The Merchant of Venice Questions

1. What is the setting of the story? What are the people like, the culture etc.?
The setting of the story takes place in Venice. The people are upperclass businessmen, the culture is still socially categorized. For example, servants, middle class, and upper class are still taken place.

2. We meet Antonio is the first scene, who exactly is he and what is his worries that he faces early on?
Antonio is a merchat and is depressed, he worries about what it is he is sad about.

3. We also meet Bassanio a friend of Antonio. what does he ask of Antonio? Explain.
Bassanio asks Antonio for three thousand ducats (gold coins) for three months. He does this because he wants to save up and visit the wealthy princess, Portia.

4. Portia worries about getting a husband, so what does she decide to do that she thinks she will be best solution to her problem? Explain.
Portia decides to rather be alone and satisfied than with a husband and unsatisfied.

Anticipation Guide: Merchant of Venice

• Don’t rely on outward appearances when making judgments. 

I agree with this statement because basing judgement based off appearance isn't always reliable. Before meeting someone or doing something new, automatically your head fills with thoughts of fear,  you're most likely not as sociable as you usually are, and you're basically not yourself. Looks can be very deceiving sometimes the greatest looking people are the worst people to be around and vise versa. I believe that relying on outward appearances is not only hurtful to a person but it could be a disadvantage to you, for you could miss out on a great friend who could possibly be a best friend or family to you. On the first day of school, I felt nervous and scared because it was high school and there are many unfamiliar  students and even new teachers. Once i got to know my classmates and teachers it was better than I had anticipated and  I overcame this fear because this happens to everyone and anybody else would understand this situation. 

• Justice is always blind.

I disagree with this statement because although everyone has the right to justice, today there are still cases where discrimination still happens. No matter the age, height, skin color, gender, religion,etc. Whoever responsible for a crime should be accountable for their actions and face the consequences. I have a friend who lost his mom because a man had shot her at a stoplight while on the way home from picking her daughter up from work. Although he had a little mental disability, he still had to go to jail because of the crime he had committed. However, tragedies like Ferguson, Missouri show bias towards skin color. A white police officer had shot a black teenage boy. Protestors and riots became when the officer was prosecuted and let 
"off the hook" I believed that more should have been reviewed because it doesn't seem like everything possible was done to resolve this case peacefully.

• A brotherly love between two friends can be just as strong as an intimate love between a man and a woman.

I agree with this because a bond between two humans is no different no matter the gender, skin color, sexuality,etc. Love is not something that belongs to one kind of pair. It can be claimed by anybody involved in a relationship with someone they have affection/care for. A huge similarity between this comparison is that anything will be done for a loved one. For example, one of the brothers and a person from the other relationship both were in debt. In both relationships, the other half would do anything to help their loved one because they care and the person has a significance to that individual.

• You can break a promise as long as you have a good excuse

I  agree with this because a promises are breakable if the reason is valid concerning the reality of the relationship. Keeping your word is important is very crucial between a relationship with someone of trust because it tests truly how much you value that friendship. Promises vary between levels of task and difficulty, from small and big to easy and hard. Promises determine weather a person is someone who you actually care about and it confirms if what kind of relationship you have. (bros for life or friend/acquaintance) Promises should only be broken rarely. I believe that promises should be broken with a valid excuse only if its appropriate because of the circumstances. The excuse shouldnt be something sounding too careless.

• Love is blind.

I agree because I believe sexuality, race, gender, and age don't define love. A video that I watched online titled "Love has no Labels" taught me that love is love. There was a giant X-ray screen shows various couples & families at the skeletal level, dancing and kissing, as curious crowds gather. Then, the individuals walk around of the screen to reveal themselves—some are homosexual, some straight, some of different races, some differently abled, etc.  proving that love looks the same and is universal.

• Stereotypes are often right.

I agree with this statement because society has the knowledge of people a certain way do to race.  It really varies about one's environment, education, influences, and interests. Nobody is created the same, each individual is unique despite their race. Unfortunately, many people believe in these stereotypes because some are true/relate-able to races. Not everyone admits to this, but everyday people are sorted into categories and groups in our society and even in our own minds. Although many are who are proving this false, its sad to know that often stereotypes can be true, yet disappointing.

• An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth is a good motto to live by.

I disagree with this statement because living life for revenge is unjust. Life should not be spent resenting someone and living unhappily. Everything happens for a reason and its up to us to how we want to take it. The right way to resolve a grudge is to let it go because living well is the best revenge. Moving forward will advance you to better things in life, big and small.