Sunday, February 15, 2009

I am an English major and I am required to analyze character motivation. I say so what if someone is annoying, mean, angry, a liar, etc. Good job you've found a flaw. So what. Are you really going to dehumanize someone and discount them because they're not good at something or even trying to be good? It seems a silly reason to like or dislike people because of who they are. Why no take control of your life and start liking people because you're not a victim of their traits, habits, or personality? Start being a leader.

Shylock in the Merchant of Venice makes a good point in act iii scene i.

To bait fish withall, if it will feed nothing else, it will feed my revenge; he hath disgrac'd me, and hindred me half a million, laughed at my losses, mocked at my gaines, scorned my Nation, thwarted my bargains, cooled my friends, heated mine enemies, and what's the reason? I am a Jew: Hath not a Jew eyes? hath not a Jew hands, organs, dementions, senses, affections, passions, fed with the same food, hurt with the same weapons, subiect to the same diseases, healed by the same means, warmed and cooled by the same Winter and Summer as a Christian is: if you pricke us do we not bleed? If you tickle us, do we not laugh? If you poison us doe we not die? and if you wrong us shall we not revenge? If we are like you in the rest, we will resemble you in that. If a Jew wrong a Christian, what is his humility, revenge? If a Christian wrong a Jew, what should his sufferance be by Christian example, why revenge? The villany you teach me I will execute, and it shall go hard but I will better the instruction.
Everyone's got a story.

2 comments:

jessamyn said...

I love what you said, I agree... the older I get, I realize that criticizing will get you no where, but will probably turn you into an ugly person with ugly frown lines. You're so smart and so knowledgeable... what's sad is that I am familiar with The Merchant of Venice but only because it is mentioned in the Twilight series... that's sad for me.

monica said...

that's ironic because previous to reading this post i made a similar comment to my roommate. she was annoyed by another roommate and i told her, "well that is just who she is and you need to accept her anyway even if she has a few off things about her." that kinda thing. i think that goes along with what you are saying because people too often will find even one thing they dont like about someone and from then on steer away from them. we need to be more accepting of differences. it is more fun that way. i am glad you feel the same way too.