"Antonio voices his mistrust of Shylock and his motives in agreeing to the 'bond' by calling him 'a villain with a smiling cheek,' outwardly benign but inwardly malevolent" (180).
In this instance that is referenced in the notes in the back of the book, Antonio addresses Shylock's "appearance versus reality." The theme of appearance versus reality was reoccurring throughout the first semester. Most notably, we found the theme of dual personality in The Awakening. Edna initially conformed to society's standards while internally questioning her decisions. In The Merchant of Venice, we are likely to see this theme through Shylock's personality because he seems kind and generous on the surface, but he is actually wishing to deceive others.
An insightful post, Katie! I like the way you make connections to the texts we read first semester. Keep thinking about this theme as we watch the film and read the play--like many themes, it will become increasingly (and frustratingly) complex!
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