Blog #2- The Merchant of Venice by William Shakespeare (Again, I am going to do just one blog for this one)
Brief summary: Antonio, a wealthy merchant, borrows money from a rich Jew named Shylock to lend to his friend Bassanio, who is in love with Portia. Bassanio wins the game Portia's father has devised for her suitors, but in the meantime Antonio loses his ships and cargo and cannot repay Shylock. Portia dresses up as a lawyer and attends the trial, saving the day by pointing out to Shylock that he cannot take a pound of Antonio's flesh without taking some of his blood too. That was not part of the agreement, so Shylock is forced to concede.
Quote: (spoken by Bassanio) “So may the outward shows be least themselves: The world is still deceiv'd with ornament." This quote illustrates one of the main themes in this story, which is that appearances can be deceiving. The gold and silver caskets, which seem to be the more obvious choices because they are the more beautiful, are worth nothing, while the seemingly worthless lead casket turns out to be the correct choice. Only Bassanio sees through the deception. In addition, Portia and her servant Nerissa disguise themselves as men, and no one discovers the truth about this until they reveal themselves at the end.
(Again, I am going to do just one blog for this one)
Brief summary: Antonio, a wealthy merchant, borrows money from a rich Jew named Shylock to lend to his friend Bassanio, who is in love with Portia. Bassanio wins the game Portia's father has devised for her suitors, but in the meantime Antonio loses his ships and cargo and cannot repay Shylock. Portia dresses up as a lawyer and attends the trial, saving the day by pointing out to Shylock that he cannot take a pound of Antonio's flesh without taking some of his blood too. That was not part of the agreement, so Shylock is forced to concede.
Quote: (spoken by Bassanio) “So may the outward shows be least themselves:
The world is still deceiv'd with ornament." This quote illustrates one of the main themes in this story, which is that appearances can be deceiving. The gold and silver caskets, which seem to be the more obvious choices because they are the more beautiful, are worth nothing, while the seemingly worthless lead casket turns out to be the correct choice. Only Bassanio sees through the deception. In addition, Portia and her servant Nerissa disguise themselves as men, and no one discovers the truth about this until they reveal themselves at the end.