Monday: Hey, posting my Literature lesson that I had on Monday (I would not be posting on Friday as there is no Literature lesson). Mr Chua came in and was quite pleased with our class as we were sitting in an orderly manner and no one left the class without the teacher's permission. Mr Chua gave us a worksheet about 'The Merchant Of Venice' and discuss 'What is justice? Is Shylock really the villain?'
Mr Chua told us to do the worksheet and hand up. He chose some students to answer the question that we did on the worksheet. He gave us another worksheet on an earlier scene before act 4, scene 1. Here it goes:
Shylock: (aside, bitterly) How like a fawning publican he looks!
I hate him for he is a Christian!
But more, for that without thinking of the consequences
he lends out money easily, and brings down
the amount of money that we moneylenders earn in Venice.
If I can catch him once when he is out and down,
I will surely avenge the ancient grudge I have against him.
Antonio hates our Jewish nation, and he complaints about
me, my business, and my hard-earned profit,
which he calls interest. I will curse my own race
if I can forgive him for that.
.......(Speaking to Antonio):
Shylock: (remembering past insults) Antonio, many times and often
in Venice, you have insulted me
about my riches and my moneylending business.
Still I bear with your insults patiently
because we Jewish people are known for being patient.
You call me misbeliever, cut-throat dog,
and spit upon my Jewish clothes,
all because I use what money I own to do business.
Well then, it now appears you need my help.
What the - you come to me and you say,
'Shylock, we want money.' You say this.
What should I say to you?(bitterly) Shouldn't I say.
'Does a dog have money?' Is it possible that
a cut-throat dog can lend you three thousand ducats?
Antonio: (scornfully) I want to call you a dog again,
to spit on you again, to reject you too.
If you want to lend me this money, don't lend it
like you're lending to your friends, because when did friendship
involve gaining interest from a friend's loan?
Rather, lend it like to your enemy,
which if your enemy fails to pay, you can with a clearer conscience
demand the penalty for the late payment.I think that Shylock was not a villain in the story. He did not suggest to make the penalty if Antonio failed to pay the sum of money. Unfortunately, Antonio, himself
suggested it. My reflection on justice and evil is that I don't think it really exist. From my point of view, I think that no one is really evil. I think that people committ crimes out of despair, desperation and hatred. Criminals did not really intended to commit a crime.
Example, Shylock. I think that he is not a villain, nor Antonio. Villains existed as they hated someone, more than the person hated him/her. Shylock hated Antonio for despising his religion, and Antonio felt the same too. They hated each other so much that they wanted to kill each other due to some misunderstanding communication.
People that are called villains are actually not evil. They think the things that they did was justice. Their point of justice are different from people. In fact, everybody have different opinions on justice, but it's just that many people have the same opinion on justice(which most people think is right). An example is the movie/anime/manga DeathNote. Light Yagami (main character) killed many criminals just because he think that he is doing it for justice but in the wrong way. He wanted to decrease the crime rate, and he did succeed. The crime rate decreased by 70%. As he was doing it in the wrong way, he was stopped by the police. I will be ending my post here.
No comments:
Post a Comment