MOV Blog #1

In the book, Shylock is a Jewish moneylender who Bassanio and Antonio go to for 3000 ducats. Shylock, being Jewish, is looked down upon by Christians (Antonio). However, Shakespeare makes the reader feel sympathy toward Shylock due to his religion. He is teased and discriminated against because of his beliefs. And when Antonio asks him for a favor, Shylock becomes very angry due to the fact that Antonio is constantly treating him poorly. "Signior Antonio, many a time and oft in the Rialto you have rated me about my moneys and my usances. Still I borne it with a patient shrug (for suff'rance is the badge of all our tribe). You call me misbeliever, cutthroat dog, and spet upon my Jewish gaberdine, and all for use of that which is mine own."(35) This is an example of Antonio berating Shylock. He says that Antonio bully's him because of his money and calls him hurtful names, such as cutthroat dog. To add, Antonio spits on his Jewish robe. This is a very sad situation for Shylock and makes the reader take pity on him. No one wants and enjoys being bullied. It is very hurtful to the victim and would make anyone feel bad for them.
Furthermore, after Skylock confronts Antonio, Antonio answers back in a bothersome way. " I am as like to call thee so again, to spet on thee again, to spurn thee, too." (35) Instead of apologizing for his harsh acts, he simply acts like he doesn't care. He says that he will continue to do these things again in the future. Anyone who hears this will instantly feel horrible for Shylock. No one can tolerate bullying and therefore we are made to feel sympathy for the victim (Shylock).

Blog #3

First of all, Estella's realization comes from the time she and her adoptive mother get into a fight. It began when the two of them were sitting next to each other with their hands intertwined when Estella lets go of Miss Havisham's hand. Miss Havisham is suddenly taken aback and thinks that Estella might be sick of her. They keep on arguing and soon Estella soon realizes that Miss Havisham never gave her any love. Instead all Miss Havisham did was force Estella to seek revenge on all males because of a bad event in her past. She is ruining her adoptive daughters life for her own silly reason. Estella realizes that she shouldn't be this way to men and that she shouldn't have put up with this nonsense for so long.
Pip also has a similar realization. He first realizes it when he finds out that the convict is his benefactor. He is shocked and not at all happy with it. He expected it to be Miss Havisham all along and thought that that would help him be with Estella. However now that its not her, he realizes that he gets no reward. He also feels terribly for Joe. When Pip really thinks about it he betrayed Joe, and it turned out to be only for the convict. It started in the beginning of the book when the convict gets Pip to steal from Joe. Then it happened again when Pip leaves due to the fortune the convict gives him. He feels horrible and feels as if he lost someone really close to him for no good reason.

Blog #2

So far throughout the book, Estella is beginning to match her name due to her beauty. She is a pretty girl that was adopted by Miss Havisham at a young age. She now lives in Miss Havisham's big house and acts as her helper and caretaker. During Pips visits to the house he becomes mesmerized by Estella and wants to become a gentleman in order to impress her. The first time Pip meets her, he describes her by this. "She was of about my own age. She seemed much older than I, of course, being a girl, and beautiful and self possessed; and she was as scornful of me as if she had been one-and-twenty and a queen (pg.56)". Over and over she is described as " the prettiest girl ever" and Pip begins to fall for her.
Estella's name really matches her personality because the word "Stella" means star in Latin and the word "Estrella" means star in Spanish. Estella relates to a star because she is beautiful and always catches peoples eye. To add, people (especially Pip) love to gaze at her and look up to her, as if she has a higher power over everyone. However despite her beauty, she is a very mean person and makes Pip feel self conscience and unworthy of her. " Estella was always about and always let me in and out, but never told me I might kiss her again. Sometimes, she would coldly tolerate me; sometimes, she would condescend to me; sometimes, she would be quite familiar with me; sometimes she would tell me energetically that she hated me"(pg. 95). Even though stars are pretty, they are also very cold and out of reach. Estella can be very cold to Pip and insults him constantly. Also, Estella acts as though Pip isn't good enough for her and that he is stupid for wanting to be with her.

Blog #1

“It were a bit lonesome then,” said Joe, “living here alone, and I got acquainted with your sister. Now, Pip;” Joe looked firmly at me, as if he knew I was not going to agree with him; “your sister is a fine figure of a woman.”

Overall, Joe doesn't have a backbone and he settles only for what he can get. In this scene Pip and Joe are sitting by the fireplace talking and Pip's sister (Joe's wife) is brought up. Joe stares Pip straight in the eye and firmly states that Mrs. Joe is a great woman. He does this in order to get the point across to Pip, but Pip knows he strongly dislikes his sister. Continuing on in the text Joe goes on to say " Whatever family opinions, or whatever the world's opinions, on that subject may be, your sister is". As he repeats himself, he hammers (doing his blacksmith duties) and with every hammer he states"a-fine-figure-of-a-woman!"(pg.48). He says this in a way that makes it seem like he is trying to convince himself that she is. Deep down Joe knows she really isn't an ideal person. Yet, Joe still remains living with her. To add, Joe tells Pip that he was really lonely before meeting Mrs. Joe. So it seems like he just married her merely because he wouldn't have to alone anymore. In other words he settled for only what was convenient. Instead of getting the perfect wife like he probably had once hoped for, he got an abusive wife that hurts him not only physically but mentally as well. Mrs. Joe hits and verbally degrades him. She even hurts Pip, her own brother. But Joe just sits there and lets it happen. He doesn't do a thing to stick up for himself or Pip. He just lets her do what she wants and doesn't stand up for what he believes is right.

This is a test post.