Merchant of Venice Blog #1

The text paints Shylock to be an antagonist we are meant to feel sympathy for because of his religion. Shylock is Jewish and not allowed to own property and so he must make his money by lending to others with interest. Shylock first shows us the disadvantage of being Jewish when he says, "I hate him for he is a Christian,/But more for that in low simplicity/He lends out money gratis and brings down/The rate of usance here with us in Venice." ( Act 1, scene iii Ln.35-7) Shylock is saying how he despises Antonio because his is a Christian and Christian's do not add interest when lending money which lowers the interest rates in Venice. In doing so Shylock makes less money from interest. We also feel sympathy for Shylock when Antonio degrades him, "You call me misbeliever, cutthroat dog,/And spet upon my Jewish gaberdine—/And all for use of that which is mine own." (Act 1 scene iii Ln. 109-111) Shylock is reminding Antonio of the time when he called him a dog and spit on his clothing just because he made a profit off his money. It's so cruel because it's not Shylock's fault that's the only way he can survive because of the law at that time. Then when Antonio has called him a dog and spit on him, we are made not to like Antonio even more because he says, "I am as like to call thee so again,/To spet on thee again, to spurn thee too." (Act 1, scene iii Ln. 128-9) Instead of apologizing to Shylock for what he has done, Antonio just openly admits that if he had the chance he would do it again. Finally, Shylock's penanlty for lending Antonio money is a pound of his flesh, but he says, "Your single bond, and—in a merry sport—" (Act 1 scene iii Ln. 143) instead of making it serious like he seriously wants to kill Antonio Shylock says, "in a merry spot" which means he is just for jokes and he doesn't seriously think Antonio wouldn't be able to pay the money back in time. Shylock is the one meant to be felt sympathy for because of the way people treat him for being Jewish and what he must go through because of it.

Great Expectations 3

I believe what Pip, Estella, Miss Havisham, and the Convict have all come to realize the opposite of what they have always expected to happen. Pip thought Estella was destined to be his, "Then, a burst of gratitude came upon me, that she should be destined for me." (p.g. 243) He even believed to the extent that Miss Havisham was the one behind Pip's education. He believed she was the one that sent him off to become a gentlemen so he would be fit to marry Estella in the future. Pip realizes his expectations for Estella were all wrong on page 323 he says, "Miss Havishham's intentions towards me, all a mere dream; Estella not designed for me." As for Estella in the beginning she was taught to break the hearts of all men. She has known nothing else, but I think as she grows older she realizes she does not have to listen to Miss Havisham. Miss Havisham has always told her to "break his heart" when Pip is with them, but on page 311 she finally comes to realize she doesn't want to hurt him because when he confronts her at the party about why she has never given him looks and smiles that she gives to Drummele and she says, "Do you want me then... to deceive and entrap you?" She aks Pip this because she doesn't want to deceive and entrap him. While Miss Havisham has always expected Estella to be proud and hard to men she is now aware that Estella is treating her the same way. Miss Havisham was having a conversation with Estella and she seems unresponsive and cold to her. She is astonished because she says, "But to be proud and hard to me!" Miss Havisham was not expecting this to happen to her. That day at the cemetary the Convict did not expect anyone to help him, but Pip goes out of his way to bring him food and a file. The Convict tells Pip, "You acted noble, my boy... And I have never forgot it!" (p.g. 316) For this reason the Convict had chosen to fund Pip's education to become a gentlemen. You see what these characters had expected was wrong.
These characters realizations will lead them to change. I think Pip is now crushed because he realizes Estella was never meant for him. At the end of chapter 39 Pip describes the outside as "the wind and rain intesified the the thick black darkenss." This tells me that Pip has gone into depression and might not even try to get Estella's affection because he now knows they were never meant to be together. As for Estella, since she is finally realizing what Miss Havisham has been making her do is wrong I think now she will actually try to find someone that will love her. Pip and Estella's relationship is just ironic. Miss Havisham has no power now and I think she will just wither away because her only "daughter" is cold to her even though she has raised her with tenderness (p.g. 304). Now that the Convict is back I am guessing he is going to give Pip his fortune and live with him as his "second father" (p.g. 320) As he tries to become Pip's second father he is going to use his wealth to try and "buy" Estella's affection for Pip because he says, "They shall be yourn, dear boy, if money can buy em'... but money shall back you up!" (p.g. 321) I think because of these realizations they will become better people because instead of being caught up in their own worlds they will finally become realistic.

Great Expectations 2

Option #2 Jaggers

Pip first sees Mr. Jaggers at the Jolly Bargemen. He descibed Jagger as a "strange gentlemen"(pg. 133). We then soon learn his name is Mr. Jaggers and he is a lawyer in London. His name has "Jagg" in it which reminds me of "Jagged". In the Oxford English Dictionary Jagged is defined as Having the edge irregularly cut, gashed, or torn, into deep indentations and acute projections; torn or worn to a ragged or uneven edge. This is seen when Mr. Jaggers comes up to Pip's table at the Jolly Bargemen and Pip described the situation, "He stood with his head on one side and himself on one side, in a bullying interrogative manner, and he threw his forefinger at Mr. Wopsle" (pg. 134) Pip uses the word bullying to describe Jaggers. I think people do see his personality as sharp and when people talk to him they can feel "cut" by his words. On page 167 Pip sees Mr. Jaggers talking to two men, "That's what I told you not to do. You thought! I think for you; I don't want you to find me. Now I won't have it. I won't hear a word." The men then are speechless and Pip describes them as "humbly falling back". As you can see from this evidence Mr. Jagger's words really do "cut" into people. Wikipedia descibes the word Jagged as having a rough personality which would describe him to have a rough personality ,for me, meaning rude, inconsiderate, and pompous. I think Dickens chooses the right name to describe a man like Mr. Jaggers--cutting.

Great Expectations 1

Mrs. Joe:
“By this time my sister was quite desperate, so she pounced on Joe, and, taking him by the two whiskers, knocked his head for a little while against the wall behind him: while I sat in the corner, looking guiltily on.”

We do not know Mrs. Joe Gargery's real name. She has always been called Mrs. Joe. This tells us it's because during that time woman were not as valued. Pip describes her as a not good looking woman. Mrs. Joe is tall and bony with black hair and eyes. Pip says "I sometimes used to wonder whether it was possible she washed herself with a nutmeg grater instead of soap."(pg. 8) Mrs. Joe had established a great reputation with herself and the neighbours because she had brought Pip up, "by hand". From this quote we can see how Mrs. Joe is a very agressive person. Pip uses words like "pounce" and "dived" to describe her actions. Although she did not really pounce like an animal it still gives us a visual on how she acts. Pip then goes on to say, "taking him by the two whiskers, knocked his head for a little while against the wall behind him." This tells us not only is she agressive, but it seems the only way she thinks she can assert her power is to use violence. On page 14 Pip says, "She was never polite, unless there was company." This would tell us of her double personality. She seems to have such a "great reputation" from her neighbours, but then at home she treats Joe and Pip as ungrateful. Mrs. Joe is the one that seems the most ungrateful though. She doesn't seem to see how good things have turned out for her. So far Pip has not done anything as to trouble her and she has a husband that works to earn a living for them all.