The Merchant of Venice

I have come to appreciate how skillfully Shakespeare characterizes each person in this
play and how intriguingly he employs the English words. This is a story telling about
friendship, love, greed, and respect in life, which themes are worth exploring again and
again.

The story unveils in Venice, Italy, where Antonio, a merchant, has a long-lasting friendship
with Bassanio. One day, Bassanio asks Antonio for a loan because he needs money to
marry Portia. Antonio agrees with delight, but he does not have the money on hand, so
he borrows money from a greedy Jewish moneylender, Shoylock. Shoylock lends money
to people in need and then earns money from the high interest he charges. Shoylock
requires Antonio to pay back the money as scheduled; otherwise, he will get a pound of
his flesh as punishment.

To marry Portia, Bassanio first should pass a test of choosing the right casket containing
Portia's pictures from the three offered, which are respectively made of gold, silver, and
lead. Bassanio chooses the correct one and wins Portia's heart. Meanwhile, Antonio's
ships sink, so he is not able to pay back the loan from Shylock. Clever Portia learns about
this and decides to disguise herself as Antonio's lawyer. She reminds Shylock that he
cannot let Antonio bleed to death, because the contract they have previously signed does
not allow him to cost Antonio any drop of blood. Eventually, Portia saves Antonio with her
wisdom.

From the story, first, I have learned about how valuable the friendship between Antonio
and Bassonio is. Although Antonio himself is in great difficulties, he does not care
anything about himself but just aches to help Bassonio out. They both show genuine
friendship in seeing each other through the difficulties faced. To my mind, if we happen
to have a faithful friend like Antonio in this cold world, it will be a real blessing. Apart from
Antonio’s loyalty to friends, I admire Bassonio's virtuousness as well. He acts not out of
avarice, but out of sincerity. He chooses the lead case, not the gold one, because he
knows Portia is kind-hearted and innocent. Even a lead case will not undermine her inner
beauty. That’s why her father uses this strategy to distinguish the wise from the foolish.
Moreover, Portia exercise her intelligence to save Antonio, which is a great example for
us to follow. That is, when we encounter obstacles, we should calm and compose
ourselves to seek solutions, instead of panicking and getting nowhere.

A second revelation to me from “The Merchant of Venice” is the hatred between Antonio
and Shylock, due to their different religious backgrounds, is incredibly strong. Antonio is
a Christian while Shylock is a Jew. It is a Christian world of commerce that dominates in
Venice. At that time, Christians thought that it was “evil” to lend money and charge
interest. Based on the Bible, Christians were not supposed to loan money to any other
person for interest. However, the Jewish religion did not have any rules to ban such a
practice. Being minorities then, Jews would sometimes take moneylending as a good way
to make a living and support their family. So this is why Antonio and Shylock argue and
look upon each other as enemies. From this conflict, I have come to realize we should
learn to tolerate and respect different religions. Otherwise, fights or even wars may arise
from discord and hostility caused, which events have been repeating themselves many
times throughout history.

“The Merchant of Venice”, to be sure, is one of Shakespeare’s best-known and most

popular comedies. Yet, unlike most other comedies, it is very inspiring and enlightening.
Finished with the play, I still feel the power of words in it pounding on my heart. My insights
into friendship, love, and respect from this story will definitely make a big effect on my
future life. Thanks a lot, Shakespeare!
Medea
This Greek play, Medea revolved around the main character, Medea. The play
itself begins with a troubled situation for Medea, with her husband abandoning her. The
play walks through her emotions of a revenge for her husband, Jason. The plot of the
play is set in a city- state called Corinth, specifically set in front of Medea and Jason’s
house. The genre this play conveys is a dramatic tragedy. Overall, Medea doesn’t present
a prefect picture for humanity. There is no positive outcome after the beginning of the
play. Jason ditches his wife; Medea kills their children, leading to a great maternal
tragedy. There is a blame game going on and believing that each one has done the right
thing. The character of Medea is very symbolic, in terms of what impression she creates
on society. It is important to notice that the play has a feminist angle towards it, in which
it sharply criticizes the male- dominated society. This play firmly grips on the people that
are oppressed and the oppressors.

The costumes in Medea appeared to be very parallel to what the ancient powerful
people of Greece wore. The different characters suited to what they wore, for instance,
the powerful Medea wore purple representing royalty and on the other hand the nurse,
whose costume was old and basic. This represents the inequality between the characters
in the play.

The play forces us to reflect on the extent and importance of morality on our lives,
by having a bloody ending. Medea, is unique in its own ways. Euripides gives us a female
character, which is horribly flawed. There are instances when her actions are not
acceptable and needs justice. This play gives us an insight of women on a different level.
Medea’s unhappiness led to the downfall of many characters in the play such as Creon.
She uses Aegeus for her safety and eventually brings downfall to Corinth as well. The
point is that she is a very cunning woman who does things differently to get her way in
matters.

This play classically represents women who are driven by passion and rage, not
relying on mercy leading them to a superficial happiness. The highlight of the play
according to me was, the inverse change of sex- gender and a war between the sexes in
which all emerge unhappy or becoming victims of injustice. Although her methods worked
to have her revenge on Jason, it does not justify killing her own maternal children. Most
of the audience would not agree with the jealous slaughter of innocent children. The most
unsettling part of the ending was that she gets away from her monstrous acts. It feels like
Euripides is sending a warning across to his male audiences, about whom they oppress.
He challenges the patriarchal societies through history by giving them a strong feminist
response using the character of Medea effectively.
Antigone

Throughout the play Antigone, written by Sophocles, we are presented with various
themes and ideas about the ancient way of life. Some of these themes stand out more
than others. One thing that struck me in this play is the theme of death. Should there even
be a question about the burial of a family member? Is there a fine line between law and
the right thing? These are the issues in the play that disturb me the most and what I plan
to talk about in this reflection.

It's a simple concept really, love someone, do anything for that love. In this case there is
no exception, although Creon seems to think there should be for the benefit of social
balance. I cannot believe how Creon can be so fixated on what Polyneices was, a rebel
against his home land, that he cannot let that go and understand why Antigone wants to
bury him, for love of family. So Creon wants to punish her for simply burying her brother.
For one thing, he's already dead so he poses no threat to the land anymore. There should
not even be a problem there. If Creon thinks that it would be a dishonor to have him buried
in his home land that he betrayed, he is not thinking of how he is in turn dishonoring
Antigone and her wishes.

I understand that some people would look down on Creon if he let Antigone bury him
there, but most would probably not care, for now he is at peace and can do no harm. At
one part in the play, a blind prophet Teiresias even tells Creon that the people and the
gods won’t like the decision to punish Antigone for the act of burying her brother. So there
should not be any question as to what should happen. Well, Creon finally comes to his
senses but it is too late. The result of his original punishment has led to the suicide of his
own son, who was to marry Antigone. This set off a chain of suicides. Antigone was next
to go. Once Creon's wife heard the news that her son was dead she too took her life. Now
only Creon..
Prince Hamlet

Claudius murdered the king married the queen, took the crown, plotted to do away
with Hamlet, but in all, guarded himself from blame. King Claudius was a mad psychopath
who wanted power. He wanted his brother 's wife and his kingdom. His ex-sister-in-law is
now his new wife and queen of the kingdom. King Hamlet, the ghost returns from hell, he
wanted them brutally killed by his son Hamlet. In the end, King Claudius had to pay the
price, he lost his new wife and his stepson/ nephew and his own life

Hamlet is ranked amongst some of the most powerful and influential tragedies and
all of English literature. Is one of the most quoted Works in the English language end
often included on list such as the world 's greatest literature. The protagonist of the
tragedy is Hamlet Prince of Denmark who is a troubled young man because of the death
of his father. Due to the death of his father Hamlet struggles to keep a hold of his own
sanity throughout the play contemplating life and death. He also struggles with the murder
of his father and how to go about avenging him. His father 's successor King Claudius is
also Hamlet 's uncle who has obtained the throne do to murdering his own brother and
then marrying his wife Gertrude. Gertrude is Hamlet 's mother but the relationship is shaky
due to the fact that Gertrude as married her husband 's brother though she is unaware of
Claudius 's part in King Hamlet 's death. All the while Denmark is feuding with their
neighboring country Norway which they have been for years also fearing an invasion led
by no Norway 's King. At the castle Bernardo Marcella 's and Hamlet 's friend Horatio
encounter a ghost that is the late King Hamlet. Prince hamlet seek the truth of the death
of his father with the word to be or not to be, means to choose to fight for justice of his
father’s death or not unveil the truth of his father’s death.

until hamlet set a play in the fight of sword were it shows how his father died, the fight is
going well. Gertrude Raises a toast to Hamlet success but she is drinking from The
Poisoned cup that Claudius tries to stop but it is unsuccessful. During this distraction
Laertes strikes Hamlet, the two in a scuffle exchange weapons and Hamlet strikes Laertes
with the poisoned blade as well. Picture dental abscess claiming that she had been
poisoned in her last moments Laertes explain the Hamlet King Claudius his plan. Hamlet
then rushes kills King Claudius has the poison takes effect Hamlet here 's that fortinbras
is marching through the area but instead of fighting the prince his successor. Horatio
distraught after all the events that have taken place the side he will commit suicide as well
but Hamlet begs him to live until his story. Fortinbras seen the entire Danish royal family
that takes the crown for himself and dig the tragedy of Hamlet Prince of Denmark.
In this play we found the hardship task of hamlet to seek the truth and justice for his
father’s death, we can say and figure it out the love and loyalty of son to his father even
up to death, the tragedies happened in this play may happened also in the real life around
the world, with the law it may find justice for every victim but sometimes this law is used
to accuse innocence, a brave wise man can stand the truth even beyond the law just to
float truth.
Ulysses

In the history of written literature, it is difficult not to notice the authors who expand
their reader's style and manner of reading. Some write in an unusual syntax which forces
the reader to utilize new methods of looking at a language; others employ lengthy allusions
which oblige the reader to study the same works the author drew from in order to more fully
comprehend the text. Some authors use ingenious and complicated plots which warrant
several readings to be understood. But few authors have used all these and still more
devices to demand more of the reader. James Joyce, writer of Ulysses
Odysseus returns home to his wife after a long journey looking much different than when
he had left, and by demonstrating knowledge that only they know, proves to her that he is
indeed Odysseus. In Ulysses, Bloom returns home to Molly after his long journey and her
last thoughts of him, while she is falling asleep in bed, are of past things which only they
share

Every man and sons wants to be a father but some are unable to become a father
some are meant to become a father but unable to stand as the fathers obligation, lucky to
those who become a good father to their children who knows and fully understood their rule
in the family. To become a father is a long journey of every man and husband. In this story
we learned that not all man is happy and contented, it teaches us also to weak up from our
thought in the journey of life. Because sometime people travels to find their self their
meaning and realize at in the end that life is worth living with the family.
Annabel Lee

Edgar Allen Poe’s poem “Annabel Lee” represents the death of Annabel Lee. The
poem describes the underlying love the speaker has for Annabel Lee, which began many
years ago in an unnamed “kingdom by the sea.” In his poem, Poe makes use of a lot of
poetic devices to enhance the reader’s understanding of his deep affection for his beloved
Annabel Lee, thus making it the best poem in the world.

In this poem, the rhyming structure plays a big role. Poe’s main purpose for using
rhythm/rhyme is to introduce a new method of expressing the speaker’s grief. The name
“Annabel Lee” is an important part of the rhyming scheme throughout the poem. Poe
further enhances the rhythm of the poem with alliteration in we “loved with a love that was
more than love” which emphasizes to the reader, the strong relationship between the two
lovers. There is a rhyming link in “chilling” and “killing” which exaggerates the horror of
Annabel Lee’s death. The poem’s rhyme scheme begins as the poem moves along, it
gets more complicated, As the lines increase in length and number in the last stanza, its
dramatic pitch also intensifies. His grievance for Annabel Lee also escalates, thus
depicting Poe’s unconditional love for her. The final stanza has an internal rhyming
scheme, which mimics the rhythm of the waves ultimately serving as Annabel Lee’s
sepulcher, and the speaker’s mental condition. However, the word “chilling” in lines fifteen
and twenty-five is used to disturb the rhythm and startle the reader by highlighting the
death of the speaker’s loved one. Thus, Edgar Allan Poe’s use of rhythm is very important
in understanding the essence of the speaker’s love for Annabel Lee.Even though
“Annabel Lee” is not exactly a ballad, Poe referred to it as one because it utilizes repetition
of words and phrases purposely to create a mournful effect. Edgar Allen Poe uses
assonance several times in the poem by repeating the sound. In the first stanza, with sea,
Lee, and me respectively. so, all the night-tide, I lie down by the side/Of my darling- my
darling- my life and my bride. Furthermore, Poe also heavily relies on alliteration, for
instance “it was stronger by far than the love/Of those who were older than we of many
far wiser than we. All of the sound devices help to create more pleasing sound suggesting
the blowing of wind. Between the fifth and sixth stanzas, “Of the beautiful Annabel Lee”
is repeated thrice to draw the reader’s attention to this line.

This poem is to realize the love of man to his wife despite of all the struggle that
may happened to cause on both lovers to give up, sometimes too much love may forget
everything even the faith of God and angels. But with this poem by Poe it emphasizes the
love that never break nor end even up to death, which comments to some readers that it
shows a true love to his/her beloved.
 REFLECTION

Every student or learners must learn in school learning is a long process that must teacher
insure knowledge to the student, some student may learned and finish the school with the
higher grade, some are not ,and some others are made there grade without gaining knowledge
and leaning from their study. Which is good for them whit their aim just to finish the school
study. Some teacher also may encounter complain from the parents of the student with
regards to the grade that has to their child which come from the teacher judgment.

To make sure to avoid this kind of scenario teachers required a compilation of returned papers
from every quizzes, activities, project and result of exams, compiling them all in a form of a
portfolio, with this teachers and student can identify the lacking requirement of the student,
and the student also may determine their possible grade during judgment, teacher may also
avoid bias decision and only fair judgment,

As a student also I can say that this way of teacher may also ignite the motivation of a student
to avoid absences and missed the quizzes of the day. In this subject of Anatomy and Physiology
(Zool 128) instructed by Ms. Jessica A. Duallo which require us a portfolio as our final project. I
am also thankful that from the start of the class we are inform to have this requirement as our
final project that our returned paper may not loss or waste by placing in somewhere until it will
forgotten.
 REFLECTION

Every student or learners must learn in school learning is a long process that must teacher
insure knowledge to the student, some student may learned and finish the school with the
higher grade, some are not ,and some others are made there grade without gaining knowledge
and leaning from their study. Which is good for them whit their aim just to finish the school
study. Some teacher also may encounter complain from the parents of the student with
regards to the grade that has to their child which come from the teacher judgment.

To make sure to avoid this kind of scenario teachers required a compilation of returned papers
from every quizzes, activities, project and result of exams, compiling them all in a form of a
portfolio, with this teachers and student can identify the lacking requirement of the student,
and the student also may determine their possible grade during judgment, teacher may also
avoid bias decision and only fair judgment,

As a student also I can say that this way of teacher may also ignite the motivation of a student
to avoid absences and missed the quizzes of the day. In this subject Politics and Governance in
the Philippines (ScSc 24) instructed by Ms. Abegail De la Cruz which require us a portfolio as our
final project. I am also thankful that from the start of the class we are inform to have this
requirement as our final project that our returned paper may not loss or waste by placing in
somewhere until it will forgotten.