• How would you describe the Portia portrayed in each performance?

• Are they more similar or different? In what way?

• What can we infer about Portia's motives in each performance?

• Are you convinced by Portia’s speech? Or are you more on Shylock’s side? Why?

• Any other thoughts you have :)

movie: more calm, well mannered

theatre: agitated, emotive

Why?

mostly affected by the reaction given by the crowd to both scenes.

movie: quiet and silent crowd

theatre: the crowd behind the discussion and about the words of Portia and give reaction to it.

I am convinced by Portia‘s speech. If Shylock takes a pound of flesh from Antonio’s body, Antonio will die of blood loss. Antonio promised to return the 3000 ducats on time, he failed to do so and Shylock has the right to deliver a promise and take a pound of flesh from Antonio‘s body.  But failing a promise does not mean that Antonio should listen to Shylock and use his own life to compensatet a  failed promise.  On the side of morality, as mentioned, Shylock has the right to deliver his promise of taking a pound of flesh from Antonio’s body, but at the same time may also cause the death of Antonio. On the another hand, the mercy side. Antonio does not have to die just because he did not return the 3000 duncats on time. As the struggles of morality and mercy occurs, I think mercy should be given to Antonio and he and Shylock should seek another way of repaying the Duncats to Shylock.

Therefore, I am convinced by the speech given out by Portia.

Q1&3.

In Film:

• Polite

• Gentle

Just like that scene, Portia played a male lawyer, and lawyers always give people the impression of being gentlemen, never scolding anyone harshly and always thinking twice before saying anything. Moreover, it can also compare Shylock, Antonio and Portia. Shylock and Antonio hate each other, which causes them to behave rudely and act "immaturely" (e.g., not thinking before doing/speaking). On the contrary, Portia pretends to be a lawyer and is very gentle and polite, showing the huge difference between different classes (upper and lower). Therefore, portraying Portia as a polite and gentle person can make the scene more realistic and allow the audience to understand and integrate into the setting of the story.

On Stage:

• Impulse

• Furious

Because it is a stage performance, the actors have to perform in a more exaggerated way in order to attract the audience and bring the scene to a climax. In addition, the exaggerated portrayal of Portia can fully reflect her desire to save Antonio and her helpful personality. Therefore, portraying Portia as an impulsive, angry character can attract the audience's attention and develop Portia's character in a concrete way.

Q2.

I think there is a big difference between the portrayal of Portia in the film and on stage. In the film, although Portia is trying to persuade Shylock to be tolerant and generous to Antonio, she always behaves politely, gently and considerately, trying to create an image of a gentleman, but she ignores that this is not enough to convince a stubborn person like Shylock. On the contrary, on the stage, as a lawyer, Portia invested a lot of her own emotions into the case and showed her impulsiveness and anger in the court, which is not what a lawyer should do. She tried to create a climax for the audience but ignored the reality of the situation. They show different aspects of Portia’s character and they show different goals for the scene, so I think they’re very different.

Q4.

I wasn't quite convinced by Portia's speech. While I partially agree with her speech, and I agree that mercy can bless both the one who shows it and the one who receives it, I still disagree that mercy transcends the crown (justice and all). Because in this story, Antonio verbally and physically abuses Shylock just because he is a moneylender (charging high interest from others) and a Jew (and the main religion at that time was Christianity). If Antonio deserves Shylock's mercy now, does that mean Shylock didn't deserve it in the first place? Moreover, the contract was signed by Antonio, and he is responsible for the consequences of his actions at the time. They cannot say that it would be a pity to cut off his flesh if he really cannot pay back the money, because he signed the contract.

Q2: There is a big difference. Both of them are trying to persuade Shylock to change his mind but Portia in the film looks more calm and rational but the one on stage looks more emotional and angry. In film, she is trying to persuade Shylock to change his mind by telling him why cutting Antonio’s flesh is wrong and not merciful. On stage, she is like scolding Shylock to make him feel bad. In the film, the crowded is silently listening, just like how Portia is calm in the situation. On stage, the crowded is giving strong reactions to her such as throwing money and discussing, which makes her sentiment looks reasonable.

Q3: In the film, Portia seems serious, dangerous even, tempting shylock to say something that would condemn him. This Portia wants to punish Shylock more than wanting to protect Antonio, hoping that it will bring her recognition as an intelligent woman. In the play, Portia is a passionate and persuasive lawyer, like Billy Flynn from Chicago. She persuades the court through a fiery speech and dramatics. This Portia is dedicated to protecting Antonio, and is doing her best to convince the judges/jury.

Q4: While her speech was moving, I believe that Shylock had every right to claim his pound of flesh. Sure, Antonio might die, but he's not that good of a person anyway. Shylock and Antonio had a deal, and thus Antonio should pay the price. That's just how deals work. If mercy was given every time a borrower could not pay back his loans, money would not have any value. The sanctity of a deal, signed by both parties, should be respected so as to uphold societal stability.

Q5: I keep hearing porsche instead of portia

The stage performance was more impressive and expressive than that of the movies, the atmosphere during the movies were more intense and serious. Everyone had different reactions to Portia’s speech during the show, like applauding and gasping. She especially empathised the words ‘mercy’ and God’. We see Shylock’s expression after her speech in the performance where he looked slightly guilty of his decision on giving Antonio a death sentence.

Her speech during the performance held more emotion and was more persuasive, it was more of a speech than that in the movie, which was like a deep conversation instead. They both have spoken an introduction before giving their speeches, it was a smooth transition.

Our stance is neutral to Portia’s speech. Portia used the common ground of both religions to give a point for her speech, it was ironic for her to seek for his forgiveness and mercy in behalf of Antonio despite the mistreatment and circumstances Shylock had faced. We thought it was contradicting to think Antonio’s side, Christians, would ask for mercy when they showed or behave nothing like what they ask for to the Jews, including Shylock. Although the punishment for not paying back on time is quite extreme, they both agreed on it. We think it is not responsible for Antonio to seek for Shylock’s forgiveness. However, we also think that Shylock was too cruel for wanting Antonio to die from the punishment.

It was amusing to think how the audience would believe in her disguise as a lawyer, who showed no difference between male and female’s voices.

in the film:

• composed and calm

  ->maybe the film wanted to portray her as a rather intelligent person, showing her as a person the "knows I'm right", and therefore doesn't have be too aggressive to prove her point

• more fitting to an actual court experience (?)

  ->the listeners are more quiet and not responsive, really just like a normal audience watching the scene. (don't really know if it is ACTUALLY accurate, but it's similar to other court scenes we've seen, we've never been to court so...)

  
  

  (Portia in the film is kind of...intimidating?? her "calmness" kind of brings an intimidating energy, like she has an ulterior motive or something.? -just a random thought)

  
  

  in theatre play:

• louder, more aggressive/emotional

  ->maybe the play was trying to show Portia as a character who genuinely believes in the religion, which can be seen through the passion and emotion from her speech.

• more responsive and reactive crowd in the background

  ->unlike in the film, the crowd in the play is more responsive to Portia's speech, many of them agreeing while she speaks.

  
  

  (since a play is live, maybe these exaggerations were made to make things clearer to the audience)

More persuaded by Portia in the play

maybe it's because of the more passionate delivery of the speech

Honestly, we feel that both sides have their point, Antonio did promise to give up a pound of his flesh if he fails to repay Shylock. But again, on shylocks side, this request is also pretty absurd, so we think that both people have their point.

(a solution we think that might "resolve" is to let Antonio to repay the amount as money as well as a sincere apology.?, of course it would be a rather large amount, but no flesh/life is "sacrificed" and Shylock still gets something in return and at least a small apology)