tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8330129568760171075.post3945991325445436356..comments2023-05-26T11:47:35.495+02:00Comments on A tale of three cities: The Classics Club: The Merchant of VenicePattyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16118488336055805591noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8330129568760171075.post-59021868597540134622013-03-06T17:19:27.363+01:002013-03-06T17:19:27.363+01:00as you said in the other post, Shakespeare really ...as you said in the other post, Shakespeare really likes girls to dress up and act like boys...Pattyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16118488336055805591noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8330129568760171075.post-67905621658996880092013-03-06T09:52:45.915+01:002013-03-06T09:52:45.915+01:00And I wonder why Merchant of Venice is rated as co...And I wonder why Merchant of Venice is rated as comedy? It's more tragedy to me. I hated Antonio too, it's quite impossible that a businessman with his reputation can fall into trap by Shylock, and was so hopeless for that. But I quite enjoyed the Portia's scene as a judge.Fanda Classiclithttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07642429343958941266noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8330129568760171075.post-91489645686649063292013-02-01T21:23:43.954+01:002013-02-01T21:23:43.954+01:00I know, that's why I'm struggling - my log...I know, that's why I'm struggling - my logic does not allow me to take into account the difference in norms ... Still, I'll try reading more on the subject and perhaps I'll manage in the end to accept this fact (perhaps...)Pattyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16118488336055805591noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8330129568760171075.post-54464472353569098402013-02-01T19:04:40.031+01:002013-02-01T19:04:40.031+01:00I have a really hard time dealing with stuff like ...I have a really hard time dealing with stuff like this in books written/set when times were different. I can't seem to allow for the different times. I haven't read this play, but this kind of thing happens in loads of books, the treatment of Native American Indians really bothered me in The Little House on the Prairie, for example.Joanna Hennonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07785434072371535931noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8330129568760171075.post-87529485466568641932013-02-01T13:05:19.386+01:002013-02-01T13:05:19.386+01:00maybe I'll see it acted out then... Perhaps re...maybe I'll see it acted out then... Perhaps reading it had a more profound effect on me, as I read everything literally!Pattyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16118488336055805591noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8330129568760171075.post-47533714982768823582013-02-01T13:03:53.598+01:002013-02-01T13:03:53.598+01:00This is what I'm keeping in mind - I know what...This is what I'm keeping in mind - I know what the social norms of that era were like and what could be said. You've given me a good way to see the subject from a different perspective: if a different author encounters the same situation, maybe I'll see their way of dealing with it. Thanks for the tip!Pattyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16118488336055805591noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8330129568760171075.post-52609592657185321672013-02-01T11:40:43.908+01:002013-02-01T11:40:43.908+01:00Patty, I think Shakespeare actually deals with Shy...Patty, I think Shakespeare actually deals with Shylock as gently as anyone of his time could/would do so. Jews have been despised through history, and our despising that fact cannot really change history. On closer look at the play, Shakespeare is actually dealing kindly with Shylock, in portraying things this way. Antonio's reaction was typical of the day toward a Jew. And the common spectator would have laughed with glee at Shylock's misfortunes. However, I think, a more subtle spectator would have sympathised, along with Shakespeare, with the Jew. I wish I could prove this point with quotes, but I haven't a copy to hand, and I wouldn't readily find a quote unless I read through it completely. But, I've studied it twice in college and I recall that most of us in class were not left in doubt of Shakespeare's being sympathetic of Shylock and his lot. <br /><br />I don't know if you have read Scott's Ivanhoe, but you will see pretty much the same treatment of Jews there as you see in Merchant of Venice. Again, the treatment of the Jewish characters is not because of the writer's attitude towards them but because of his representing and era in which Jews were treated that way. You will find, on reading Ivanhoe, that Scott's heart goes out to the Jews even though the hearts of the non-Jewish characters don't. And that's pretty much the same case with The Merchant of Venice. <br /><br />Personally, I think of all the Shakespearean comedies I've read I like this one the best. :)Songhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09707280327803432082noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8330129568760171075.post-37679996901026332502013-02-01T11:26:25.136+01:002013-02-01T11:26:25.136+01:00We saw this play performed in the new Globe Theatr...We saw this play performed in the new Globe Theatre in London in 2007. Both of us had studied it at school and liked it for it's ability to elicit strong, powerful feelings. Seeing it performed in the space it was created for made me realise how much Shakespeare went for the crude joke, the double entendre and the obvious stereotype....this made it easier for him to tell the story as half the story occured in the audience assumptions.Bronahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11110584237325026052noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8330129568760171075.post-46081078951875224242013-02-01T06:32:51.740+01:002013-02-01T06:32:51.740+01:00well, I'm still thinking of the play - don'...well, I'm still thinking of the play - don't know it's a good thing...Pattyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16118488336055805591noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8330129568760171075.post-13050976853230861972013-02-01T06:14:28.389+01:002013-02-01T06:14:28.389+01:00I never read it but saw the play when I was in hig...I never read it but saw the play when I was in high school. It had really bothered me then, but as a teenager I was even more revolted by injustice than I am now. But I agree that there's no way anyone would I have signed for such a loan.Larissahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14224853482802048992noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8330129568760171075.post-69396090424098946612013-01-30T07:35:14.756+01:002013-01-30T07:35:14.756+01:00I'm still processing the whole play, trying to...I'm still processing the whole play, trying to take into account his other ones. Is it good because it's so mean?Pattyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16118488336055805591noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8330129568760171075.post-32281385455923655962013-01-30T07:19:35.811+01:002013-01-30T07:19:35.811+01:00I read about a story of somebody who actually felt...I read about a story of somebody who actually felt angery after watching the play on stage. I think his reaction is really understandable, considering the injustice Shylock must face in the play. I don't like the way he treats Antonio, but I don't like the way people treat Shylock in court as well. Moreover, I strongly disagree with Antonio's converting Shylock into Christianity. <br /><br />But somehow I still like the play. I can't explain why, but it's one of my Shakespeare favourite. Lemon Treehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13340029101536146372noreply@blogger.com