To recap some questions from the prior class:
1. How do Salarino and Salanio react to Antonio?
2. What kind of character is Antonio?
3. Is Antonio worried he'll lose his friendship with Bassanio? Are there homosexual overtones in Antonio's talk of love? Does Antonio brighten in Bassanio's presence? (be sure to look at language)
4. Notice Bassanio's innate and unconscious elegance of speech.
Now, from last night's reading:
Scene 2
1. Patriarchal Society and filial piety (duty from son or daughter) meant more to Elizabethan society than to ours. Always keep that in mind.
2. Does Portia have control of her situation or is she helpless?
Scene 3
3. In Scene 2, the stereotypes are mentioned but then disregarded. In Scene 3, the stereotype of the Jew is brought to fruition. hhhmmmm.
4. Is the offer of flesh in jest or serious? Is offer of friendship serious?
5. Whenever we start to sympathize with Shylock, his greed and hatred are emphasized.
6. How is Antonio becoming a Christ figure?
7. How is Shylock is own worst enemy?
End of Act 1 & beyond ...
Notice how Shakespeare has set absolute polarities: Christian/Jew, Venice/Belmont, male/female. Shakespeare takes advantage of these apparent differences in order to put in question the whole issue of difference. How are others, and otherness, related to oneself? To the notion that one has a self?
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