SuJin's blog

Does Portia Have a fair life? By: SuJin In the play of "The Merchant of Venice", there are different unique characters with different backgrounds and some characters are blessed with things that others aren't and are treated differently depending on their race and religion. Portia's unfairness is shown as how she has no choice in whoever she wants to marry and this is not fair at all for Portia. Even though she is a wealthy heiress from Belmont,  she is forced by her father's will to accept in marriage whichever suitor successfully picks the right casket (I.ii,214-218). However, the way she treats others is also unfair as she is racist throughout the play. She said, "If he has the condition of a saint and the complexion of a devil, I had rather he should shrive me than wive me (I.iii,323)." She clearly shows that she doesn't like dark skinned people and this is unfair to Prince Morocco. Moreover, when Prince Morocco chose the wrong casket, the...

How Shylock in the Merchant of Venice relates to a theme in the play? By: Sujin 8B Shylock, a Jewish moneylender in Venice, in the "Merchant of Venice" relates to the theme of the play about Prejudice as he clearly relates to Anti Christian Prejudice. The very first evident can be seen in At one when Shylock says to himself, "I hate him because he is a Christian.... May my people be cursed if I forgive him!" Throughout the play, the Christians are battling with the Jews and neither of them will listen to one another because their hearts are filled with intense prejudice. Shylock appears to despise the Christian religion throughout the story and he refers as 'Christian fools' (II, IV.877). This can also be seen when he refuses to dine with Christians when he said, 'I will not eat with you, drink with you, nor pray with you' (I, iii.363). Moreover, Shylock doesn't allow his daughter to be with Lorenzo just because he's a Christian and sinc...

How does Justice, Mercy and Prejudice intersect? By: Sujin Kim Justice, Mercy and prejudice has different meaning, but they all intersect in some ways. To begin with the general definitions, justice means fairness,  righteousness and  people getting what they deserve . It is like everyone getting treated equality and everyone having the same opportunity as others. Mercy is compassion, kindness or the act of forgiveness. There are times when you think justice is needed, but your have mercy instead as the air of forgiveness. Prejudice means to have an unfair and unreasonable opinion or feeling especially without enough knowledge or thought. They are all linked as justice is used to consider whether the person is guilty or not and depending on who the person is, mercy can be shown even after they have committed a crime. Furthermore, since different relationships with the people result to different opinions, it can result in improper justice.