Online Lesson #12

Logic and Decision-Making

Step 1: Read over the three casket scenes again in The Merchant of Venice: Prince of Morocco: Gold (Act 2, Scene 7), Prince of Arragon: Silver (Act 2, Scene 9), Bassanio: Lead (Act 3, Scene 2).

Step 2: Answer the following in 150-200 words: What is the common theme among the scrolls inside each of the caskets? How does this theme relate to how each suitor (Morocco, Arragon, and Bassanio) chooses their particular casket?

Step 3: Write a narrative or exposition in 200-300 words on the following topic: A moment in your life when you had to make a difficult decision primarily using logic.

Step 4: Post your responses to both Steps 2 and 3 in one blog entry.


The common theme among the scrolls inside each casket, the gold, silver and lead ones, is that all three caskets contain a high element of risk. For the prince of Morocco, he chose the golden casket, as he had a mind too high; immediately ascertaining that the lead and silver caskets were not to his liking. He lacked the logic and critical thinking of that moment, and acted rashly, thinking that the golden casket was only worthy of his risk. In the end, he was wrong, and that reflects on him, Portia's suitor, as a prince with very little logic and arrogant. The judgement the Prince of Morocco made was immature and not logical, unfortunately leading him to his failure. 


For the prince of Arragon, he says that risk is only worth when it is objectively attractive. For him, if something is not worthy to his sight, he will not take the risk, very similar to the Prince of Morocco. He assumes he chose the very best, the silver casket, as it appeals to him the best. That was very timid and cowardly; no risk was taken at all, and similarly, leading to his failure. As you can see, both princes have the same mindset of risk. They assume that risk is only worth when something or someone is deemed attractive. They judged what they deserved. That was immature and illogical. 


However, for Bassanio, he was very smart. He knew that a book can never be judged; appearances can never be trusted. That was his moral.He then draws comparison to beauty, that no matter how attractive one can be, it is the heart that matters. He reaffirms that outward appearances are meant as a cunning trap , and he believes in his choices. He deduced logically, that in the end, the most unattractive casket would be his choice for risk. In the end, he truly got Portia. 


For Bassanio, he took his risk seriously, and risked based on smart and logical morals. For the princes, they based their risks on their selfish opinions of 
appearances, and was very immature.






NARRATIVE PIECE :
There stood two particular appealing stones; an elegantly yet magnificently carved diamond, in a luxurious casket, glimmering, glittering in its perfection; in complete contrast to the grey-blackish pebble, that tried its best to perform, liberate. The diamond, as elegant as it appears, had an inner darkness. The darkness that obscures. The darkness that traps. The darkness that suffocates. The diamond carried a beautiful but morose feeling, attractive but forlorn. Somewhere, inside, it possessed nothing more than the contrasting elegance of its facets. The diamond drags my footsteps, curses me down. I endured. 


The pale pebble pokes a gentle merriment, and hidden spark. Though it might look unattractive, there was an inevitable pull. Like a magnet. It dragged me closer and closer to the pebble. The pebble puts gleam in my eyes, skips in my steps. I decided truthfully, that I cannot rely on my judgement. It was too basic, too surface. What I needed to follow was the inner groaning for the true one. I convinced myself again and again, hoping for some sort of change. The pebble looked frustrating, but stood out. The diamond looked cheery, but declined me. I had to make a choice. I knew risk was there, but also there, was the soothing calmness, in mixture with a peace, that urged me to choose her. I stood out, smiled at her, held her hand. That was when I knew I had made the right decision with Isabel. 


benedict (: