Merchant of Venice blog #1

Through Portia's judging of her suitors, what do we discover about her? Explain your answer using evidence from the text.

I don't think that Portia really wants to marry any man. When Nerissa questions Portia about her suitors, Portia has to find something wrong about every one of them. Portia makes the smallest things that the suitors have done "wrong" sound like terrible things. Portia criticizes the Neopolitan prince for liking his horse to much, the Palatine count for being too serious, the Englishman for not knowing any of the languages Portia speaks "You know I say nothing to him, for he understands not me, nor I him. He hath neither Latin, French nor Italian;"(23) Portia also criticizes the German suitor for his drunkness "Very viley in the morning, when he is sober, and most viley in the afternoon when he is drunk."(25) All of the things Portia has criticized her suitors for are very minor. I think that Portia is purposly trying to find every small excuse why she should not marry the suitors, because she does not want to marry anyone at all. I think that if Portia really did want to marry a suitor, or anyone, she would not be making so many excuses for why the suitors would not make good husbands.

Great Expectations response 3

Both Pip and Estella have come to some significant realizations in chapters 38-39. Pip has finally come to realize that Estella does not love him. Pip has been following Estella around, but no real "love" connections have occured between the two of them. Pip has finally realized that Estella is not very interested in Pip at all. Pip later on finds out that his benefactor is the convict from earlier on in the book and infact not Miss Havisham or a wealthy person. A reason Pip was so obsessed with the idea of him and Estella could also be due to the fact that Pip thought Miss Havisham was his benefactor and he was meant to be with Estella. Now that Pip knows that his benefactor is not Miss Havisham, and Estella has no interest in him, he comes to realize that Estella is that the girl that he wants and that he has wasted much of his time on ithe idea of himself and Estella. Estella comes to realize that she is the product of Miss Havisham. "I am what you made me. Take all the praise, take all the blame, take all the success, take all the failure. In short, take me." Estella realizes that Miss Havisham has made her treat people the way she does, and be so rude, not at all honest and mean towards her suitors and others.
At this point, Pip could go back to his old life and apologize to Joe and Biddy. Pip could also stay where he is now and act as if nothing has happened to him and his life. Im not really sure if Estella has any options. I think she will stay the way she is now because she has been so molded by Miss Havisham to be the way she is towards other people.

Great Expectations Response #2

Option 2:
In many cases, the meaning of a persons name actualy does match up to that persons true looks and personality. In the case of Estella, this holds very true. In the spanish language, the word estrella means star. I also found on an etymology website that the name Estelle is a form of the name Esther which means star. When i think of a star, I think of something beautiful or something that stands out. I also think of a star as a celebrity. Many times celebrities are so caught up in how pretty and famous they are that they are self centered and mean to others that are not as "good" as them. "I think she is very pretty." "Anything else?" "I think she is very insulting." (pg.61) According to Pip, Estella is very pretty on the outside just like a star or celebrity, but she is also very insulting and mean towards Pip. Stars (celebrities) tend to end up being this way when they are very caught up in themselves and think that they are better than everyone else. "Let me see you play cards with this boy." "With this boy! Why he is a common labouring boy!" (pg 60) This quote implies that Estella thinks she is better than Pip and wants nothing to do with a "common labouring boy." The word star definately defines Estella. A self centered, mean personality, good looking girl is the definition of Estella.

Great Expectations Respose 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.”

Mrs. Joe seems to have a lot of power and control over Joe and Pip, but Mrs Joe asserts her power negatively is by mentally or physical abusing them. Mr. Joe is a very calm and easygoing guy which makes it easier for Mrs. Joe to get away with the abuse in the house. Joe and Pip never really speak up for themselves or one another, and just watch as one another get abused. I and others probably wonder why Joe would marry this women in the first place? Mrs. Joe has a great reputation with her neighbors, but when shes in her own house, shes the complete opposite. Mrs. Joe has reminded Pip one multiple occasions that she has "raised him by hand." Because of this comment, Pip has become a more fearful person, and is oftenly viewing situations in a negative way. one reason that Mrs. Joe may act the way she does, is because her and Pip's parents have died. When a persons parents have passed away, a lot of times people respond to the deaths in a negative way. this could explain her hostile actions. Another reason for Mrs. Joe acting the way she does is women rights issues. In the time that the book "Great Expectations" was written, women were not valued as highly as men. Because of this, Mrs. Joe wants to feel powerful and valued, therefore she takes her control and power out on Pip and Joe, because it is not appropriet elsewhere. It does not matter what the circumstanses are, Mrs. Joe should not be as controlling and abusive as she is, and Joe and Pip need to speak up.

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