My Philosophy of a Constructivist Mathematics Education...

â€Å"Understanding is a measure of the quality and quantity of connections that a new idea has with existing ideas. The greater the number of connections to a network of ideas, the better the understanding (Van de Walle, 2007, p.27).† My philosophy of a constructivist mathematics education At what point does a student, in all intents and purposes, experience something mathematical? Does it symbolise a student that can remember a formula, write down symbols, see a pattern or solve a problem? I believe in enriching and empowering a student’s mathematical experience that fundamentally stems from a Piagetian genetic epistemological constructivist model. This allows the student to scaffold their learning through cognitive processes that†¦show more content†¦This is achieved by using a range of effective teaching strategies. Justified learning teaching strategies to develop understanding meaning It is important to note that a student’s view of a subject is founded upon the experiences in which he/she is immersed in and this subsequently forms their expectations of mathematics (Knowles, 2009, p.29). The strategies that teachers employ should be both challenging but achievable and furthermore harmonize with Vygotsky’s zone of proximal development (ZPD). My belief of a constructivist mathematics classroom is that it should be a welcoming and dynamic place. This entails that the classroom should look different to traditional mathematics classrooms by having numerous types of concrete materials (MAB blocks, dice, counters, etc) and measuring devices for hands-on activities. Desks should also be arranged in groups to encourage, and further stipulate, a collaborative learning environment (Crawford et al., 1999, p.24). By working in groups, through co-operative and collaborative tasks, students are moreShow MoreRelatedMy Philosophy of a Constructivist Mathematics Education545 Words   |  3 Pagesenriching and empowering students’ mathematical experiences that fundamentally stems from a Piagetian genetic epistemological constructivist model that allow students to scaffold their learning through cognitive processes that are facilitated by teaching in a resource rich and collaborative environment (Thompson, 1994, p.69). The student Constructivist learning in mathematics should endeavour to encourage students to â€Å"construct their own mathematical knowledge through social interaction and meaningfulRead MoreEssay Theoretical Stance on Learning and Teaching Mathematics1495 Words   |  6 Pagesthe Teaching of Mathematics – As a pre-service teacher, my philosophy of teaching Mathematics is based on a constructivist, student-centred approach. I have learned, through my practicum experiences, as well as Mathematics Education courses, which advocate this approach, that it is the most effective way to teach Mathematics. This essay will explicitly describe my philosophy, as well as explain and justify the specific teaching and learning strategies related to this philosophy, supported by theRead MoreExploring Inquiry Based Spatial Sense Activities1236 Words   |  5 Pagesteachers accountable for the education of America’s children. These initiatives are somewhat convoluted, but are in place to ensure that students who graduate our educational institutions are college and career ready. These reforms are reinforced by the General Assembly, who in 1995, passed legislation that requires students with disabilities be educated and held accountable to the standards of their non-disabled peers (US Governme nt, 2015). Prior to 1995, special education teachers had been affordedRead MoreQuestions On Teaching And Learning2111 Words   |  9 PagesThe area of curriculum in which I am interested is primary school mathematics in New Zealand. Learning and teaching mathematics is an important area of focus and challenge for teachers and researchers. Children difficulties with like and dislike for mathematics seem to increase as they progress to higher grades and, as testing become more significant in terms of its intermediate and lower term consequences. The NZC (MoE, 2007a) provides a distinct statement of the knowledge, competencies, and valuesRead MoreMy Beliefs As An Educator For Over Nineteen Years Essay1678 Words   |  7 PagesMy Beliefs As an educator for over nineteen years, I have witnessed many different styles and methods of teaching and learning. Reflecting on past years I see many different factors that have built my beliefs and philosophy on leadership, teaching and learning. While some beliefs have been established through formal education; most are a result of observation, trial-and-error, field-tested, real-time, relevant learning experiences. â€Å"Learning is how people make sense of their experience – learningRead MoreEssay on Special Education Reflection1336 Words   |  6 Pagesnbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Special Education 332 (Education and Inclusion of Individuals with Special Needs) has been enlightening for me as a secondary mathematics educator. In the beginning of the semester, my feelings towards special education were those of apathy and insensitivity. I now understand that my feelings were due to my lack of knowledge and my judgment based on stereotypes. I always knew that making fun of students with learning disabilities was wrong. However, I never felt that inclusion of special education studentsRead MoreSpecial Education Reflection1329 Words   |  6 PagesREFLECTION PAPER Reflection Paper En Tseh Wang Lehigh University Special Education 332 (Education and Inclusion of Individuals with Special Needs) has been enlightening for me as a secondary mathematics educator. In the beginning of the semester, my feelings towards special education were those of apathy and insensitivity. I now understand that my feelings were due to my lack of knowledge and my judgment based on stereotypes. I always knew that making fun of students with learningRead MoreMy Teaching Ideas and Theory Applications2728 Words   |  11 PagesI believe every child can succeed in mathematics, and it is my role to unlock this potential. I aim to teach in ways that help children develop cooperation, assertion and responsibility, as well as a good understanding of subject matter. I believe this can be achieved by creating a culture in the classroom that is built gradually on trust, with a common language, through rules that we create together, and by practicing procedures until they become nearly automatic. I aim to use the resources, materialsRead MoreThe Effect Of Inquiry Based Learning On Pupils Understanding2214 Words   |  9 PagesINQUIRY – BASED LEARNING ON PUPILS’ UNDERSTANDING Two of the three aims of the national curriculum for mathematics in England states that pupils should be able to: †¢ reason mathematically by following a line of enquiry, conjecturing relationships and generalisations, and developing an argument, justification or proof using mathematical language †¢ solve problems by applying their mathematics to a variety of routine and non - routine problems with increasing sophistication, including breaking downRead MoreEssay on My Philosophy of Education1613 Words   |  7 PagesWhen asked how one would define education many may say it is learning subjects such as Mathematics and English, being tested to see what one has absorbed and that the subsequent marks indicate the level of one’s success. Until recently, due to my experiences in education, I too agreed with this as well as believing that I was of a certain ability level. Only now, through having being introduced to various learning theories, experiences and influences during teacher training have I started to develop

Essay on Assimilating into American Culture - 1214 Words

Immigration and assimilation is a divisive topic that has been heavily debated in America ever since we became a country. There are two stories that explore the assimilation issue from different viewpoints’; in Mary Pipher’s story; â€Å"The Beautiful Laughing Sisters – An Arrival Story†; provides the viewpoint of immigrants leaving a hostile home for America. Elizabeth Wong details her journey to break with her culture and become Americanized in, â€Å"The Struggle to be an all American girl.† and (McWhorter, 2010 pp522-529). At debate today is whether immigrants and their families should blend into American culture even if it means breaking with their past. Once cultures intermingle, they are forever changed. American culture was initially†¦show more content†¦In addition, half of her family lived in a dugout instead of a house that caused her to be embarrassed of her heritage. Once she married an Indian man and had children, she embraced her cultural heritage. My sister, who has a dark complexion was working at a nursing home once and was detained by immigration because they thought she was here illegally from Mexico. I wish I could report that racism is in the past and we have all evolved enough to be color-blind. Our American history and attitude towards immigration has been conflicted ever since we formed our nation. Black people were initially brought to America as slaves and were segregated for the greater part of the 20th century. I can remember when desegregation occurred in our schools in Dallas; there was panic and fear among the adults. In the mid 19th century, during the California gold rush many Chinese people came to America to work as cheap labor and provided the needed workforce to build our railroads (Ashabranner, 1993). The Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 was enacted to regulate immigration and excluded certain classes and races of people who were undesirable as immigrants, prior to this America had no formal immigration policy (Kennedy, 1964). This era in our history is a bit reminiscent of when the Borg encountered the Enterprise and tried to assimilate the crew in Star Trek the Next Generation series; â€Å"( . . . ) Resistance is futile. We wish to improve ourselves. WeS how MoreRelatedGogol s The Namesake Essay1620 Words   |  7 Pagesminorities from immigrant parents are driven subconsciously to conform to new culture and social norms. For foreign born parents and native born children integrating the two cultures they inhabit brings about different obstacles and experiences. In Jhumpa’s â€Å"The Namesake† the protagonist Gogol is a native born American with foreign born parents. The difference with birth location plays an important role in assimilating to a new society in a new geography. The difficulty for parents is the fact thatRead MoreThe Melting Pot Of The United States1037 Words   |  5 Pagesor fused together (Dictionary.com).On the other hand in a nation, a melting pot is a place where a variety of races, cultures, or individuals assimilate into a cohesive whole (Dictionary.com). Which in retrospect do not fall very far from each other in terms of literal definitions. Both simply mean the fusing of different things toge ther, whether that be metals, cheeses, or cultures. Immigrants who have been accepted into this â€Å"Melting Pot† society have found it very difficult to live in a new placeRead MoreCultural Assimilation Should Be Viewed As A Positive Or Negative Experience?1521 Words   |  7 Pagesabsorbed into the dominant culture of a society. The process of assimilating involves taking on the traits of the dominant culture to such a degree that the assimilating group becomes socially indistinguishable from other members of the society.† During this process, ethnic individualities, characteristics, and traits of the minority population can disappear. Unfortunately, this is the opposite of multiculturalism, which stresses the significance of promoting different cultures, ethnicities, and racesRead MoreSociology - Immigration1606 Words   |  7 Pagesorder to work for the status of a citizen while others illegally enter the country and risk being detained and deported. It is estim ated there are approximately 11.7 million illegal immigrants living in the United States today (Preston). While some Americans believe that immigrants take away jobs, hurt the economy, and don’t fit in, I believe immigrants bring more benefits to our country than what meets the eye. Immigrants help boost our country economically and culturally. It may seem that immigrantsRead MoreThe Assimilation Of Cuban Americans882 Words   |  4 PagesQuestion 6: The assimilation of Cuban Americans has come rather slowly due to the discrimination that this group has faced. Like most other immigrating groups, Cubans have seen themselves rejected and discriminated by the dominant group, making them embrace their own culture and straying away from the dominant expectations for several years. In order to maintain their culture, and as an effort to reject discrimination, Cuban Americans have opened various organizations and enclaves that help promoteRead MoreThe Issue Of Immigration Has Been On The Forefront Major Debates1684 Words   |  7 Pagesarises and whether or not immigrants are truly doing so. Since the beginning of this country, immigrants and even natives of the land have been pressured to assimilate to â€Å"American† Culture and to commit to its standards. When a group of people fail to assimilate to these standards, they encounter critics. The Native Americans, who wanted to preserve their traditions and values, had their ch ildren taken from them and sent to boarding schools with the goal to assimilate Native tribes into â€Å"mainstreamRead MoreAnalysis Of Jhumpa Lahiri s Mrs. Sen1080 Words   |  5 Pagesinto her new surroundings. When people focus on their cultural past, they can be prevented from assimilating into their new surroundings. Mrs. Sen’s memories of India and way she chops reveals that she focuses on her cultural past. Every day while babysitting Eliot, â€Å"[Mrs. Sen] chopped things, seated on newspapers on the living room floor† (114). This cooking style is rather strange and non-American. Most developed countries focus on sanitation, and they have enough resources to ensure the sanitationRead MoreTensions Between Mexican And American Cultures1156 Words   |  5 PagesBerglund ENG 245 10 January 2017 â€Å"American†¦But Hyphenated†: Tensions Between Mexican and American Cultures In Pat Mora’s two poems, â€Å"Legal Alien† and â€Å"Immigrants†, she is expressing the crisis of identity from which Mexican Americans suffer. On one hand, Americans view her (and Mexican Americans in general) as â€Å"perhaps exotic, / perhaps inferior, and definitely different† (9-10) while on the other Mexicans view Mexican-Americans as â€Å"alien† (11). Caught in between two cultures, and not being fully acceptedRead MoreIndividualism, Kiss My Ass ( Imilation )923 Words   |  4 Pages Individualism, Kiss My Ass(imilation) Overtime, the issue of assimilation in America has always been present, but overlooked. Although the thought of a country with plans to assimilate different cultures and races may seem insane, the U.S. has been the most successful. Despite the fact that we are one of the few successful assimilated countries, there are inevitable problems that may occur such as pride and judgment. Schlesinger and Serrano both discuss the topic of assimilation, but express differentRead MoreHester Street Film Analysis750 Words   |  3 Pagespractices, and ideas were juxtaposed with the â€Å"New World,† American values. Thus, Hester Street highly endorses the characters’ acceptance with assimilating to American values. Furthermore, the film also showcases the resistance and complications to assimilation as some characters try to maintain their culture. As Jewish immigrants settled in New York, some adopted American values. As a result, they assimilated into the mainstream of American culture. This is the very case of the protagonist Yekyl or as

Marcus Garvey s Universal Negro Improvement Association...

African-Americans attempted to establish themselves and prove to whites that they were capable citizens. Marcus Garvey’s Universal Negro Improvement Association emphasized racial pride and economic self-help, and Booker T. Washington, leading spokesperson for the plight of African-Americans, told blacks to ignore racial slurs and inferiority comments while working to build self-dignity and worth. Washington believed that in order to identify themselves, they had to cooperate with whites and gain respect over time. In Addition, many African-Americans began to define themselves as a race in the nineteenth century by leaving white churches and creating their own. They worshiped according to their own customs, chose leaders, managed religious affairs, and established a lifestyle of their own. The African-Americans as a race attempted to define themselves as dignified, economically independent citizens. Colored women also began to define themselves and establish an identity. They m ade speeches, advocated rights, established organizations, and even made their way into the world of business in American society. Mary Church Terrell said in her speech in Washington D.C. that fifty years before, no one would have believed that a slave, let alone a woman, would be making a speech in the U.S. Capital and be supported by so many respected people. Fifty years ago, not only were African-Americans not allowed in schools, but most states considered it a crime to teach them to read andShow MoreRelatedWilliam Edward Burghardt. B. Dubois, Marcus Garvey And Malcolm X2370 Words   |  10 Pageslife. Whites have taunted Blacks attempting to belittle their character, squander their self-confidence, and brand them the infamous word â€Å"nigger†. While some carried oppression on their shoulders, a selected few rose above the negativity and began to spread self-love, self-efficiency and the rise of black power. Black became beautiful and the process of dehumanization was being reversed. W.E.B. Dubois, Marcus Garvey and Malcolm X were a few of the candidates that advocated for the Pan-African movementRead MoreArt or Propaganda? - a comparison between Alain Locke and W.E.B.Dubois5435 Words   |  22 Pagesliterature we should try to loose the tremendous emotional wealth of the Negro and the dramatic strength of his problems through writing ... and other forms of art. We should resurrect forgotten ancient Negro art and history, and we should set the black man before the world as both a creative artist and a strong subject for artistic treatment. DuBois stated what were to be recurrent themes of the decade of the twenties: the Negro as a producer and a subject of art, and the Negros artistic output asRead MoreRastafarian79520 Words   |  319 Pageswho, to a large extent, ran the educational apparatus and the economic system. But much of the country was beginning to question in earnest the structure of colonial society by the early 1930s. The emergence of Rasta during that period corresponds with so much that was happening around the world. Rastas could tell that social unrest in Jamaica was going to lead to a movement away from colonial rule and, having heard Marcus Garvey speak of the importance of Africa to black people in the New World

Examples Of Appeal To Force In 12 Angry Men - 744 Words

Twelve Angry Men Fallacies Appeal to Force The first fallacy is an example of an Appeal to Force (Ad Baculum). An Appeal to Force is simply threatening someone to try and make your argument stronger. The character from Twelve Angry Men who committed this fallacy was the Painter. The Painter said to the Father, â€Å"If you say something like that again, I’m gonna lay you out.† This is an Appeal to Force because the Painter threatened the Father to make him feel intimidated and stop arguing his point. The Painter did this because the Father was being disrespectful to the old man. What the Painter should have done is told the Father to stop being rude to the old man, and ask him to be respectful to his elders; everyone in a jury room should be†¦show more content†¦It is important to recognize Guilt by Association fallacies because, in the film the other jurors were persuaded to keep assuming the boy was guilty from the Stockbroker making a statement degrading the boy’s character just because of where he lived, and not based on actual evidence. After this, Baltimore stated that he grew up in a slum too and he didnt turn out to be a trouble to society. This statement helped to not persuade the jurors based on the Stockbrokers claims. 3. Appeal to Majority The third fallacy is an example of an Appeal to Majority (Ad Populum). An Appeal to Majority is using what you think the majority of people would use to win an argument. The character from Twelve Angry Men who committed this fallacy was the Old Man. The Old Man hesitated while voting on whether or not the boy was guilty or not guilty and, ended up voting guilty once he saw that ten out of the other eleven men in the room voted guilty. This is an example of an Appeal to Majority because, most people in the room voted for the boy to be guilty, so the Old Man decided that if everyone else was voting guilty then it must be the right choice, and he voted too. What he should have done is vote for what he truly believed was right instead of conforming to the rest of the groups beliefs. It is important to recognize Appeals to MajorityShow MoreRelatedEssay about The Power of Leadership in 12 Angry Men1477 Words   |  6 Pagespowerful pathogens – possessing equal communicability as they spread to proximal centers of consciousness. How can this characteristic of ideas be utilized to benefit society? In the film Twelve Angry Men, we see a situation where Juror Eight – equipped with all the autonomy and wisdom of an ideal leader – appeals to logos in an attempt to promote the consideration of an idea, which he has planted in the minds of an otherwise unanimous jury; this idea being the mere possibility of innocence in the convictionRead MoreGroup Decision-Making, Leadership, Influence and Power: Illustrations from the Film â€Å"12 Angry Men†1703 Words   |  7 PagesThe film â€Å"12 Angry Men (1957)† present a diverse group of twelve American jurors brought together to decide the guilt or innocence of a teenaged defendant in a se emingly open-and-shut murder trial case. The film illustrates the advantages and disadvantages of group decision-making, group developmental stages, leadership personality and models, social influence tactics and outcomes, and the bases of social power. The following advantages of group decision-making were demonstrated in this approximatelyRead MoreThe Classic 1957 Movie 12 Angry Men Delves In To A Panel1008 Words   |  5 Pages The classic 1957 movie 12 Angry Men delves in to a panel of twelve jurors who are deciding the life or death fate of an eighteen year old italian boy accused of stabbing his father to death. The twelve men selected as jurors are a diverse group, each coming to the table with their own socioeconomic backgrounds, personal experiences, prejudice’s, and all of this plays a role in the jurors attitudes and/or misconceptions of the accused young man. How each of the jurors, all but Juror Eight playedRead MoreThe Attack Of Pearl Harbor1351 Words   |  6 PagesJapanese forces attacked Pearl Harbor. They demolished the entire United States Pacific Fleet. At the time, Franklin Delano Roosevelt was the thirty-second president of the United States. He was in his third term when the devastating attack began. The attacked took place at the U.S. Naval Base in Oahu, Hawaii. The air attack started at 7:48 in the morning, Hawaiian time. There were about 3,500 casualties from the bombing, and more than 2,300 of them were deaths. The attack beached or sank 12 AmericanRead MoreRhetorical Analysis of Thoreau’s â€Å"Civil Disobedience†1570 Words   |  7 Pagesï » ¿AP Language Rhetorical Analysis of Thoreau’s â€Å"Civil Disobedience† Directions: Read â€Å"Civil Disobedience.† As you read, underline examples of Thoreau using rhetorical devices and identify and explain the devices via annotation. Answer questions 1-4 to prepare for further work with a small group. The group will work together on questions 5 through 8. Be ready to explain your answers to the whole class. Even when you’re working as a group you should be writing the answers. 1. Based on yourRead MoreMartin Luther King s Civil Rights Movement1367 Words   |  6 Pagesof an April 12 Birmingham newspaper which included a letter written by eight local Christian and Jewish religious leaders. This letter criticized both the demonstrations and King himself. Isolated in his cell King began his response in the margins of the newspaper. Martin Luther King’s â€Å"Letter from Birmingham Jail† is a timeless document that all students should read. In King’s letter he uses a variety of Bible verses to solidify his argument and give examples of reverential men of the bibleRead MoreMasculinity in the Media3136 Words   |  13 Pagesevident today in the media. Masculinity in the media is portrayed as muscular, violent, angry, aggressive, dominant, and warrior like. The rhetoric in media, as it relates to masculinity, has influenced the amount of violence in the world. The association between violence and masculinity is relevant to communications because the portrayals of masculinity in the media led me to become a violent, and angry teenager. I grew up in a military family. For me it seemed like the military was cool,Read MoreDr. D Arcy s The Fate Of Irish Culture1390 Words   |  6 Pagesdressing for the occasion, but also follows fashion trends from England rather than just Ierland. Later, the â€Å"polished lenses,† (para. 21), of his glasses give Gabriel an observant and scholarly air. Finally, he notices the â€Å"three syllables† (para. 12) in which Lily says his name, noting the evidence of their class differentiation. Freddy Malins, despite being dismissed by the other characters as a drunk and a worrisome guest the the Morkan sisters, is a fairly courteous and frank guest who is ableRead MoreEssay about American Jihad: Homegrown Terrorists1716 Words   |  7 Pagesjihadist sympathizers that were waiting to come into action. According a RAND Corporation report, â€Å"there were 46 reported cases of radicalization and recruitment to jihadist terrorism in the United States between 9/11 and the end of 2009† (Jenkins). Young men and women are being charged with the intention to harm innocent American citizens, and destroy the United States, all of them with the proclamation of being an Islamic soldier and dying for Islam as a martyr. Faisal Shahzad, the unsuccessful Times SquareRead MoreLosing A Job Can Be Devastating2365 Words   |  10 PagesLosing a job can be devastating. Before starting the job hunt, a person’s instinct might first be to look for an explanation. Unemployment can l eave the average person feeling powerless, angry, and desperate. The economic rebound following the 2009 European Crisis had varying success across the region, leaving some millions entrenched in unemployment and a level of poverty that had not been seen in these generally strong welfare states. Looking for answers to explain their sudden headlong dive into

Biblical Servant Leadership Free Essays

Jesus set a great model to us. Yet He is the master, the greatest?he has the power and the ability to stand on top of the crowd but He Is also the least and the lowest to be able to wash the feet to human beings. I think the most challenged but precious part is the second one especially if you are a leader. We will write a custom essay sample on Biblical Servant Leadership or any similar topic only for you Order Now That’s why called â€Å"Servant† leader. Yet serving others can be tough; expending energies and time in the interest of others can be exhausting. I believe as a Christian we all experience that spent lots of time accompany with non-believers but then captioned later on or felt being used. Yet we felt hurt and trust me, I DO. However, every time when I look through what Jesus had suffered, the betrayal, I know there Is nothing to compare and I also be comforted from Him knowing He Is taking in charge; thereby, I become more mature slowly by slowly. I do believe the more you emulate from Him, the more you know how to be a real leader who stand firmly in this spiritual and secular world. Does one leadership model appeal to you more than the others? If yes, why? Yes. In y point of view, Richard Arden gives the most understandable and the easiest concept when we talk about how to be a servant leader. The whole point of being a servant leader is that you know God is the Lord. In other words, He is the first of the first. If there Is not God involves in then there will be just talking about the secular leadership. Therefore, God holds all the authority not a person (leader) who has this right from his own. Secondly, as a servant leader you must know you are the chosen partner from God to lead a group of people or a task to fulfill God’s own wills. Therefore, leadership Is a partnership between the leader and God the almighty. Thirdly, Jesus has given the best example of being the first is being the last. He is the first, the almighty and the only one without the sin but bore the mocks from sinners and crucified for the rest. Another example, He, the first, had washed the feet for the followers as a servant (the least) with a humble heart. The real leader is not the one who can only be on top but often the one who humble himself to do the lowliest thing In the group. Fourthly, leadership Is a fullness of concept and action. A servant leader must do and think It completely from Inside out. You cannot hide the arrogance in your heart and do all the good things to others and say you are the loyal servant of God. There is no hidden thought that can’t be seen from our Lord. Fifthly, leadership is the spiritual gift from God because not anyone can be given this empowerment. Therefore, the great power comes the great responsibility. At last, a true servant leader should be clear that all the followers who be authorized to lead How to cite Biblical Servant Leadership, Essays

Is The Merchant of Venice a racist play Essay Example For Students

Is The Merchant of Venice a racist play Essay Throughout the text The Merchant of Venice presents a main them of anti Semitic racism both anti Jewish and anti Christian. The play is set in Venice, an ancient civic republic and not a nation ruled by a king or queen. However it reflects London in the late 1500s. Venice was also a trading centre of great importance. It presents a father daughter relationship where she will not be accepted to love a Christian. This shows strong racism within the community. However racism is ever present in todays society in many forms. The play centres on the two main characters, Antonio an extremely wealthy merchant and shylock a very wealthy Jew. Here there are negative feelings and attitudes between the two characters. This is mainly to do with the different religions. During the late 1500s in Venice racism was a strong and dramatic issue. The Jews were treated as an inferior race. Harsh laws were passed against them. These stopped the Jews from marriage between non-Jews and Jews. Jews were thought to be bad and were sent to special areas called Jewish Ghettos or were humiliated or maltreated in public. The conditions in the Jewish Ghettos were horrific. There was also a Jewish synagogue within the Ghettos. Curfews were placed and a lack of freedom was given. They could only have a few professions. Shylock is a usurer, a person who lends sums of money to others charging vast amounts of interest. However Antonio also lends amounts of money, but minus the interest. This could be one of the main reasons why Shylock hates Antonio with a vengeance as Antonio is supposedly causing Shylocks profits to drop. Shylock also hates Antonio for the difference in their life styles and religions, I hate him for he is a Christian, suggests strong racism. Shylock made it clear that his relationship with Christians was strictly business, I will sell with you, but will not eat with you, drink with you, nor prayer with you. This conveys that Shylock was willing to offer a service to Christians to make his profit but was not prepared to socialise with them. We can depict that Shylock was eager to use and abuse the Christians for their religion, a sign of antipathy. This is unacceptable and gives a strong sense that The Merchant of Venice is a racist play. Throughout the text Bassanio needs 3000 ducats as a suitor to Portia. Antonio his friend cannot lend him this vast amount of money as all his money is tied up in his fleet of sailing ships. Instead he offers himself as a guarantee. Shylock has agreed to give Antonio a sum of money, but did not charge interest he insisted, let the forfeit be nominated for an equal pound of your fair flesh, to be cut off and taken in what part of your body pleaseth me. We could suggest that this could virtually kill Antonio. From this it conveys strong feelings of antagonism and revenge. Also this implies prejudice, as it could be symbolic of the Christians being worthless. We can suggest this because flesh is usually taken from dead animals. This idea can clearly convey that Shylock is trying to imply that Christians are of no value. However Shylock begins to convey how Antonios treatment has turned his life into a misery. He states that he has, hindered me half a million which shows that Shylock has stopped him from making a great profit. I feel that The Merchant of Venice is based on revenge and is reflective on racism. Shylock feels antipathy towards Antonio as he has stopped him from becoming wealthier. Although we also know that the Jews could not be in possession of their own property but could only rent. Also he claims that he has, scorned my nation. This suggests that he has made mockery of the fact that he is a Jew. This shows racism, as Antonio does not appreciate the Jewish culture or traditions. Shylock had made a bond with Antonio, which Antonio could not break. However Shylock conveys, the man is not with standing sufficient. Shylock wanted revenge on Antonio because of the way Antonio had physically and verbally abused Shylock in the past. Shylock says you call me mis believer portrays racial criticism. Antonio feels that anyone who is not a Christian is an inferior race. Antonio sees Shylock as, cut throat dog which is reflective of thieves as he charges too much interest. It can also be regarded as not a human and again criticised about his business. The phrase, you spat upon my Jewish gabardine. This shows definite racial abuse. It clarifies the idea that The Merchant of Venice is a racist play. It is noticeable that Antonio does not deny abusing Shylock, instead Antonio suggests, I am as like to call thee so again, to spet on the too. This depicts that even though Antonio was dependant on the Jew, he still acknowledged the fact of the differences between the two religions. The way Shylock has been treated is unfair and would not be accepted in todays society. We can learn that Shylock had suffered at the hands of Antonio but it did not appear that it was just Shylock suffering, for sufferance is the badge of all our tribe. This shows us that not only is Shylock in distress but also all the other Jews. He conveys that they are used to suffering. It is highly likely they suffered due to the Christians. I think that this causes prejudice against all Christians and gives the reader the impression that Christians in Venice treated all Jews this unfairly. Shylock conveys, If a Jew wrong a Christian, what is his humility? Revenge. If a Christian wrongs a Jew, what should his sufferance be by a Christian example? Why revenge. The villainy you teach me I will execute. This suggests that Shylock felt he had been wronged therefore he thought he was entitled to vengeance. We can understand that Shylock had been waiting for the opportunity of getting on top of Antonio. We can see that Shylock now intended to use the bond as a way of getting revenge on Antonio, I will feed fat the ancient grudge I bear him. This clearly depicts antipathy. It is obvious that the Jews did not like the Christians, due to the different religious beliefs in both religions. The merchant of venice-From what has Portia's father tried to protect her, and how do her suitors arrive at their choices in the casket test? EssayFrom analysing the scene further, we get a clearer understanding of revenge and racism within the play. Shylock says, more than a lodged hate and a certain loathing I bear Antonio. This conveys that Shylocks antipathy towards Antonio is immovable. This also conveys string emotions of revenge as he has suffered many years of humiliation and is in a position to be less than charitable. Although the hatred is deeper as Shylock clearly showed that the money Bassanios turned up with was worthless compared to the bond. This becomes apparent in the line, if every ducat in six thousand ducats were in six parts, and every part a ducat. I would not draw them. I would have my bond! This clearly indicates Shylock only wants the pound of Antonios flesh. Shylock says, the pound of flesh which I demand of him is dearly bought, t is mine and I will have it. Shylock was clearly saying that he owns the pound of flesh and it is his property therefore he shall have it. I feel that this is not racist, as he wants vengeance and it could be seen as a more personal grudge. Although the Dukes behaviour was rather surprising considering the fact that he was supposed to be impartial but he was clearly supporting Antonio, I am sorry for thee, thou art come to answer A stone adversary, an inhuman wretch, uncapable of mercy. The Dukes actions are unfair therefore it was impossible for the Duke to give a fair hearing. However Portia comes in and poses as male, Balthazar a lawyer in disguise to try and save Antonios life. Balthazars opening speech begins with, the quality of mercy is not strained. This conveys that he is trying to explain that mercy cannot be forced, you cant compel someone to show mercy if they are not merciful. This statement is obviously aimed at Shylock as he claims, On what compulsion must I? This suggests the fact that he is going to show no sympathy what so ever. This is an extremely powerful speech and is full of references to Christianity and God, it is an attribute to God himself. Balthazar in effect, personifies mercy as being like the qualities of a king. In the Elizabethan times, it was believed that God chose all kings. I feel that Balthazar is not racist here, as he does not talk bout God to be of a specific religion. He highlights the fact that there is only one God. Although Shylocks response to this is, I stay here on my bond. This conveys strong enthusiasm and confidence I feel that this could be racist as Shylocks eagerness to kill a Christian in cold blood. This becomes apparent in the line, O noble judge. We also find out that Shylock rejects a surgeon to be present, it is nominated in the bond. I feel that this could be seen to be racist as he wants to take the life of this Christian due to the fact that of their religious beliefs and teachings. However on the other hand its due to his personal hatred. Balthazar creates an impression that he is agreeing with Shylock and his merciless bond, you must prepare your bosom for his knife. Shylock becomes ecstatic that Balthazar is on his side. He admires his judgement, O excellent young man. In the bond not one drop of Christian blood may be spilt, shed thou no blood, nor all thou less nor more. Of course this would be an impossible task to perform and it is here that the dramatic turning point of the play occurs. A constant reference to the weight of the flesh provokes images of scales and measuring units, this reflects a theme of justice and how it is unfairly balanced between the two religions. Balthazar not only frees Antonio at this point but also convicts Shylock of attempted murder. We know that the Duke shows racism at this point as he conveys, it is enacted in the laws of Venice if it be proved against an alien shall seize one half his goals. We can suggest that the language used, alien depicts a strong sense of racism as it conveys an idea that Shylocks religion and beliefs are an outcast! Also the Duke mention of the, laws in Venice, suggest that even the law could be seen to be racist for the use of the word, alien. Shylock cannot go through with the bond and is forced to give up his fortune and to convert from Jewry to Christianity. This is evident in the line, he presently become a Christian. I feel that this could be racist as Antonio may feel that the Jewish culture should be exterminated, although it gives a strong sense that its mostly to do with revenge. For Shylock this is the worst possible thing he could be made to do, as he is proud to be a Jew. However we notice that earlier on in the court scene, Shylock exposed the hypocrisy of the Christian religion by questioning the business of Christians having slaves. Now we see that this has reappeared in the fact that the Duke and Antonio are forcing Shylock to become a Christian. Towards the end we are clearly told that Portia and Bassanio accept Jessica and Lorenzo. This conveys the fact that Jews and Christians are able to communicate but also get married. In conclusion I have enjoyed reading and analysing The Merchant of Venice. I feel that the text shows many elements of anti-Semitism, which has led me to think that overall The Merchant of Venice is a racist play in many forms, from weighing up all the different evidence. It has led me to think more deeply about how the changes in modern society have affected our belief in God and the ways in which we discriminate against those who are different to us. The play shows discrimination of the Jews with Shylock the social outcast who is driven out of society. We can convey that racism is still place in todays society. I feel that there is more racism throughout the play and due to the fact that there is hatred and antagonism between two different religions racism is reflective upon that.