Posting: The Whole of Merchant (Required)

This is the place to put your reflection about the whole play. We broke the seal on this subject last class when we began talking about where the comedic elements were placed in the play (Act 4). Yes, the play resolves in marriage as a comedy should, but as we also noted last class, both Shylock and Antonio are left out in the cold at the end. You have some perspective, but now that you've finished the play, what are you thoughts about the comedic aspects and the "loose ends"? Remember that "comedy" doesn't mean laughs, and that characters who don't "fit" in the end are found in other plays as well (12th Night, As You Like It among others). If comedy/tragedy doesn't float your boat, take your turn to weigh in on the issue of anti-Semitism in the play. Last class you heard the play called an "anti-racist response" to the hanging of Rodrigo Lopez, a man accused of sodomy and suspected of being a Jew as well, that took place a short time before the first production. Where do you land, finally, in the question of the portrayal of Shylock (and Antonio) in the play?

Character Exercise with Annie

We'll be in the Black Box today (Mar 17). There to meet with. . . No, not Macbeth. Annie will be back with us today, all day. She'll take us through an exercise in character. For it, you'll need to choose a character you'd like to "be" from either of the first two plays we've read. We can have duplicates, no worries. If you see this before class, be thinking. If you don't, I'll tell you this there.

Clarification: Which Blog Posting/When?

Sorry for creating confusion. Here's the deal. Your homework for Tuesday, March 15 is to read through Act 3 Scene 1, and blog about anything you find interesting therein. Please use the blog post that several have used already which is titled "Ideas and Questions. . . Act I". Since it's already used, let's keep using it. The homework (on the new syllabus) for THURSDAY, March 17 is to read through Act 3 Scene 3 and comment on Bassanio. Some of you have already done that, so you're ahead. I hope that helps.

Is Bassanio True?

Not only the film adaptation but the play as well suggest the possibility of a love relationship between Bassanio and Antonio. He could be using Portia therefore as a means of obtaining 1) financial independence, and 2) acceptance by the heterosexual community while wishing to continue his relationship with Antonio. What, based on the casket scene, do you think Bassanio's motive and feelings truly are?