Act III Favorites

Explain in your view, what is the most striking image or line from Act III of Shakespeare’s The Merchant of Venice?
Copy out the lines from the play and explain why.

“You that choose not by the view (you choose not by looks)

Chance, as fair, and choose as true. (you give everything a fair chance, so you choose the caskets fairly)

Since this fortune falls to you, (since you chose the correct casket)

Be content and seek no new. (you should be happy, and not seek another wife)

If you be well pleas’d with this, (If you are pleased with your prize)

And hold your fortune for your bliss, (and hold your money for happiness)

Turn to where your lady is, (go to where your lady is (Portia))

And claim her with a loving kiss.” (And seal the deal with a kiss)

This passage explains why the lead casket is the correct one. Basically, the lead casket is correct because you are not supposed to choose by looks, but by what is on the inside. I like this quote because it shows how Shakespeare really knows how to use his poetry, and also his depth of understanding human emotion and the english language

Good People

In your opinion, what makes a person worthy of your admiration?  What qualities does a person have to possess in order for you to consider them to be a good person?  Is there anyone you can name (not related to you) who you see as a great and admirable person?

Can good people have major flaws? What is a flaw you cannot overlook?  Is there any figure who you thought was great who did something to change your opinion? Why?

I don’t really know what person makes a person worthy of my admiration. I guess it would be a person who has done a great deal of things in order to help the environment, or others. I think a good person needs to be someone that can empathize with other people, meaning that they understand their problems and will try to help them.

The one big flaw that I cannot overlook is the fact that people are too selfish. I understand that human nature causes us to be selfish, but there are people in the world who are really just too selfish. A real life example is that I told my friend that my sister achieved the principle’s award, and instead of saying congratulations to my sister or something positive, my friend just says “oh my god! I hate your family.” I know he did not real y mean it, but this really made me angry, as another person would usually say something positive, but he just suddenly hated my family over some marks.

There really isn’t anyone who I thought was great, but did something to change my opinion. Everyone has their own reasons to do something, and whether it is a good reason or a bad reason, I respect their choices.

What Humour Are You?

Personally, I think I am phlegmatic, maybe because I am a scorpio. The reason I think that is because I’ve always liked the cold/winter, and never liked hot or dry places. Moreover, I always act like a child even right now, because I don’t want to grow up. One thing I definitely am not is intuitive, but I think i am somewhat emotional or passive.I do not know about my appearance, but other than that, I think I am phlegmatic, as I fit mostly into the other descriptions.

Merchant of Venice: Act Two Favorites

Explain in your view, what is the most striking image or line from Act II of Shakespeare’s The Merchant of Venice?

Copy out the lines from the play and explain why.

“The fire seven times tried this;

Seven times tried that judgement is

That did never choose amiss.

Some there be that shadows kiss;

Such have but a shadow’s bliss.

There be fools alive iwis

Silver’d o’er, and so was this.

Take what wife you will to bed,

I will ever be your head.

So be gone, you are sped.”

This passage is from a scroll in the silver casket. It means that the person who chose this casket (the prince of Arragon) is a fool for choosing the silver casket. The meaning of the scrolls is that no matter how many times you try to improve yourself (how the silver was tested seven times in the fire), you will always be a fool. (the shadows kiss means that there will be a mistake and they won’t notice it.) I like this quote because it shows how the prince’s overconfidence causes him to be called a fool for choosing the silver casket. Not only does this passage rhyme, it also shows how Shakespeare uses a deep metaphor to show that the person who chooses the silver casket is a fool. The metaphor is that the silver was tested seven times in the fire, and the person who tested it thought it worked well, but it was all an illusion. This means that no matter how many times the prince tries to improve himself, he will always be a fool

“The fire seven times tried this; (Saying that the silver was tested 7 times in the fire)

Seven times tried that judgement is

That did never choose amiss. (The silver that was tested 7 times worked well)

Some there be that shadows kiss; (But that was only an illusion)

Such have but a shadow’s bliss. (And that person will be happy, not knowing that the silver is bad.)

There be fools alive iwis (There are fools like this for sure)

Silver’d o’er, and so was this. (covered in silver, just like the casket)

Take what wife you will to bed, (No matter what woman you marry)

I will ever be your head. (You will always be a fool)

So be gone, you are sped.” (So leave, you chose the wrong casket)