1. What three adjectives would you use to describe Portia's behavior and words in this scene? Give a brief explanation for each.
2. What three adjectives would you use to describe Morocco's (the Prince of Morroco that is) behavior and words in this scene? Give a brief explanation for each.
3. Notice the condition of the casket game that Portia explains in lines 38-42. What is the condition, and what are some implications of that condition?
4. Find an example of imagery and discuss the meanings or connotations it might contribute to what is going on.
2. What three adjectives would you use to describe Morocco's (the Prince of Morroco that is) behavior and words in this scene? Give a brief explanation for each.
3. Notice the condition of the casket game that Portia explains in lines 38-42. What is the condition, and what are some implications of that condition?
4. Find an example of imagery and discuss the meanings or connotations it might contribute to what is going on.
20 comments:
Hey everyone,
So my answer is pertaining to question 1. Before I get to that, can I just say how much I enjoyed today's reading. It was so funny...anyway. The first adjective I found was "Voluntary", I thought it was very telling of her to use that word. She doesn;t get to choose her destiny, her destiny was pre-planned from the moment she was born. So to use a word that makes it seem like she has any sort of say in her own life is very ironic and (in terms of theatre)humorous. The second adjective I found was "solely", I found this very interesting. (In context) Portia is very aware that the choices she makes are not just hers. She has counseling from everyone in her life and in the end the decisions she makes are never fully owned by her. The third and pretty much final adjective I found amusing was "renowned". I found this interesting because she is back-handedly mocking him, from my point of view. She is pretty much bringing so much sarcasm into this that a person could not help but laugh. One could feel a crush on a person with a title such as Prince, however for Portia it's almost as if it turns her off. I find it funny for many different reasons, the first being that people fight their whole lives to be Royal and she can't wait to get away. She makes every excuse possible to not find someone and then when she finds a suitable canidate she mocks him. Of course when I say the word "funny" I am completely talking in terms of theatre. If any one wants more detail you can ask me tomorrow. I look forward to hearing what all of you think of my take and I look forward to reading all of yours.
Thanks
Yo
I think 3 good adjectives for Portia in general and in this scene is unusual, arrogant and self-centered. When she describes her life and how she is related to her destiny, I thought it was slightly out of her place to say. I thought that was rather arrogant and unusual for her to say and discuss. She begins to bring up a lot of sarcasm as the scene continues and I think this also contributes to her arrogant lifestyle and personality she demonstrates throughout this scene and everyday life, so it appears. I also found it funny how she was almost counceling everyone and she felt she was "all that" and is so experienced with everything she does. I think the three adjectives I chose were very suiting and fitting when discussing Portia's character throughout the course of this scene.
Mason
1. What three adjectives would you use to describe Portia's behavior and words in this scene? Give a brief explanation for each.
Indifferent. I feel Portia is not unimpressed with the way Morocco boast and offers, but I would not say she is inthralled with love.
Distant. I think she is all business with this man who is proclaiming such thoughts of infatuation, letting him know that it is kind of him to say these things (she is polite) but the way it works is for him to choose the correct box, and then what he says could matter a lot or not at all.
Empty. I feel that Portia thinks she wants a man, but her soul does not crave one. She has no past experience to draw from or compare to, and she appears to lack that raw interest in her soul of love at first sight. She is in need of fulfillment and does not seem to be aware or edgar to obtain it.
I am answering question #3.
The condition that Portia explains to Morocco is that once he chooses which casket he thinks is correct, and if he guesses wrong he is never allowed to talk to lady afterward. I take this to mean that he is not able to court any other lady even if he guesses wrong. I'm not exactly sure if this is right, but it's the sense I get. Morocco agrees to this condition and Portia offers him a meal before he chooses a casket.
I think the terms of the casket game are very harsh. Not only is it based purely off of chance to guess (1/3 chance of guessing correctly), but if you guess wrong you are banned from ever dating another women. I don't understand why Portia has this rule, but the fact that Morocco agrees to the terms says something about his personality. Either he is very self-assured he will guess right or just a person willing to take risks.
Hey Everyone,
I will be answering question number 3. My interpretation of the condition was slightly different from Sarah's, but basically the same. The way I had interpreted it as was that he either doesn't choose one at all or he has to swear beforehand that if he chose the wrong casket he would never talk about marriage to any woman again. And as Sarah mentioned he agreed to swear not to ever get married if he chose the wrong one and Portia then offers him for dinner first.
Some implications for this offer may be that Portia likes him and is almost kind of flirting with him in a way. Another implication may be that she may "make" him win the game. In other words, when she was talking to Nerissa and they mentioned how they would place the wine on a casket to make them loose, well maybe this time they will place it on the right one. Or maybe he just had an idea that he would win the game and wasn't worried at all. Like Sarah said, maybe he was so self-assured and was a person who didn't mind taking these kinds of risks. Another implication may be that he knows that he doesn't have to go and ask people to marry him, maybe women just ask him instead, so therefore he won't even have to talk ever again about marriage with another woman again. All these are possible implications that may all be valid as well. I can't wait to hear from others! Have a GREAT night!
4. Find an example of imagery and discuss the meanings or connotations it might contribute to what is going on.
Well, adressing to number four, the imagery that I found was on page 91. It's on the very top of the page. "[A flourish of cornets.] Enter [the Prince of] Morocco, a tawny moor all in white, and three or four followers accordingly; with Portia, Nerissa, and their train." This is an imagery because I can picture it. It explains the stage setup and the location of the characters.
Three words that describe Morocco:
Confident: Morocco believes he can win Portia's heart. "I would not change this hue, except to steal your thoughts, my gentle queen.. I would o'er-stare the sternest eyes that look, outbrave the heart most daring on the earth, pluck the young suckling cubs from the she-bear... to win thee, lady." He assures her that his tactics will work on her and believes that oneday she will turn to him.
Narcisstic. "Therefore I pray you lead me to the caskets to try my fortune. By this scimitar, that slew the Sophy and a Persian prince that won three fields of Sultan Solyman." He is boasting to Portia how a guy like him is so great that she cannot resist him. I believe that Morocco is too proud to notice what Portia actually thinks of him and deliberately boasts to hide something.
Argumentative. Despite Portia's indifferent responses, Morocco does not ceases to argue that he will not lose to this competition. He informs her about his achievement, wit and charm, even though Portia does not seem to care about him. When Portia reacts to him, she warns him, "Your hazard shall be made." Morocco takes this challenge and responds "to make me blest" or curse men.
Hello everyone! I would also like to answer number 3, because I have read the previous comments on it and in fact have yet ANOTHER implication to bring into the mix.
I was thinking that it was possible that the Prince of Morocco's insistence on taking a chance at the "game" shows that he is shallow and not interested in loving Portia, but rather just wants to marry her for status, money, and power. This is also apparent when he risks never having the opportunity to marry anyone else in the future. While I am sure that it was not uncommon for people to marry for societal and monetary reasons when this was written, I get the impression that Portia is looking for someone to love her-- not just any rich price whose parents are encouraging him to marry her. The binding and very harsh nature of the game, which resembles gambling, does not allow for time to get to know one another, court, or fall in real love. It is just a game of probability, and we already know that Portia is not a fan of the method. Surely she would not be a fan of a man who agreed to marry her through this gambling. It is one thing to take risks for love (as in risking your life for the one you love.) It is an entirely different thing to have a completely random 33% chance of getting to marry a girl you don't really know. He is taking the risk for himself-- not for her. She wants a man who will take a risk for her, and love her, not himself (I assume). This plays into the narcissism Megumi discussed.
Have a nice evening!!
Hi English 11 and Mr. Durning! Kacie's in my room blogging right now so I wanted to blog too. haha. I hope everyone is enjoying reading Merchant of Venice. Have an excellent evening.
Katie Gaddis. :-)
2. What three adjectives would you use to describe Morocco's (the Prince of Morroco that is) behavior and words in this scene? Give a brief explanation for each.
Megumi used the word Narcissitic already so I'll choose Self-absorbed for my first adjective. Morroco thinks he's perfection. "Mislike me not for my complexion, The shadowed livery of the burnished sun--" This basically means "Don't hate me because of beautiful dark skin" As if Portia were to even be jealous.
Almighty/Industructable. He thinks nothing can stand in his way or harm him. "I would o'er-stare the sternest eyes that look, Outbrave the heart most daring on the earth, Pluck the young suckling cubs from the she-bear, Yea mock the lion when a roars for prey--"
Cocky. He is over confident and boasts of his luck. "Good fortune then, To make me blest - or cursed'st among men!" In his mind, he already KNOWS he will get Portia and he's boasting how he will either be described as the luckiest man or the most hated for other mens' jealousy of his prize (Portia)....
I think the three adjectives to describe Portia are superior, indecisive, and caring. Portia has her life planned out for her and she is unable to choose which path she will take unless people around her are influencing her. She wants to have a lover and then when she starts to interact with a man, Morocco, she just makes fun of him so she does not know what she wants. She was coaching the people on their lives as if she has experienced all life has to offer.
Hey,
Portia shows some slight affection for Morocco. Morocco tries sweet talking Portia into leading him towards the casket that would win her hand. Portia, however, remains very true to the game. I use true as an adjective to describe her because despite her minor show of affection towards Morocco she gives him no advantage. "You must take your chance, And either not attempt to choose at all Or swear before you choose, if you choose wrong, Never to speak to lady afterward. My second adjective to describe Portia in this scene would be unsure. She, like most people pushed into a tough decision, has trouble falling for one man in her sweepstakes. When a girl is marrying herself off one would suspect that she would pick some sort of favorite. Her giving no competitor any advantage shows she has trouble deciding who she truly wants. Finally, I see Portia as uninspired. Much like miles said, she seems to try to convince herself that marraige is right for her and she is ready at this time in her life. She tries to motivate herself over the situation but deep within can find nothing to inspire her. She dreads her future and dreads her present life. She wants to make her own decisions but hides behind a mask painted by society.
Hey
Answeting question 1
Pompous-From her opening sentences she is putting herslf on a pedistle above Morrocco. She is clearly at a very high social status and it shows in her diction and behavior.
Reluctant- I feel as though Portia really wants a relationship but she is uncertain whether to give someone a chance or wait. clearly she needs to get to know the person first, love at first sight does not exist in her world.
Also i feel that she is very unexperienced, based on the text i feel as though she has not had any luck in the past with relationships. it reflects in this scene from the way she treats Morrocco.
Shakespeare draws on numerous famous Greek tales in order to heighten the demeanor and position of Morocco. These references create very beautiful imagery that invokes the senses. Interestingly however it should be noted that Shakespeare trusts the reader, or more correctly that actor/director and the viewer, to be knowledgeable and aware of these references, otherwise the character's lines become non-sensical and henceforth make little if any imagery appear. Straying back from that tangent, my favorite piece of imagery that the Bard invokes is the scene the Morocco presents in which Hercules and Lichas are playing dice. This image is very provoking because it gives the idea that a servant and a immortal master are competing on equal levels. Also Shakespeare's consistent puns to the theme of gambling increase the humor of the scene. For example line 38 quotes "And die with grieving", the double meaning of the word 'die' particularly after referencing Hercules and Lichas playing dice is particularly effective.
3.
The conditions of the casket game are strict and almost impossible. When Portia describes it, the game sounds like a tricky and almost impossible riddle, giving the Prince of Morrocco hardly any chance to pick the correct casket. It is a game of chance that is either all or nothing in the end. Portia is a clever and manipulative girl who, although she wants to obey her dead father, wants to get her way. She announces that if he does not choose the right casket (which is likely) he can no longer see her. Obviously in saying he must not see her ever again she is trying to get rid of him because she knows that she does not want to marry him and has no use for him. Also, giving such a bad catch to the game could make him scared of gambling and back out, letting Portia get her way.
The conditions of the casket game are explained by Portia in lines 38-42. The difficulty of the task is made clear by Portia as she explains the conditions to Morocco. She basically says to Morocco, you either don't choose at all, or you choose, and if you choose wrong, you have to swear to never talk to me again about marriage. She ends this demand with words that basically translate to: "so watch out." Portia is attempting to be intimidating and get Morocco to not make a guess. She wants him to fear the thought of losing his chance for good and therefore not choose a casket. If she bullies him into not choosing, he will never be able to marry her, because it was her father's will that the man who chooses the right casket will be her husband. So if Morocco never guesses because he is too afraid of getting it wrong and having to stick to his word of never being able to talk to Portia again, he is really in the worse situation because he DEFINITELY won't be able to marry her, for it will be breaking the will of Portia's father! He is most likely unaware of this fact however, so he may try to abstain from guessing because he thinks he is better off. This implies that Portia is scared of Morocco actually taking a guess, because his chances of getting it right are not that low. This shows Portia's want to find a true lover, and not some prince who she feels nothing for.
Hello,
Pertaining to question three,
I agree with a lot of what was said by Sarah (x2) and Kacie. So the casket game definitely entails that if the prince doesn't choose the right casket he must never speak to her again and that he is not allowed to speak of his.. courting to Portia but I don't think it bans his marriage to other people. I feel that is a bit harsh, and it would make Portia seem rather self-centered. I feel that withholding the right to other marriage is sort of like withholding happiness and I feel like she doesn't have the power or will to do that because really, she is just searching for happiness as well. Though she does not necessarily have a choice of who she marries, she wants to be at least semi happy with who she marries. I agree with Kacie in that I feel the prince just agrees to participate in the game on the off chance he will marry her and have money and fame and all that. I agree that he willingly joins the game but it wouldn't really matter to him if he lost because he doesn't have feelings for her. I feel that the game is very impersonal and deep down Portia portrays a sort of sadness because she, because of the game, is not able to really find "love" with the suitors who most likely just want her for sex, money, and the title. I feel that someone who really loved her, persay, would not join the game and instead court her on the side so that they would not be forced to lose her if they would to pick the wrong casket. Because Portia is looking for love, I get the impression that maybe she tells suitors they cannot speak to her after if she does not have interest in them but I think that if there was a suitor that she liked, she might not necessarily make the game so harsh. Sorry, that was a lot in one paragraph.
Thanks!
#3
If i had to describe Portia with 3 adjectives, i would use erratic, selfish, and arrogant. Her life is very luxurious and very special than any other woman at that time. She is also pretty and nothing to loose. Therefore, her characteristics and behavior are very self-centered, which she is careless to her companies. She is also not very gentle or kind if we closely observe the conversation between Morocco.
Hi,
I just wanted to quickly add I realized after that Portia actually was telling him he couldn't marry again. Pretty much what I feel still applies although I think that may be a little harsh.
Thanks
This is Pall for question number 2.
Morocco seems intellectual, smart, and brave to me. Intellectual because of his speech about Hercules and his page, smart because of the context of that speech, (which was made to say that even though morocco is definitely worthy of portia, he may lose to chance, and a less worthy person may come along later and win by chance) and Brave because he decides to abandon his smarts and try to win portia anyways.
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