Tuesday, September 23, 2008

LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT IN MERCHANT OF VENICE

Examining the relationship between Portia and Bassanio and Nerissa and Gratiano, do you think that a successful relationship can possibly start with "love at first sight"?

I personally find the development of their relationship as very weak in foundation because they fell in love at first sight. Yes, they can get attracted to each other but what happens after that is more important. I think they should have taken efforts first to get to know each other better before finally getting married. For an instance, Portia, though Bassanio was the one who won the challenge, should have at least waited more than a month to really assure herself that she has the right man to live with for eternity. Also Gratiano should have been wiser not to just be "inspired" by Bassanio's true love, but rather to discern whether what attracted him through his eyes would also attract his soul. Well, good for them, the guys caught the right fish! But in real life, this does not always happen, sadly.

What do you think?

14 comments:

PoisonedRose said...
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PoisonedRose said...

I agree that the 'love at first sight' concept doesn't really seem romantic when you look right through it. It is solely based on outward appearances - it is extremely superficial. To be able to establish a good, strong, and healthy relationship, friendship must come first.

When you know each other to the point that you can finish each other's sentences or read each other's minds in a way that you both have the same wavelength of thought, that is when a strong relationship is then developed.

Being impulsive over such things as love won't make you emotionally fulfilled. It will lead to such possible bickering against each other since you don’t really know the person inside-out (his interests, hobbies, etc.)
~jeline m. II-2

Unknown said...
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Unknown said...
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Unknown said...

[I had to delete the previous one because I forgot to put my name. XD]

"Love at first sight" is a phenomenon [if that's the right word] that really happens in life, but it doesn't mean that it would be the only basis for "true love"

In my opinion, love at first sight is foolish. You only get to love a person when you truly know that person deep down. How can you say that you're in love if you just met the person for the 1st time? that is just simply foolish, because being in love doesn't happen in a snap, and love is something that can do great things.

~ Pauline, II-1

halcyonlife said...

i believe that it would work for a while and not as long as those who see beyond the "first sight". first sights would usually only include the good side of the person, and when they say they have fallen in love, it's not for real because they have not also loved the person's imperfections. and when they have seen the whole being of the person, they break up.

Lexiz said...
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Lexiz said...

I think people could never tell if a relationship would work out if it is based with "Love at first sight." Because it's a connection between the two people who are involved in it. One can never tell unless he/she has experienced it herself.

And it is love that we are talking about, right? It's the thing that can make the impossible possible!

:D

~ Alex Reyes, II-2

Tricia said...

I don't think that a successful relationship can start with "love at first sight". In the first place, there isn't such a thing as truly loving a person whom you see for the first time. You have to truly know that "special" someone to be assured that you'd want to spend the rest of your life with that person. Successful relationships are built on trust, respect, and understanding one another's strengths and weaknesses.

- Tricia R. II - 4

Unknown said...

Yes I agree - love at first sight isn't really a plausible reason to get married right away. Nothing is a plausible reason to get married right away, just like what Bassanio did with Portia.

Gratiano falling in love with Nerissa is weird too. O_O

disguised as an angel said...

I strongly disagree with the "love at first sight" type. It is not reasonable enough to say that you're in love with someone you do not know yet. in order for you to conclude that you have fallen in love with a certain person, you must know the person inside and out. maybe love at first sight is true but this "love" might've have been based from the physical appearances of the person. So, i strongly disagree with it.


Louise Lim
II-2

lovegummieberrie08 said...

With that kind of method, no wonder people get easily separated with their husbands after how many years? Months? Love at first sight isn't just the basis loving a person. No, it is really NOT the basis! Infatuation should best describe this scenario & not really love in action. They just thought it's "love" because they seem to be "falling". Well, falling for his/her looks but not totally on the being itself. -- Sandra Tajo Yr. II-2

LEE said...

I'm not sure how I should respond to this. The topic is a blind spot for me, but maybe I can still give my two cents.

Judgment of this topic could be greatly affected if you haven't been in love, you block out any sight of love, or you don't know TRUE love.

I agree that love at first sight could mean just shallow recklessness on one's part. The claim of love could be based on the physical appearance or even the social standing of the person.

"Love at first sight" could also be looked at from another perspective. Maybe it's just the realization of love, right? Maybe it's just really seeing someone in the right light.

-- Soliman

Bea L. said...

I do not believe in love at first sight. It is like whenever this happens the people who look at each other just looks at their outer appearance. And if they get married right away they might be guilty in picking their spouse. Because whatever they saw in them at first sight they will never see it again if you see each other forever.