One question --> What's the impact of structurally contrasting the scenes with Shylock against the scenes with Portia?
GREAT JOB!!! On the in-class performances. You all were fantastic. Really a great way to start my Tuesday. Thanks for your time and intention with the assignment.
11 comments:
I did not see a lot of major structural differences in between these two scenes, but there was definitely some contrast in the way that both characters portrayed themselves. I found that when Portia was talking to the the Prince of Morocco she appeared to be just answering questions and did not have a lot of control. On the other hand, Shylock was directing his daughter on what to do, and had all the power. In this sense the scenes differ, but purely on a structural level, I did not see a lot.
-Aidan
By interspersing scenes concerning Portia with scenes concerning Shylock, Shakespeare intensifies the conflict between the father and daughter pair. The two appear to be wrapped up in their own worlds, with Shylock very much the outsider who rants against pretty much everyone. Jessica, on the other hand, is shown to be willingly engaging with other people, and her Shylock-like asides reveal her desire to entirely leave the gloomy world of her father and join Lorenzo's. The rapid switching between their two perspectives makes the scenes with them together more charged, because we know what is going on under the surface.
-Renée
The impact of the contrasting scenes between Shylock and Portia illustrates several dichotomies that we have already seen thus far in the play. The most apparent divide is that of an outsider vs that of an insider, represented by Shylock and Portia respectively. Shylock is discriminated against and despised by everyone around him, as represented by the fact that even his own servant hates him not because of his actions, but because he is a Jew. Shylock’s “typecasting” as merely a Jew shows his isolation. Portia, by contrast, is the ultimate insider. She is a well-off noblewoman who has suitors from every royal court in Europe, who has so much choice that her suitors play along with the game that her father stipulated in his will. Shakespeare uses this divide to further intensify this divide, making the payoff that much greater when Shylock and Portia eventually meet. Shakespeare employs the trope of and “unlikely pairing” to drive his story forward, and this is one of the subtler ways in which he builds the tension for it.
-Michael
Structurally, a contrast could be made through the lighting and proportions of the set. Portia and the Prince of Morocco's discourse seems as strained as Portia's other encounters, but has a sense of propriety and decency, perhaps placed in a large open space that is well-lit; perhaps an entry hall with marble columns and white floors. This serves to emphasize the sense of propriety and orderliness that is omnipresent in Portia's life. The scenes with Shylock, however, could be dimly lit in a cramped alleyway packed with homes, giving a dingy and seedy sense to his life and the circumstances he must live in. This would contrast their respective statuses as highborn noble and persecuted Jew, and also would negate some sympathy the audience has for Portia; while she is being forced to marry to someone in circumstances mostly out of her control, her life is very luxurious and would doubtlessly still be so after her marriage. Jessica, on the other hand, is nearly not allowed the ability to live by her father and herself, denying her even the chance to be married off to someone decent. The structural changes would emphasize these differences in status and the underlying differences between their problems.
-George
By contrasting the Portia and Shylock scenes, we are able to see the role of the oppressive father in the play. Even though Portia is upperclass, an insider, and Shylock is poor and discriminated against, an outsider, they both experience or instigate the burdens a father places on his daughter. In the first scene, we see Portia lamenting about the situation her father has put her in: "But if my father had not scanted me / And hedged me by his wit to yield myself / His wife who wins me by that means I told you, / Yourself, renownèd Prince, then stood as fair / As any comer I have looked on yet / For my affection” (2.1.17-22). Without her father, she would be free to marry who she pleases and, although at this time women don’t marry for love as much as money, she would have a much more enjoyable life. When we contrast this scene with Shylocks, we see that regardless of their social status (based on either money or religious beliefs), women from every walk of life experience this oppression caused by their fathers. Not only does Shylock demand that Jessica stay home and watch the house while he is away, a somewhat reasonable request, but he also treats her as a child: “When you hear the drum / And the vile squealing of the wry-necked fife, / Clamber not you up to the casements then, / Nor thrust your head into the public street / To gaze on Christian fools with varnished faces” (2.5.28-32). In addition, she does not talk the entire scene, suggesting her subservient position. By contrasting the scenes, we are able to see that even though these characters are drastically different, fathers consistently hold back their daughters.
-Rebecca
The scenes with Portia and Shylock are in close proximity to highlight the external motives of both fathers, and delve into how varying factors like class and wealth do not affect the true nature of the paternal relationship in that time period. Characteristically, while Portia has men at her beck and call and is even apathetic towards the extreme conditions that they must accept in order to try for her hand in marriage, Jessica is forthright and giving. These differences are most likely due to class; Portia is born into a higher class that allows her to utilize her beauty to progress her father's and her own reputation while Jessica is not even able to introduce a man into her home in fear of ruining the reputation of her and her family. While Portia's father makes it clear that in order to please him and maintain her position, she must submit men to the task he created, it is known that her obedience is necessary to his historical significance. In the same way, Shylock's only value is his daughter Jessica who is both beautiful and fair, which in contrast to his own conditions as a poor disliked oldJewish man, highlights his anterior motives to uphold what little reputation he has left. The structure of the play groups these scenes together in order to directly hint at the underlying motives of both fathers to increase their own reputations.
-preeya
The most significant message conveyed in the juxtaposition of the two settings and character groups is the duration that each setting has in the five-scene sequence. Portia has a romantic exchange with the Moroccan Prince in her stately home, she is likely well-dressed and polite, and the whole scene transpires after a quick back and forth. The next scene immediately jumps into the nuances of servitude and the social hierarchy that is commonplace in the city of Venice, and contains dense conversations. The depth that the urban scenes provide insinuate the depth and gravity of the social climate, whereas Portia's cute one minute scene appears superfluous and empty. The fact that the next three scenes all deal with development of the urban setting, introducing new characters and relationships, only further's Shakespeare's intention of downplaying Portia's dilemma and shining a light on the nuances of a real city.
- Timmy
Through these scenes we began to see the incredible influence that fathers have in this society. As we observe Jessica's plight to escape from the grasp of Shylock and flush herself of the Jewish nature she has, there is a feeling of independence and unhappiness with her father's control that Jessica must find to be happy. In contrast Portia thrives under the strict rules of her father. With her conniving ways, for Portia to leave the rules of the challenge and marriage behind would actual mean a harder and less comfortable life for her. Through the way that the scenes are set up we immediately begin to contrast Jessica and Portia and develop the way that each of their fathers rules and power is desired or rejected in their lives.
The contrast between scenes with Sherlock and Portia show the opposite themes of lightness and darkness throughout the play. In Portia's scenes, her wealth and fortune are displayed and she is treated nicely. While she still has certain issues, all of her themes showcase her remarkable luck. On the other hand, Sherlock is constantly disrespected and ridiculed. Because of his appearance and religion he is considered an outcast, and Shakespeare writes his tone with a negative connotation. This is shown when Antonio is talking trash to him in act 1.
-Sam Lyons
By contrasting the two scenes regarding Portia and Shylock, shows the stark difference in the lives of an insider versus outsider. Portia, being a wealthy beautiful woman who is the heiress to a large sum of money is well suited after while Shylock, a Jew living in a Catholic world is not treated like a human. In addition to the physical contrast of their lives, you can see the way Shylock seems to direct his daughter what to do and very much want to have as much control as necessary in his life, while on the other hand it appears that Portia is doing as she wishes. However Portia's father very much so wants to control his daughter as well but he does it in a far different fashion
- Alex
By adding other scenes between the ones with Portia and Skylock, Shakespeare is able to accentuate the difference in the power dynamic between the two father-daughter couples. The most noticeable difference is that Portia seems to be controlling the outcome of her suitors whereas Jessica does not seem to have any control over her father's wishes. Portia is able to push her suitors in ways that allow her to control how they act, but Jessica is burdened with a heavy-handed father who does not give license to free choice. Both scenes were wrought with stereotypes. The idea behind the stereotypes shifts after the scene with Portia. In the scene with Portia, she uses stereotypes to portray her distaste in the Morrocan suitor; whereas, the scenes that involve Shylock, involve stereotypes that Shylock is imposing on himself.
-Gray Downs
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