

As any movie extracted from a book, it lacks of some details and thoughts you could only find in the book. Still, presents almost fully the intentions and personalities of its characters. I was impressed by the quality of the actors and set of the movie. Personally, Shylock’s monologue was moving. This movie really illustrates the feelings, the anger, frustration, love and enchantment, comedy, drama, tragedy, deception of the play. Well Done!

The Merchant of Venice I

OUTLINE

1) Brief summary of the book
2) Drama, comedy or tragedy?
3) Critique
4) Conclusion.

Spencer and his " Faery Queene"

The letter wasn’t really easy to read. But after our last session, I was able to get an overall idea of its meaning. Edmund Spenser decided to write about King Arthur since he felt he was a virtuous man, who represented the twelve virtues. “The Faery Queene” is an allegory since it denotes a hidden message which also tries to pass on a moral. Although I didn’t read the entire poem, I’m aware that allegories always try to teach us something and I’m sure Spencer wanted that when he referred about the virtues. We always have to read between the lines, what did he want us to interpret? Perhaps he just desired to influence society on a better way or path to BE a human being. In his letter, he mentions Temperance, which controls our own behavior, holiness, being pure and spiritual and last but not least, chastity. Why were these so important for him? I’m not so sure, however, I feel all of them take us to MODERATION.
Furthermore, It would be simple to say that he only underlined the virtues and qualities he felt were most important for people to practice. However, we need to think that there is always something else hidden in a writer’s purposes. That’s why I would like to insist the letter is made with second intentions. Maybe, to have the queen’s protection and King Arthur’s as well.
If it was that so, he was quite smart… to show his support to them, and his denial (to Protestantism and catholicism) when referring to the virtue of evil, represented by Duessa.



Sources:

http://www.sparknotes.com/poetry/fqueen/summary.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Faerie_Queene

What do women want? There’s no single and right answer for that, since women are pretty complicated and unique.
What I can say is that the book proves that in the 21st century we still want sort of the same things women used to want before.
In “The Wife of Bath”, power over people was, according to Chaucer, the aim for women. If my interpretation is correct, I believe he is wrong. Personally, I don’t need to have power over people, but to have power over my own decisions.
Actually, what I desire goes beyond power… I want to love and to be loved in return, sincerely and deeply. Basically, a man who is committed and willing to make a life together, in the good and in the bad times with me.

What’s more, the woman in the story also needs sexual satisfaction, because that was, repressed for women in those times. But I’m sure that if she lived here and now, she wouldn’t feel that is THE most important thing in a relationship.