Blog Prompt 5: Justice Vs. Mercy in MOV

By the end of the trial scene, do you think true justice and mercy was achieved? Reflect and write on the following questions:

1. Is there true justice? Why? 

 Ans: 'true justice' is relative. It is subjective to the viewer. From the Christians point of view, there was true justice served to Shylock, as to them Shylock was inhumane to not let Antonio go. However, from a more humanitarian point of view, true justice was not achieved, as Shylock lost everything, his possessions, his money, even his religion, even though he was rightfully entitled to Antonio's life.

2. Is there true mercy, as expounded by Portia? Why?

Ans: No. As she play around with the wording of the bond to trap Shylock. Shylock was entitled to Antonio's life, and 'a pound of flesh' is taken to include the blood but Portia twists it so that Shylock is not allowed one drop of Antonio's blood. Also, when Shylock wants to take the money instead of the bond, Portia does not give him mercy and instead insists that he take the bond and nothing else

3. Justice and Law can be manipulated by people in power. Comment on this with reference to the text and other real-life cases and examples.

Ans: In MOV, Portia manipulated justice and law by first disguising herself as a male lawyer, and then by twisting the meaning of the bond to trap Shylock into forfeiting all his property.In real life, I feel that Justice and Law can be manipulated by people in power, one example would have to be Mr Dominique Strauss Kahn, he paid a large some of money to be released out of custody.

Blog Prompt 4 Letter by Sec 4 Student

1) To what extent do you agree with the issues that the student has raised here? Point out some issues of agreement and possible contention.

 

 Ans: To a large extent, i agree with the student. Most of the subjects in school stifle creativity. Most of them require memorizing information and memorizing how to apply them. Not that it is bad, but i feel that there are not enough subjects to promote creativity and questioning. For example, the subject Art, promotes creativity but there is very little emphasis on it, so no one gives it priority. All the subjects tested in exams like Maths, Science, English, History, Geography, all these are 'memorizing' subjects, with the exception of the language subjects. They do not promote creativity and questioning, and only require one the memorize the facts and application. I feel that she has raised a valid point in our education system, and that is "do we do enough in our education to instill creativity and inquisitiveness in our students?"

2) Examine her tone and attitude in this letter. Do you think it’s a well-crafted letter with the appropriate tone? 

 

Ans: I do not think that the tone used is appropriate. Her tone is as if she was the minister's superior, as if she had the right to tell the minister off. After all, she is talking to the minister. Even if the minister was wrong, one has to put across in a polite manner. Her letter was correct grammatically, but the tone used in it was not.

3)If you should write a letter to Minister of Education, what are some issues you would raise? Remember- your intention is to make the system better for society’s betterment via CONSTRUCTIVE ideas.

 

Ans:I would raise the fact that not all the subjects we learn is applicable in real life and that we should learn skills that really help us to be successful is life. I would also raise the fact that teachers should not judge their students just based on their marks and reduce the importance of test marks

Blog Prompt 3: Money in Matrimony

In your opinion, is money important in a relationship? Consider the 'transactional' element observed in the relationships between the couples. Do you think there is an upward trend of relationships and marriages valuing money over other qualities? Provide examples for your responses.

In my opinion, i feel that money is important in a relationship to a certain extent, although the true nature of marriage is love. Now, there is more focus on the 'love' factor between couples instead of the 'money' factor of the couple. In the past though, there was more focus in the 'money' factor of any potential spouse. In "Merchant Of Venice", Bassanio borrows money from Antonio to court Portia, to cover his expenses to Belmont as well as to impress her into marrying him, although later they both expressed that their "love at first sight". However, there have been cases of true found in Lorenzo and Jessica, although Jessica devises a cunning plot to "make fast the doors and gild myself with some more ducats, and be with you straight", showing how money can buy happiness to a certain extent.


Now, there are still people who marry out of money. These people are like parasites; they get attached to a 'host' and start taking the money, without giving them anything in return. In my opinion, that is not the way for any marriage. Marriage is a union of not only personal wealth, but also of hearts and minds. The warmth felt through mutual love for each other cannot be bought with money. However, money is still needed to live a comfortable life and to provide for one's basic needs. I feel that there isn't an upward trend of relationships and marriages valuing money over other qualities. Rather, i feel that now is the opposite, with love and other qualities taking priority over personal wealth. Still, now all marriages try to strike a balance between the two- they look for a mate whom they understand, appreciate, and admire, but also wish to be secure and comfortable financially so that they can enjoy their marriage more.

Blog Prompt 2: How has war evolved from the past to the present?

For centuries, Man has always tried to take what He wanted through force. Be it using stone clubs and spears in the Stone Age, to using guns and tanks now, there is always the same pattern, repeated over the eons, just changed in the forms they take. The pattern if war is the same - senseless killing, and the ruin or weakening of all involved. During any war, it just shows that Man is letting his heart rule his mind, labeling massacres and bloodshed with honor and valour, backing them with causes he deems "worthwhile", fueling the ever burning furnace of war and hatred.

As the years pass, Man has become cleverer but not wiser. They make better and more destructive and effective weapons, instead of trying to put out the same ever burning furnace of war and hatred handed down by their ancestors so many eons ago. One does not see Man trying to end the cycle of war and hatred. One only sees how the first men fought with primitive spears of wood and sharp stone, clubs of stone and wood. And following that, swords and spears, forged from the very elements of the Earth, their potential for destruction higher than ever. Human ingenuity has followed up by spawning various weapons such as the cannon, developed with the discovery of gunpowder, and the chariot, pulled by beasts tamed by man for the sole purpose of war. And as the modern age approached, Man's furnace of hatred and war burned fiercer than ever before. Man's once ornate armour of bronze was transformed to camouflage uniforms of Kevlar, their steel arrows were replaced by pellets of lead and tin, not to mention heat-seeking missiles of mass destruction. The once proud steeds and mounts of war were transformed into machines with pelts of titanium and steel, shooting fire and death.

The destructive potential of these weapons and hence the burning furnace constantly increases as mankind adds its emerging technology to its already large arsenal of weapons to further boost its capacity for destruction and ruin. The advancement of technology has accelerated the destructiveness of human modern warfare to unacceptable and irrational levels, all the while causing the flames of War and Hatred to burn and destroy the lives of countless.

The Soldier - Rupert Brooke reflection (Blog Prompt 1)

1)Why do you think National Service is compulsory in Singapore and why is this important?

Ans: As Singapore is a country with a small population, Singapore cannot afford to maintain a large standing army. Therefore the solution would be to train every male in the population and call upon them to form our army during times of war. Having our own defence is important as Singapore is an independent country, and we cannot rely on others to defend us.

2)Do you have the same spirit of patriotism as the soldier in the poem towards Singapore? Why?

Ans:Yes. Singapore is my mother country, where i was raised and shaped into what i am now. Therefore, in Singapore's time of need, i am obliged to return to the country what the country has given me. It would be ungrateful of me if i were to abandon my country when she needs my help most.

3)Do you consider yourself as a patriot to your country?

Ans:No, i do not consider myself as a patriot to my country. I still do not have such a strong bond with my country that i would do anything for it. I would still think of myself first, then my country. However, there may come a time when a really strong bond is forged between my country and i, and i would do anything for it.

Book Review 2 - The 6 Sacred Stones by Mathew Reilly

Over the holidays, i read this book, The 6 Sacred Stones by Mathew Reilly. It is actually a sequel to another of Reilly's books, The 7 Ancient Wonders. The 6 Sacred Stones is about an ex-soldier Jack West Jr., his team of ex-commandos, the brilliant scientist Wizard and Jack's adopted daughter Lily racing through the world trying to prevent the end of the world. The end of the world comes in the form of a "dark sun", giving out deadly "zero-point energy" which will destroy all life on Earth. Jack learns of a mysterious "Machine" built by an ancient civilization that can repel the deadly energy given out by the dark sun. However, the rebuilding of the machine requires 6 keys, in the form of 6 oblong diamond bricks, also called "pillars", to be put in their respective locations all around the world, called vertex. There are also complications. For each "pillar" put in place, a fantastic reward will be given to the one that put it in. The rewards are: Knowledge, Heat, Sight, Life, Death, and Power. These rewards have caused Jack and his team to go against America and China, both who want the rewards themselves. There is also the Japanese, who want the world destroyed to regain their honour, the British royal family, and many others. It is a race against time, as the pillars must be put in their respective vertexes at a very specific time. The laying of the pillars are spread out over 3 months, and ends on the extremely rare Dual Equinox: when both our Sun and its twin, the Dark Sun, will be shining on the sixth Vertex. Thus the team set out, against all odds, to lay the pillars and stop the other countries from using the rewards themselves.

This book is a must-read for all. The book is fast paced that it feels like a never-ending roller coaster; the reader is taken to the magical world opf Jack West and feels like he is actually there seeing it with his own eyes. The ending, which i will not spoil the surprise for you, was EXHAUSTING. It ended with such a good cliffhanger that i could not help but thinking about it all the time; what will happen next? How will he survive this? can he even survive this? These are some of the questions that went through my head after reading the book. The book is like an Indiana Jones type of book. Most of the history there is accurate, and the made-up-history in the book is so well disguised that you would even believe everything in the book! There are so many action scenes and each time, I think "there is NO WAY Reilly can top that one!" However, surprise, surprise, the next action scene, it would be even better! For those who of you want to read Mathew Reilly books, i can sum them ALL up in two words: PURE ADRENALINE.

Book Review - Eragon by Christopher Paolini

I recently read this book, Eragon by Christopher Paolini. It is about a farm boy, Eragon, who finds a polished blue stone while hunting in the forest. Eragon thinks that this stone will be able to buy his family some meat during the harsh winter. However, all this is dashed when the stone brings a dragon hatchling, and Eragon realizes that he has stumbled upon a legacy even older than the Empire itself. Immediately, Eragon's simple life is shattered as he is thrust into a dangerous new world of destiny, magic, and power. He meets many people in his journey and soon has to make a critical decision, a decision that can alter the fate of the Empire and the land forever......
My favourite character in the story is Angela, a herbalist that Eragon meets in the city on Terim. She is my favourite character because she is very witty and her use of verbal trickery often leaves everyone stunned and speechless in her wake. For example, when Eragon was finding the house of a friend, he asked her is she could tell him which house it was. Angela said yes and continued with her business. Then Eragon asked her if she would tell him. Again she said yes and ignored. She then told Eragon that he hasn't actually asked her the question, and only asked if she could and would. This kind of thinking is very novel and always puts a smile on my face when i see Angela outwit others in this manner.
The Eragon series, consisting of 3 books with a fourth one coming soon, is by far my favourite book series of all time. The way it is written, the way the plot is developed, cannot be described. It brings me to the magical world of Eragon and always keeps me there, wanting to know what will happen next. I am now eagerly awaiting the fourth book, where the series will finally end and all my questions answered.
To all that have not read this series, i sincerely recommend this to you. It is truly a magical read in every sense of the word.