1. I imagine Portia in a bathtub filled to the brim with bubbles. Nerissa is sitting beside the tub, and glances with surprise at the water that occasionally seeps over the tub's edge. Portia notices but is unfazed as she runs her hands through the bubbles (more or less the cause of the spilling water). 2. Shylock's language demonstrates what it is like to be an outcast because he finds it necessary to defend himself constantly. He gets defensive (especially in his 20+ lines on page 14) since the others insult him and treat him as an inferior who can be paralleled to an outsider. His use of defensive language shows he is not accepted by Antonio and Bassanio.
I envision Portia, in her first scene, reclining on her bed. As she speaks she casually points to various objects or decorations around the room and Nerissa, attending to her every whim, brings them to her. More specifically, each time Portia speaks about a new suitor, she points to an object (later established as a gift from said suitor), Nerissa brings it to her, Portia examines it as she speaks, hands it back, and the process repeats. I think this would be an interesting way to play with status in the scene and establish the characters early on.
The most telling think about Shylock’s manner of speaking is the subject of all of his words. In a very obvious way, a lot of his lines seem to not be delivered to anyone in particular, delivered as soliloquies to the audience or spoken only to him. He is not used to the company, and therefore also not used to speaking to anyone other than himself.
1. I can see Portia looking out a window over a grand Venetian courtyard or canal. She would be holding back some lavish velvet curtain with those silly little tassels. When she starts to weigh the pros and cons (but mostly cons) of her suitors, she would start pacing back and forth, considering her options. But, it would be slow (not nervous) pacing and she wouldn’t address Nerissa directly all the time – instead she would just be saying her thoughts out loud.
2. I first sensed how Shylock is an outcast when he explained why he couldn’t dine with Bassanio and Antonio (I.iii.pg11). He is definitely a man of business, and comes off as impersonal. On the next page, Shylock spends time describing his grudges; this gave me the image of some mumbling old man who hates everyone. We also see that he is deeply rooted in his Jewish heritage through his biblical speech on pg 13 and use of phrases like ‘our tribe’ and ‘my Jewish gaberdine’ (which is a type of cloak apparently). By belonging so steadfastly to one identity, people ostracize themselves from others.
1) I saw Portia much the same as Ross: reclining on her bed, having quality girl time with Nerissa. Perhaps in a more modern version, Nerissa could be painting her nails. The scene seems to have a very whimsical and lighthearted attitude, almost as high school girls discussing which boys have a crush on them. 2) Agree with Grace that Shylock is a plain outcast because he feels the need to defend himself constantly. I also see his outcast self in his repetition of the "three thousand duckats in three months"; perhaps he has been cheated in the past, and is making sure he will get paid. This showed his outcast-ness to me in partricular.
In my mind, this scene is set on a patio over looking on of the great venetian channels. Portia is comfortably sprawled across a very ornate and plush reclined bench and is talking to her made who is Nerissa quietly knitting. While Nerissa, with out looking up from her tasks simply asks about Portia's suitors, her mistress becomes exasperated and goes off on tangents after hearing each and everyone one of their names. It is as if Nerissa is playing to Portia's personality and is allowing her to rant on purpose. Although this is not noticed by Portia it is indication to the audience that Nerissa cares for her master's well-being.
2. Everyone before has mentioned this but nevertheless I believe that Shylock is an outcast for very obvious reasons. First, he seems to be a stickler about money and personally I can see how a pushy merchant could annoy and bother others thus alienating Shylock. Second, his strong affiliation with being Jewish seems to further and worsen the fact that he is an outsider. He mentions that he hates Antonio because he is "a Christian." this religious hatred obviously would push him away from people because during this era, much of europe was primarily Christian and especially Italy. This hatred of the Christians would certainly distance him from many of his friends and acquaintances.
1. I think that, when she enters, Portia sits down on her bed in her bedroom immediately, remaining there, alternating between lying down and sitting up while she speaks to Nerissa. She seems to be spry and energetic enough not to just flop on the bed, but at the same time she’s weary.
2. Although Shylock’s words definitely reflect his potential to be an outcast, I don’t think the language actually demonstrates what being and outcast is like. He speaks with such arrogance and status that it he is immediately unlikable, not as an insignificant minority, but as someone who isn’t afraid to insult someone. He is also very proud of his Judaism, and flaunts it in every possible moment in this scene. An outcast would most likely not concentrate on the differences, but the similarities. Shylock seems to be a strange type of outcast: one who is not bashful or ashamed in his opinions, ad enjoys exercising his economic leverage.
1. When reading the second scene I was imagining Portia laying down on some sort of a couch while Nerissa is sitting at a near by chair or some sort of cushion. I felt as if Portia was playing with her hair while she was talking to Nerissa, but not in the ditsy manner. She was doing it in a more elegant matter while Nerissa sat there and attended to her needs and listened to what she was to say.
2. I agree with what Ross says and on a similar note I feel as if Shylocks style of speech does not present him as an outcast because he is used to being like this. People already know this about him and he speaks to himself. The difference is that he is used to speaking to only himself and when he speaks to himself it is not weird, but rather interesting.
I envision Portia laying outside on her patio overlooking the Venetian canals. She is sunbathing and sipping a glass of wine to reduce the mental stress she has gained from worrying about which suitor she will have to marry. Nerissa is sitting by Portia's side, and like Cara said, I feel that Portia would talk to Nerissa indirectly, and then sometimes look at her. Each suitor Portia talks about leads to a change of movement in her sun bathing position, allowing the audience to understand her uneasiness and dislike of the subject of arranged marriages.
I agree that Shylock is an outsider because in this reading it is apparent that he has little trust for others. Maybe in the past people haven't paid Shylock back his money he had loaned them because he Shylock is Jewish. The Jews in this time period were a minority that were alienated and subjected to anti-semetic remarks by society. I also think that Shylock is so consumed in money and economics that it leaves him little time to get to know other people on the basis of friendships.
Daniel 1. I think of Portia kind of sitting there complaining to Nerissa. After all, this play is supposed to be a comedy. I think it's pretty funny to have Portia's mentor/friend telling her about all the great men/suitors she has, and have Portia respond about how dumb and stupid those men are. Some of those Shakesperian insults (like how men are supposed to be crafted in god's image but this one guy is so stupid she can't believe he has anything to do with god) is very funny to this day.
2. Shylock's language shows what it is like to be an outcast from how he constantly defends himself and how he always attacks others. Shylock has been down trodden, spat upon, and otherwise abused for so long, that he would rather go on the offensive himself rather than wait for the inevitable abuse he is going to suffer. Shylock mentions many instances of how he is different, such as his religion, and how he seems so concerned with making money, that he appears to have little time left for friends.
I envisioned Portia calmly pacing the room, maybe lazily picking up fancy looking objects and examining them as she talks. Nerissa follows her around nervously, but Portia's clear confidence shows how much higher her status is.
I noticed the same thing as Grace, that Shylock constantly seemed to be on the defensive. Though he is arrogant, he still seems to get tense every time he is insulted and feels the need to protect himself.
I see Portia as having her hair or makeup done by Nerissa, or Nerissa helping her into one of those huge dresses; something fairly mundane and mindless. This would be set, of course, in a lavish bedroom. Portia has an air of slight boredom and exasperation. I feel that this matches the tone of the scene, where she is listing off the faults of each of the suitors and is well aware that there is no shortage of people who want to marry her.
I think that Shylock's language does a very good job of drawing the audience into the position of an outcast. The resentment that he feels towards Antonio is very apparent in his tone and words. He also takes advantage of the opportunity to remind Antonio how badly he treats him and repeatedly draw attention to the animosity between the two. These all show the audience that Shylock is clearly in the mindset of one who is been mistreated and is an outcast.
1) I envisioned Portia lying on a recliner chair with big sunglasses while catching some sun next to the pool. Nerissa would be sitting on the edge of the pool, sifting her shins and feet through the cool water on the hot summer day. As Nerissa would meekly run down the list of the different suitors, often looking back at Portia, Portia would cite the imperfections in each of the men (all the while moving only her lips). This scene relies on a heavy use of status (with Portia obviously having high status) and a dynamic like the pool scene demonstrates the different "levels" of status in the scene. 2) Shylock's language definitely shows the reader the perspective of an outcast. I agree with Grace's point that most of Shylock's lines appear to be him trying to defend himself. Shylock's arrogance that AJ refers to seems to stem from his insecurities about both his Jewish faith and his identity as a merchant.
1. Similar to Michael, I imagined Portia standing on a small pedestal (like one that a woman would stand on as she tries on wedding dresses) as Nerissa helps her dress into a huge, lavish, lacey gown. The room is richly furnished and extremely well lit from the morning sun shining through large french windows and thin, white curtains. Portia looks at herself with disdain in the mirror, not very happy with how she looks today, but not caring very much how she looks because of her mood.
2. Shylock definitely shows what it's like to be an outcast with, as Grace said, his constant defensive responses. He seems to think that everything people say to him is an insult or a put-down in some way and even if a comment had no ulterior motive, he still tries to cover himself by always being on his guard and defensive.
I think Portia should be sitting in an extremely lavish chair in a dark room pouting. Nerissa is attempting to cheer her up to no avail, and rather opens the curtains to let in light. When this is done, the portraits of all of her suitors are there with the 3 caskets in the background. Portia reluctantly gets up and peruses each portrait as if she is in an art gallery, and once she finishes returns to her chair and gazes out the window melodramatically at the Grand Canal in Venice.
2. Yes, Shylock is the kid no one wants to play with not necessarily because he's different, but because he makes no effort to fit in. He casts himself as the Jew and tells Antonio what a jerk he's been. However, I feel like Shylock thinks he has an advantage and continues this behavior, otherwise he would come to his senses and realize that he is not helping his cause in the least.
1. I imagined Portia reclining on a chaise lounge in a slip looking out a window onto a luxurious Venice beach. Nerissa is sitting on a stool sewing a lavish gown. Portia eventually gets up and then is dressed by Nerissa in the gown.
2. It is obvious that Shylock is an outcast because of the language he uses. He declines Bassanio's offer to dine with them. Also, like others have said he becomes defensive very easily. He does not seem comfortable, very on edge, very detached and business-like.
I imagined portia in a hammock of some sorts spending time with Nerissa. She's at peace within herself. I actually think that Nerissa it waiting on Portia like a maid in some sense. It's not that clear what Nerissa's role is but i came to that conclusion based on the fact that she doesn't speak that powerfully
I agree with Grace, in that Shylock's is defensive when he does speak. I wold guess that the reason for this mal treatment would because of fact that he is a lonely person. HIs language is also interesting because there is a poetic twist to what he says. (I.iii.16) It seems to give Shylock a sense of eleoquence and status.
1.I imagined this scene in two different ways. The first was very similar to other people's. I imagined Portia lounging around her room brushing her hair at a vanity table. Portia would playing with hair, looking for split ends, and doing the 100 strokes thing, while Nerissa moved around the room tidying things up. The other way I imagined the scene was to have Portia playing golf with Nerissa as her caddy. Whenever Portia made a particularly harsh insult, she could really hit the ball with relish. 2. Shylock's language does show us what its like to be an outcast. The fact that he is at turns defensive and then aggressive shows the insecurity he feels as an outcast. He both wants to stand up for himself and wants to protect himself.
17 comments:
1. I imagine Portia in a bathtub filled to the brim with bubbles. Nerissa is sitting beside the tub, and glances with surprise at the water that occasionally seeps over the tub's edge. Portia notices but is unfazed as she runs her hands through the bubbles (more or less the cause of the spilling water).
2. Shylock's language demonstrates what it is like to be an outcast because he finds it necessary to defend himself constantly. He gets defensive (especially in his 20+ lines on page 14) since the others insult him and treat him as an inferior who can be paralleled to an outsider. His use of defensive language shows he is not accepted by Antonio and Bassanio.
I envision Portia, in her first scene, reclining on her bed. As she speaks she casually points to various objects or decorations around the room and Nerissa, attending to her every whim, brings them to her. More specifically, each time Portia speaks about a new suitor, she points to an object (later established as a gift from said suitor), Nerissa brings it to her, Portia examines it as she speaks, hands it back, and the process repeats. I think this would be an interesting way to play with status in the scene and establish the characters early on.
The most telling think about Shylock’s manner of speaking is the subject of all of his words. In a very obvious way, a lot of his lines seem to not be delivered to anyone in particular, delivered as soliloquies to the audience or spoken only to him. He is not used to the company, and therefore also not used to speaking to anyone other than himself.
1. I can see Portia looking out a window over a grand Venetian courtyard or canal. She would be holding back some lavish velvet curtain with those silly little tassels. When she starts to weigh the pros and cons (but mostly cons) of her suitors, she would start pacing back and forth, considering her options. But, it would be slow (not nervous) pacing and she wouldn’t address Nerissa directly all the time – instead she would just be saying her thoughts out loud.
2. I first sensed how Shylock is an outcast when he explained why he couldn’t dine with Bassanio and Antonio (I.iii.pg11). He is definitely a man of business, and comes off as impersonal. On the next page, Shylock spends time describing his grudges; this gave me the image of some mumbling old man who hates everyone. We also see that he is deeply rooted in his Jewish heritage through his biblical speech on pg 13 and use of phrases like ‘our tribe’ and ‘my Jewish gaberdine’ (which is a type of cloak apparently). By belonging so steadfastly to one identity, people ostracize themselves from others.
1) I saw Portia much the same as Ross: reclining on her bed, having quality girl time with Nerissa. Perhaps in a more modern version, Nerissa could be painting her nails. The scene seems to have a very whimsical and lighthearted attitude, almost as high school girls discussing which boys have a crush on them.
2) Agree with Grace that Shylock is a plain outcast because he feels the need to defend himself constantly. I also see his outcast self in his repetition of the "three thousand duckats in three months"; perhaps he has been cheated in the past, and is making sure he will get paid. This showed his outcast-ness to me in partricular.
In my mind, this scene is set on a patio over looking on of the great venetian channels. Portia is comfortably sprawled across a very ornate and plush reclined bench and is talking to her made who is Nerissa quietly knitting. While Nerissa, with out looking up from her tasks simply asks about Portia's suitors, her mistress becomes exasperated and goes off on tangents after hearing each and everyone one of their names. It is as if Nerissa is playing to Portia's personality and is allowing her to rant on purpose. Although this is not noticed by Portia it is indication to the audience that Nerissa cares for her master's well-being.
2. Everyone before has mentioned this but nevertheless I believe that Shylock is an outcast for very obvious reasons. First, he seems to be a stickler about money and personally I can see how a pushy merchant could annoy and bother others thus alienating Shylock. Second, his strong affiliation with being Jewish seems to further and worsen the fact that he is an outsider. He mentions that he hates Antonio because he is "a Christian." this religious hatred obviously would push him away from people because during this era, much of europe was primarily Christian and especially Italy. This hatred of the Christians would certainly distance him from many of his friends and acquaintances.
1. I think that, when she enters, Portia sits down on her bed in her bedroom immediately, remaining there, alternating between lying down and sitting up while she speaks to Nerissa. She seems to be spry and energetic enough not to just flop on the bed, but at the same time she’s weary.
2. Although Shylock’s words definitely reflect his potential to be an outcast, I don’t think the language actually demonstrates what being and outcast is like. He speaks with such arrogance and status that it he is immediately unlikable, not as an insignificant minority, but as someone who isn’t afraid to insult someone. He is also very proud of his Judaism, and flaunts it in every possible moment in this scene. An outcast would most likely not concentrate on the differences, but the similarities. Shylock seems to be a strange type of outcast: one who is not bashful or ashamed in his opinions, ad enjoys exercising his economic leverage.
1. When reading the second scene I was imagining Portia laying down on some sort of a couch while Nerissa is sitting at a near by chair or some sort of cushion. I felt as if Portia was playing with her hair while she was talking to Nerissa, but not in the ditsy manner. She was doing it in a more elegant matter while Nerissa sat there and attended to her needs and listened to what she was to say.
2. I agree with what Ross says and on a similar note I feel as if Shylocks style of speech does not present him as an outcast because he is used to being like this. People already know this about him and he speaks to himself. The difference is that he is used to speaking to only himself and when he speaks to himself it is not weird, but rather interesting.
I envision Portia laying outside on her patio overlooking the Venetian canals. She is sunbathing and sipping a glass of wine to reduce the mental stress she has gained from worrying about which suitor she will have to marry. Nerissa is sitting by Portia's side, and like Cara said, I feel that Portia would talk to Nerissa indirectly, and then sometimes look at her. Each suitor Portia talks about leads to a change of movement in her sun bathing position, allowing the audience to understand her uneasiness and dislike of the subject of arranged marriages.
I agree that Shylock is an outsider because in this reading it is apparent that he has little trust for others. Maybe in the past people haven't paid Shylock back his money he had loaned them because he Shylock is Jewish. The Jews in this time period were a minority that were alienated and subjected to anti-semetic remarks by society. I also think that Shylock is so consumed in money and economics that it leaves him little time to get to know other people on the basis of friendships.
Daniel
1. I think of Portia kind of sitting there complaining to Nerissa. After all, this play is supposed to be a comedy. I think it's pretty funny to have Portia's mentor/friend telling her about all the great men/suitors she has, and have Portia respond about how dumb and stupid those men are. Some of those Shakesperian insults (like how men are supposed to be crafted in god's image but this one guy is so stupid she can't believe he has anything to do with god) is very funny to this day.
2. Shylock's language shows what it is like to be an outcast from how he constantly defends himself and how he always attacks others. Shylock has been down trodden, spat upon, and otherwise abused for so long, that he would rather go on the offensive himself rather than wait for the inevitable abuse he is going to suffer. Shylock mentions many instances of how he is different, such as his religion, and how he seems so concerned with making money, that he appears to have little time left for friends.
I envisioned Portia calmly pacing the room, maybe lazily picking up fancy looking objects and examining them as she talks. Nerissa follows her around nervously, but Portia's clear confidence shows how much higher her status is.
I noticed the same thing as Grace, that Shylock constantly seemed to be on the defensive. Though he is arrogant, he still seems to get tense every time he is insulted and feels the need to protect himself.
I see Portia as having her hair or makeup done by Nerissa, or Nerissa helping her into one of those huge dresses; something fairly mundane and mindless. This would be set, of course, in a lavish bedroom. Portia has an air of slight boredom and exasperation. I feel that this matches the tone of the scene, where she is listing off the faults of each of the suitors and is well aware that there is no shortage of people who want to marry her.
I think that Shylock's language does a very good job of drawing the audience into the position of an outcast. The resentment that he feels towards Antonio is very apparent in his tone and words. He also takes advantage of the opportunity to remind Antonio how badly he treats him and repeatedly draw attention to the animosity between the two. These all show the audience that Shylock is clearly in the mindset of one who is been mistreated and is an outcast.
1) I envisioned Portia lying on a recliner chair with big sunglasses while catching some sun next to the pool. Nerissa would be sitting on the edge of the pool, sifting her shins and feet through the cool water on the hot summer day. As Nerissa would meekly run down the list of the different suitors, often looking back at Portia, Portia would cite the imperfections in each of the men (all the while moving only her lips). This scene relies on a heavy use of status (with Portia obviously having high status) and a dynamic like the pool scene demonstrates the different "levels" of status in the scene.
2) Shylock's language definitely shows the reader the perspective of an outcast. I agree with Grace's point that most of Shylock's lines appear to be him trying to defend himself. Shylock's arrogance that AJ refers to seems to stem from his insecurities about both his Jewish faith and his identity as a merchant.
1. Similar to Michael, I imagined Portia standing on a small pedestal (like one that a woman would stand on as she tries on wedding dresses) as Nerissa helps her dress into a huge, lavish, lacey gown. The room is richly furnished and extremely well lit from the morning sun shining through large french windows and thin, white curtains. Portia looks at herself with disdain in the mirror, not very happy with how she looks today, but not caring very much how she looks because of her mood.
2. Shylock definitely shows what it's like to be an outcast with, as Grace said, his constant defensive responses. He seems to think that everything people say to him is an insult or a put-down in some way and even if a comment had no ulterior motive, he still tries to cover himself by always being on his guard and defensive.
I think Portia should be sitting in an extremely lavish chair in a dark room pouting. Nerissa is attempting to cheer her up to no avail, and rather opens the curtains to let in light. When this is done, the portraits of all of her suitors are there with the 3 caskets in the background. Portia reluctantly gets up and peruses each portrait as if she is in an art gallery, and once she finishes returns to her chair and gazes out the window melodramatically at the Grand Canal in Venice.
2. Yes, Shylock is the kid no one wants to play with not necessarily because he's different, but because he makes no effort to fit in. He casts himself as the Jew and tells Antonio what a jerk he's been. However, I feel like Shylock thinks he has an advantage and continues this behavior, otherwise he would come to his senses and realize that he is not helping his cause in the least.
1. I imagined Portia reclining on a chaise lounge in a slip looking out a window onto a luxurious Venice beach. Nerissa is sitting on a stool sewing a lavish gown. Portia eventually gets up and then is dressed by Nerissa in the gown.
2. It is obvious that Shylock is an outcast because of the language he uses. He declines Bassanio's offer to dine with them. Also, like others have said he becomes defensive very easily. He does not seem comfortable, very on edge, very detached and business-like.
I imagined portia in a hammock of some sorts spending time with Nerissa. She's at peace within herself. I actually think that Nerissa it waiting on Portia like a maid in some sense. It's not that clear what Nerissa's role is but i came to that conclusion based on the fact that she doesn't speak that powerfully
I agree with Grace, in that Shylock's is defensive when he does speak. I wold guess that the reason for this mal treatment would because of fact that he is a lonely person. HIs language is also interesting because there is a poetic twist to what he says. (I.iii.16) It seems to give Shylock a sense of eleoquence and status.
1.I imagined this scene in two different ways. The first was very similar to other people's. I imagined Portia lounging around her room brushing her hair at a vanity table. Portia would playing with hair, looking for split ends, and doing the 100 strokes thing, while Nerissa moved around the room tidying things up. The other way I imagined the scene was to have Portia playing golf with Nerissa as her caddy. Whenever Portia made a particularly harsh insult, she could really hit the ball with relish.
2. Shylock's language does show us what its like to be an outcast. The fact that he is at turns defensive and then aggressive shows the insecurity he feels as an outcast. He both wants to stand up for himself and wants to protect himself.
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