1. Portia is sitting on the front steps of her house with Nerissa. She is picking the petals off of flowers from her garden as if saying, "he loves me, he loves me not". As Nerissa goes through the names of all of the men who want to wed her, she picks petals off until she ends her comment on them. Then she throws what is left of the flower away with a look of disgust on her face. When they start talking about Bassanio she stops after she picks all the petals off this flower and leaves it on the steps instead of throwing it away. 2. Shylock's language demonstrates how he has to do whatever he can to survive as an outlaw. He has been kicked and spit on by Antonio, and he will still make a deal with him because he needs the money. He also shows how confident and intimidating he has to appear when he talks about the pound of flesh he will take from Antonio if he does not get paid back. -Aidan Sweeny
1) In the first scene I believe that Portia is being assisted by Nerissa. I pictured the conversation to take place during and after morning ablution. The first part of the conversation is held while Portia is engaging in the rare bath while the latter parts occur while Nerissa is helping her put on a corset and a voluminous dress. As the discussion turns to suitors the pair wander into Portia's sitting room where she has entertained many such men. 2) Shylock speaks as though he is a friend to Antonio, but their banter shows Shylock's pain at being treated so poorly. He bears the insults because there is nothing else that he can do, and this strain puts an obvious weight on him. The pain he expresses describes his value in society. He deals with the insults because there is no other way to make money. -Gray
1. In the first scene, I imagine Portia walking around an exquisite mansion with Nerissa from room to room, playing with various objects and status symbols casually while recounting the suitors' flaws. She walks through the living room, sitting in a plush leather chair and inspecting her nails for a few seconds before going up and sitting by the lavishly ornamental fireplace. She walks into the kitchen to take a bite of whatever her personal chef is making before she walks upstairs to her bedroom, playing with her makeup and collapsing on her bed looking out at the incredible view from her room. 2. Shylock's most apparent character trait is the fact that he is Jewish. His conversation with Antonio feels one-dimensional from Shylock's end, as he cannot step outside his role of being a "Jew", a heavily persecuted group around this time. There was a significant amount of animosity towards Jews at this time due to the fact that it is against Christian doctrine to be a moneylender, and Shylock's willingness to take on this job gets him scorn from Antonio. He cannot defend himself from the anti-semitic remarks due to the fact that he needs to be a moneylender to thrive in Venice. -Michael Legon
1) In Portia's first scene, she is complaining to Nerissa about how difficult her life is. Nerissa criticizes her because Portia is spoiled and dealing with insignificant problems. Because of this dynamic, I imagine Portia is slouching in her throne while wearing expensive clothing and jewelry, ironically nagging about her "difficult" life.
2) Shylock's language immediately designates him as an outcast in this play. His identity is shown by his religion, which he commonly refers to, and his aggression towards Antonio. Shylock is depicted as a negative character, and his occupation as a loanshark gives him a bad reputation. This shows us that as an outcast in a Shakespeare play, he is used to symbolize negative themes.
1. I see Portia trying on dresses throughout the entirety of the scene. The mood is light as if Portia and Nerissa are two young girls at a sleepover, talking about boys. Portia tries on these extravagant, fluffy, ridiculous dresses, perhaps the ones she is expected to wear when meeting the suitors. As she tries one on and proceeds to take it off, she throws them into Nerissa’s arms, making it obvious that, although they are friends, Portia occupies a higher status. Eventually, Portia has tried on so many that she doesn’t like (perhaps a metaphor for the suitors) that Nervosa is drowned in the petticoats and tulle of her dresses, struggling to be seen and heard. 2. Bassanio is always questioning what Shylock says. When Shylock calls Antonio a “good man”, Bassanio gets annoyed, thinking that someone like Shylock (read: a Jew) is commenting on his dear friends character. When Shylock references the Bible to defend his practice of charging interest, Bassanio calls him the evil soul because even the devil can quote scripture. However, because Shylock is an outsider, he cannot defend himself directly. He must fight back through mockery, like in lines 120-124. Shylock is forced to use comedy to undermine Bassanio’s power and status over him, which is rather weak, ineffective, and leaving Shylock struggling to be heard. -Rebecca Cohen
1. Portia and Nerissa are in a lavish house in a well-off neighborhood. The delivery and content of the lines make Nerissa seem like more a friend to Portia than a servant, as the feel is very casual and buoyant throughout the conversation. During the conversation, Portia first does her makeup, then goes to her closet to try on clothes and hairstyles. After each, she looks in the mirror with the same countenance of slight distaste so that she keeps trying new combinations. Portia is constantly in motion, and never paying deep attention to the subject matter. She only pauses once she has found the right outfit, which coincides with Nerissa's mentioning of Bassanio, so the audience is informed that Bassanio is the most significant of the suitors. 2. Shylock's outcast status is accentuated by the freedom he feels to speak his mind. A lot of this is a product of Bassanio's behavior, and his immediate rebuttals to some of his statements, but it is also apparent because, even in a terse exchange, Shylock speaks aside when he sees Antonio approaching about his impression of Antonio. He also seems like an outsider because he has no apparent appreciation for common behavior or appearances, as if he finds it fake or irritating. Bassanio and Antonio are respectable commoners, and Shylock seems to take umbrage with both of them, he's clearly on a different page. - Timmy
1) In the first scene, I imagine Nerissa eating candy on Portia's bed listening avidly to Portia. I imagine Portia herself sitting on a beautifully embroidered chair with her legs up on a white desk, combing her long hair and staring off into the distance as she talks. Occasionally when she thinks of good qualities in a suitor she twirls her hair and purses her lips, but she never smiles because the matter at hand is too important for frivolousness.
2) Shylock's character seems to be a little greasy Antonio, Bassani, and myself. While the other characters use rich language with lots of metaphor and are generally seen as good people, Shylock is only seen by making crude jokes and being cheap. This instantly differentiates him from the other characters in the group, and makes him seem less desirable and adverse as a character.
8 comments:
1. Portia is going through the stack of presents that the various suitors have brought her and throwing them into the trash-bag which Nerissa is holding. Most of the presents are ridiculously gaudy: costume-style jewelry, bouquets of fake flowers, and overly flashy clothing. They are supposed to be expressions of the suitors' wealth, but none of them are actually nice at all. The two are in Portia's room and have already filled up a few trash-bags, which are sitting on the floor. The stack of presents is almost as tall as Portia is.
2. Shylock's language shows how his outcast status doesn't allow him to be anything but "a Jew", as he peppers his speech with religious references, playing into the stereotype because he has no other choice. He hates Antonio "because he is a Christian", declares that he cannot eat with the men due to kosher rules, and proves his point with a biblical tale. He knows that the other men will not think of his as a full human being, and his language illustrates that he has little choice but to accept this treatment. There is no hope for him to operate beyond the bounds of the Anti-Semitic image they have for him: his only option is to twist that construction for his own ends.
-Renée Serota
1. Portia is sitting on the front steps of her house with Nerissa. She is picking the petals off of flowers from her garden as if saying, "he loves me, he loves me not". As Nerissa goes through the names of all of the men who want to wed her, she picks petals off until she ends her comment on them. Then she throws what is left of the flower away with a look of disgust on her face. When they start talking about Bassanio she stops after she picks all the petals off this flower and leaves it on the steps instead of throwing it away.
2. Shylock's language demonstrates how he has to do whatever he can to survive as an outlaw. He has been kicked and spit on by Antonio, and he will still make a deal with him because he needs the money. He also shows how confident and intimidating he has to appear when he talks about the pound of flesh he will take from Antonio if he does not get paid back.
-Aidan Sweeny
1) In the first scene I believe that Portia is being assisted by Nerissa. I pictured the conversation to take place during and after morning ablution. The first part of the conversation is held while Portia is engaging in the rare bath while the latter parts occur while Nerissa is helping her put on a corset and a voluminous dress. As the discussion turns to suitors the pair wander into Portia's sitting room where she has entertained many such men.
2) Shylock speaks as though he is a friend to Antonio, but their banter shows Shylock's pain at being treated so poorly. He bears the insults because there is nothing else that he can do, and this strain puts an obvious weight on him. The pain he expresses describes his value in society. He deals with the insults because there is no other way to make money.
-Gray
1. In the first scene, I imagine Portia walking around an exquisite mansion with Nerissa from room to room, playing with various objects and status symbols casually while recounting the suitors' flaws. She walks through the living room, sitting in a plush leather chair and inspecting her nails for a few seconds before going up and sitting by the lavishly ornamental fireplace. She walks into the kitchen to take a bite of whatever her personal chef is making before she walks upstairs to her bedroom, playing with her makeup and collapsing on her bed looking out at the incredible view from her room.
2. Shylock's most apparent character trait is the fact that he is Jewish. His conversation with Antonio feels one-dimensional from Shylock's end, as he cannot step outside his role of being a "Jew", a heavily persecuted group around this time. There was a significant amount of animosity towards Jews at this time due to the fact that it is against Christian doctrine to be a moneylender, and Shylock's willingness to take on this job gets him scorn from Antonio. He cannot defend himself from the anti-semitic remarks due to the fact that he needs to be a moneylender to thrive in Venice.
-Michael Legon
1) In Portia's first scene, she is complaining to Nerissa about how difficult her life is. Nerissa criticizes her because Portia is spoiled and dealing with insignificant problems. Because of this dynamic, I imagine Portia is slouching in her throne while wearing expensive clothing and jewelry, ironically nagging about her "difficult" life.
2) Shylock's language immediately designates him as an outcast in this play. His identity is shown by his religion, which he commonly refers to, and his aggression towards Antonio. Shylock is depicted as a negative character, and his occupation as a loanshark gives him a bad reputation. This shows us that as an outcast in a Shakespeare play, he is used to symbolize negative themes.
Sam Lyons
1. I see Portia trying on dresses throughout the entirety of the scene. The mood is light as if Portia and Nerissa are two young girls at a sleepover, talking about boys. Portia tries on these extravagant, fluffy, ridiculous dresses, perhaps the ones she is expected to wear when meeting the suitors. As she tries one on and proceeds to take it off, she throws them into Nerissa’s arms, making it obvious that, although they are friends, Portia occupies a higher status. Eventually, Portia has tried on so many that she doesn’t like (perhaps a metaphor for the suitors) that Nervosa is drowned in the petticoats and tulle of her dresses, struggling to be seen and heard.
2. Bassanio is always questioning what Shylock says. When Shylock calls Antonio a “good man”, Bassanio gets annoyed, thinking that someone like Shylock (read: a Jew) is commenting on his dear friends character. When Shylock references the Bible to defend his practice of charging interest, Bassanio calls him the evil soul because even the devil can quote scripture. However, because Shylock is an outsider, he cannot defend himself directly. He must fight back through mockery, like in lines 120-124. Shylock is forced to use comedy to undermine Bassanio’s power and status over him, which is rather weak, ineffective, and leaving Shylock struggling to be heard.
-Rebecca Cohen
1. Portia and Nerissa are in a lavish house in a well-off neighborhood. The delivery and content of the lines make Nerissa seem like more a friend to Portia than a servant, as the feel is very casual and buoyant throughout the conversation. During the conversation, Portia first does her makeup, then goes to her closet to try on clothes and hairstyles. After each, she looks in the mirror with the same countenance of slight distaste so that she keeps trying new combinations. Portia is constantly in motion, and never paying deep attention to the subject matter. She only pauses once she has found the right outfit, which coincides with Nerissa's mentioning of Bassanio, so the audience is informed that Bassanio is the most significant of the suitors.
2. Shylock's outcast status is accentuated by the freedom he feels to speak his mind. A lot of this is a product of Bassanio's behavior, and his immediate rebuttals to some of his statements, but it is also apparent because, even in a terse exchange, Shylock speaks aside when he sees Antonio approaching about his impression of Antonio. He also seems like an outsider because he has no apparent appreciation for common behavior or appearances, as if he finds it fake or irritating. Bassanio and Antonio are respectable commoners, and Shylock seems to take umbrage with both of them, he's clearly on a different page.
- Timmy
1) In the first scene, I imagine Nerissa eating candy on Portia's bed listening avidly to Portia. I imagine Portia herself sitting on a beautifully embroidered chair with her legs up on a white desk, combing her long hair and staring off into the distance as she talks. Occasionally when she thinks of good qualities in a suitor she twirls her hair and purses her lips, but she never smiles because the matter at hand is too important for frivolousness.
2) Shylock's character seems to be a little greasy Antonio, Bassani, and myself. While the other characters use rich language with lots of metaphor and are generally seen as good people, Shylock is only seen by making crude jokes and being cheap. This instantly differentiates him from the other characters in the group, and makes him seem less desirable and adverse as a character.
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