Act 5: Who is the merchant of Venice?

So all the stories are neatly tied up and all is right with the Venetian world. Awesome. Or maybe not.

Pick three themes you think are dominant in this play, and tell me a little bit about how they are displayed over the course of the play and what characters play interact with each theme.

TMOV: Act 4 (all of it!)

Break into three groups (Portia, Shylock, Antonio). 

What are the major speeches of your character?

What do we learn about your character in each speech?

How does your character change over the course of Act 4?

What new insights are gained into your character?

How has your opinion changed about your character (if at all)?

How does Shakespeare make your character a sympathetic one?

Discuss once groups are done.

Larger question for class --> with whom do you sympathize?

TMOV: 3.3-3.5

1. Review Doctrine of Humanity scenes from both films

3.2
2. Portia & Bassanio --> Who is in control of the situation? How does Portia flatter Bassanio? And vice versa? Portia and the ring? (149-185)
3. Bassanio & Antonio --> (241-294) Can we trust Bassanio's words re Antonio? Can Bassanio have Portia AND Antonio?
4. Portia v Portia --> pre casket v post casket

3.3
Review blog comments

3.4
Purpose? Set up confrontation between Portia & Shylock! What do we learn about Portia?

TMOV: 3.3-3.5 homework

Is Venice a Christian state (governed by religious law) or a commercial state (governed by the law of commerce)? Which value has proved dominant thus far in the text and why? What are the larger implications of having a state governed both by industry AND religion?

MOV 3.1-3.2 Discussion

1. Close Reading (3.1.47-65)

Step 1: Annotate like a pro
Step 2: Identify rhetorical strategies he uses to convey his argument
Step 3: Identify Shylock's thesis
Step 4: Identify the different parts to his argument
Step 5: Identify Shylock's tones
Step 6: Perform & then watch

2. Parable of the Lost Son --> Prodigal

3. Does Shylock's rage come from hatred for Antonio (competitor) or loss of Jessica?

4. Portia and Bassanio ---> before and after the casket choosing.

TMOV 3.1-3.2: homework

Is Bassanio the kind of man Portia's father would have chosen for her? Be sure to explain your answer.

TMOV 2.6-2.9

1. Review homework re Portia.
2. Review basics of what happened --> what has been set up in Act 2? Different relationships? Tensions?

What is a personal statement?
The personal statement should give concrete evidence of your promise as a suitor of Portia. This statement will give her (and Nerissa) an imagine of you as a person. This is also where you express what you can bring to the relationship and why Portia should choose you.

What else goes into a personal statement?
1. Information about some background, identity, interest or taken that is meaningful. Without which, Portia could never really know you.
OR
2. A lesson you’ve taken from failure and how it’s helped you find success.
OR
3. Reflection on a time when you challenged a belief or idea and were prompted to act?
OR
4. Description of a problem you’ve solved or a problem you’d like to solve.

Length → 200 words

Groups
Morocco: Rebecca, Gray, Aidan, Alex
Arragon: Preeya, Sam L, Timmy, Michael
Bassanio: Renee, Sam VL, George