Merchants pride

I do not believe that Shakespeare was being anti-Semitic in the play, Twelfth Night. He was merely going with the times that the play was supposed have taken place. The only reason that Shakespeare put in anti-Semitic comments was because of his more intelligent readers. Because the people who would be reading this play would usually have a better understanding of the Elizabethan anti-Semitic periods in Italy and many parts of Europe. It would not have made much sense for him to make Shylock like the most intelligent and well respected character in the play, because that would have been a complete farse of how it really was. Also, if he was well respected, the play could not of had as much great detail, or even as good of conflicts. Anti-Semitic comments towards Shylock are not put in because of what William Shakespeare believes, but because they make a much better story and cause more interesting conflicts in the play.
Shylock is not seen as a “stupid” Jewish man because Shylock has many areas in the book when he is seen as clever. Such as when they are in the court deciding what the faith of Antonio is. Shylock is doing whatever he can to stick to the bond between them. Shylock is agreeing with the judge that the bond must be fulfilled and every last word must be seen true. When Portia says that they must have a doctor present so Antonio will not die, Shylock responds, “it does not say so in the bond?” Which seems a little harsh, but he is very wise and is fully able to get what he wants by his creativity. Many people may see this act as devilish or horrible, but I do not believe that that is what Shakespeare had intended.
Shylock is also a very wealthy man, which is a compliment within itself. Even though he is one of the few people who can loan money, because he is a Jew, he also does it with very high interest. This does not make him a bad man, it is just showing that he understands business. It’s not doing any harm, because if the Christians were able to loan money with interest, I garentee that they would do it. The man is just trying to make a living, maybe not an honest one, but still, who is? Shylock is not doing anything illegal, he is doing exactly what he deserves. If he is not seen as a citizen of Venice, he might as well rip off the ones who are. Personally I believe that Shakespeare was just equaling out the rights between the Christians and Jews by have such rules and acts in the play. I do not believe that Shakespeare was being anti-Semitic because he was just making his play accurate to the depicted time and place. It is not Shakespeare’s fault that the Jews were treated badly in the time he wrote his play, it was just fact.

Jews vs Christians. oh, god.

I believe that this is one of the more entertaining plays. There is so much going on at one time. at first, when reading the play, you just sit and wonder how a play can continue to have 5 acts when it seems it could end on the third. This is one of Shakespeare’s best works in my opinion (from what I’ve read anyway). Bassanio’s character is my personal favorite. Being one of the more real characters in the play. He’s a very laid back character; especially for all the things that have gone wrong in his life. But he is also very wise. In the movie, when he was giving his speech about which chest he will choose, I just sat there in awe. For such a simple character to give such an elaborate speech just blew my mind. I barely even understood half of it.

I also like the relationship of him with his friend Gratiano. They seem to be like fric-n-frac. Like a buddy-buddy type relationship, which I can easily relate to because those are the friendships that I value most. Even though he seems to like his friend, although not with much respect. When Gratiano informed Bassanio that he was going to get married as well, Bassanio laughed like, “what is going to marry you?” kind of way. But they stuck together no matter what obstacles they faced throughout the play.

One of my favorite scenes in the play was when Gratiano and Bassanio were being confronted about how they gave away their rings to random men. When Portia and Narissa were drilling Gratiano about how he gave away his ring all he could say in defense, was that Bassanio gave his away too! Of course, no REAL friend would ever want to take the sole blame for something; he must bring his friend into it also. Bassanio, knowing that he was in trouble, was like, “screw it, ya you got me…” this play has too many facts to just talk about just one! The movie is also very well done in my opinion of capturing everything that had happened in the play.

King Lear

King Lear definitely is not as enjoyable to read as Much Ado About Nothing was. It just lacked sort of everything to say the least. Although it did have great potential, it was a little too slow for my taste. It seems as if the play could have started and finished in 2 acts, but it just kept going for 3 more. There were a few aspects of the play that I did like thought.
Kent, obviously the best character because he ‘twas mine, had a fairly sweet roll in the play. I liked that he was pulling a “splinter-cell” type move by, after being banished from the kingdom he managed a way to disguise himself as a peasant and sneak his way to being the king’s right-hand man once again. Kent was a good character because he was way smarter than anyone and always can own people in arguments. ALSO, he is a total thug because he challenges everyone to a fight even though he is all-old and stuff.
King Lear is also a very kool character because he is becoming old; he is also becoming a little senile which adds to his essence of a character. Towards the beginning of the play he seems to be fine, but towards the middle and the end of the play he started talking for the sake of talking. He just would go off on tangents and get sidetracked by everything. Not even THE Mr. Coon could identify what King Lear was talking about in some of his passages.
The play King Lear was definitely not my favorite Shakespearean play I have ever read, but it was somewhat enjoyable. Hopefully the next play will be up to the same level as Much Ado About Nothing.

2nd G'd up Poem

Sloppy Love Jingle, Pt. 1
By: Travis McCoy

Bartender!
"Yeah I hear your wise ass, give me a minute."
I'm trying to get this round over here.
"What do you think I'm just working for you here?"
Actually, will you, will you send a drink, to the lady at the end of the bar? Yeah that one right there.
"Here you are man."
Yeah, yeah. It's on me. Tell her it's from Travie.
"It's from this guy over here."

From the second she shimmied in
I was intrigued by her essence
And my first instincts to make sure that my presence was felt
Simple and plain
I'm probably jumping the train
But all I could see was my name engraved on her belt
Hit the pause button
Damn!
I don't even know this girl
And I'm already practicing my sweet-nothins
But that's a classic trait of a soft-spoken, heart-broken, fellow like my self best believe (pussy)
I tend to wear my heart on my sleeve
But that night the Jagermeister had my sleeves rolled up
Wait a minute, hold up
I think she caught me grillin' now I'm spillin' my drink (don't look don't look)
I knew our feelings were in sync so now she gave me the wink
The only problem is, I'm not your ordinary, average Romeo
A Cyrano de Bergerac (shut the fuck up)
In fact, I remember back in fifth grade
I tried to read the book of love, but sadly
The introduction didn't grab me
So I left it on the shelf and kept moving
Assuming that this planet rotates
I'll just procrastinate until the day I bump into my soulmate
Who would've thunk I would be pissy ass drunk when time came for collision
So I made the decision to just keep my composure (cool cool)
Until she started getting closer
And then I felt this weird feeling underneath my left shoulder, and then I
Slipped, tripped, busted my lip and fell in love
The minute that she stepped in the door
The type of girl I'd have to make a couple mix tapes for
To me she equaled MC squared and everything else was mathematics
I never took the time to practice

SHAKESPEARE

The relationship between Beatrice and Benedick is a very entertaining. Seeing how they both absolutely “despise” each other in the beginning of the play, and then dramatically changing their opinions into an extreme case of love gives quite a plot scheme. Beatrice is not the kind of women who takes crap off of anybody especially a man. She is strong willed and very intelligent, giving her a heads up on any man who unknowingly challenges her. It is revealed that before the time of the play, Beatrice and Benedick married for no more than a weeks time. There is always a lot of tension within the group whenever the two are together. Benedick knows that in a straight up argument, he will eventually lose to the wit of Beatrice’s words, so Benedick always tries to end the lexicon by walking away from her, which annoys here even more.
I like Benedick because he is a little cocky and stubborn about who and what he is. But I like the way he caries himself. Because even though he is always thinking very highly of himself, he has much humor to whatever he says. Even when he is alone, he seems to be trying to make himself laugh, which I can relate to because everything must be entertaining in order for me to stay focused. Also, the relationship is very funny because thy act like kids in 4th grade because of how they argue. The movie also depicts the scene where they find out about the other one loving the other very differently. In the actual play, it seems as if it was very cal m when each heard the news. But in the movie, they both were like “hi” or something. I mean Benedick was playing in a fountain while she was singing and swinging on a swing-set.
Benedick is one of my favorite characters in the play. He is very entertaining and also very smart which is always a plus.

POEM OF THE DIA

i carry your heart with me by E. E. Cummings

i carry your heart with me(i carry it in
my heart)i am never without it(anywhere
i go you go,my dear; and whatever is done
by only me is your doing,my darling)
i fear
no fate(for you are my fate,my sweet)i want
no world(for beautiful you are my world,my true)
and it's you are whatever a moon has always meant
and whatever a sun will always sing is you

here is the deepest secret nobody knows
(here is the root of the root and the bud of the bud
and the sky of the sky of a tree called life;which grows
higher than the soul can hope or mind can hide)
and this is the wonder that's keeping the stars apart

i carry your heart(i carry it in my heart)

Shake 'n' bake Shakespeare

My previous experiences with William Shakespeare have been phenomonal. As you already know, I read Hamlet in the fall of 2007, which I thoroughly enjoyed. Upon my reading of Hamlet, I discovered something about myself. I love Shakespeare. He has a really, really, really attractive first name. Furthermore, understanding Ye Olde Englishe comes very naturally to my intellect. The lexicons within Shakespeare’s plays are entirely reminiscent of those within my own, personal play, The Tragedy of William Ye Hadley Bixby. I feel like the merchant in the Merchant of Venice because everybody only sees him as a Jew. I am not a Jew. However, people see nothing more of me than dashing good looks and a spectacular physique. But, after having read the ending to the Merchant of Venice, I found out that the things that people say or think about you are not the most important aspect of life. Shakespeare helped me mature into the dangerously good-looking and classy young man that I am today. He shaped the bildungsroman of my life. Not only as he influenced my life, he has influenced that lives of other writers throughout the ages. I love Shakespeare, and I am looking forward to participating in this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity of a class.