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Antonio-Bassanio Relationship: Its Dramatic Importance Ans. The relationship between Antonio and Bassanio is the very basis of the main plot of The Merchant of Venice. Without this relationship of close friendship between these characters, several major incidents in the play would not have taken place. Bassanio could never have been gone to Belmont to win Portia’s hand for marriage. There would have been no bond story. There would have been no Casket Scene in which we come to know about several qualities of Portia and Bassanio’s characters. There would have been no Trial scene that throws much light on several characters like Portia, Bassanio, Antonio, shylock, Gratiano, Jessica and even the Duke. If we see in totality this relationship keeps on moving the ball of action of the main plot of the play at a quick pace. The interest of the reader/audience also remains maintained (intact). Let’s now have a glimpse of this relationship of close friendship between Antonio and Bassan...

Q6. Female Characters in ‘The Merchant of Venice’ Ans. William Shakespeare is a past master in creating life-like characters in his plays. There is large range of male and female characters in his plays painted in different shades of colours in life. Some of his female characters like Cordelia in King Lear, Portia in The Merchant of Venice, Lady Macbeth in Macbeth, Beatrice in Much Ado About Nothing, Juliet in Romeo and Juliet, Desdemona in Othello and so on are really wonderfully created female characters. Let’s discuss female characters in the Merchant of Venice. Shakespeare seems to have created female characters in this play intentionally stronger than their male counterparts. We have three female characters: Portia Jessica and Nerissa. Portia dominates  by her qualities not only the female but also the male characters. She has several qualities of head and heart. She has intelligence, wisdom, loyalty, romantic nature, presence of mind, confidence, kindness, wit, hu...

Dramatic Importance of the Trial Scene: The trial scene has certain dramatic value points attached to it. First, the bond-story reaches its climax in this scene. The problem created due to signing of the bond is resolved in this scene. Antonio’s life is saved from the Shylock’s death trap. Portia’s wisdom and her presence of mind find full expression in this scene. She turns the tables on Shylock with her logics. Her poetic bent of mind is again (after the Casket Scene) revealed when she speaks about the qualities of mercy. It also shows that she is also full of mercy, and thus, is a virtuous lady. Portia’s wit and humour is also shown in this scene. She and Nerissa very tactfully get rings from their husbands, Bassanio and Gratiano just to tease them later on. It shows her sense of humour. The ring episode also gets related to this scene. Antonio’s pessimism becomes known to all in this scene. He does not defend himself. He just surrenders in front of the adverse situation c...

The Trial Scene-Description of The Trial Scene  Ans. The trial scene is the most dramatic scene in The Merchant of Venice. It has several dramatic value points attached to it. The action of the bond story reaches its climax in this scene. We know that Antonio is unable to repay the loan that he had taken from Shylock for Bassanio on his own guarantee. For this, he had to sign a bond that empowered Shylock to cut one pound of flesh from his body in case the loan is not returned in time. Unfortunately Antonio’s ships were destroyed and he could not repay the loan on time. The case reaches the Duke’s court for hearing. The Duke knows the result and requests the Jew to spare Antonio’s life. Bassanio also offers him several times more to the money given on loan. But he seems to take Antonio’s life. HE does not explain the reason as to why he wants to take one pound of flesh from Antonio’s body. In the meantime, Portia appears in the court in place of a learned lawyer, Bellario,...

Describe Shylock’s character. Ans. Shylock is one of the most important characters of the play ‘The Merchant of Venice’. He has been created by William Shakespeare with several negative points. All these points make him a villain in this play. He is a cruel, cunning, hypocrite, greedy and revengeful person. He is a very cruel money lender of Venice. He charges (takes) a very high rate of interest for the loans he gives to the people of Venice. On the other hand, Antonio does not take any interest from people on the money he gives to the people of Venice. This is the root cause of Shylock’s hatred and dislike for Antonio . He thinks that Antonio has caused a great loss to his business. So he wants to kill Antonio by taking one pound of flesh from Antonio’s body. In the Trial scene, Shylock evil-mindedness becomes clear to all. All including the duke of Venice request him to forgive Antonio by taking money. He is offered several times more than 3000 ducats, but he is adamant on ...

The Casket Scene-The Merchant of Venice: Long Answer-type Qs Q2. Describe the dramatic importance of the Casket Scene Ans. The Casket and the Trial scenes are very important in The Merchant of Venice. Both the scenes are inter-related to each other. Let us discuss the dramatic importance of the Casket Scene. There are two subsidiary scenes to the main Casket Scene also. The Casket scene plays a vital role in developing the plot of the play. First it enables Bassanio to win Portia as his wife. It is Portia, who plays a very significant role in the Trial scene. Had Bassanio not taken a loan from Shylock and then won Portia as his wife, the Trial Scene would not have taken place. Hence the whole play would have become nothing. So it is Shakespeare’s creativity and his great skill that made all the events inter-linked. Portia’s romantic and poetic side of her personality finds full exposure in front of Bassanio in the casket scene. We come to know as to how much she loves B...

        Short Answer-type Questions on The Merchant of Venice  Questions & Answers for B.A. Final Year: Semester VI:                                   The Merchant of Venice Short Answer-type Questions (Textual) Q1. Who is Antonio? Ans. Antonio is a rich merchant of Venice city of Italy. He is very kind and generous person. He helps people by giving them loans without taking interest from them. But he is a melancholy character. Sometimes he becomes sad without knowing the reason of it. Q2. Who is Shylock? Ans. Shylock is a Jewish money lender of Venice. He is a cruel, cunning, greedy and hypocrite type of person. He lends money to people at high rates of interest. He hates Christians. Q3. Who is Bassanio? Ans. Bassanio is Antonio’s fast friend. HE is handsome,...

Portia’s Character- The Merchant of Venice: Long Answer-type Qs Among all female characters in Shakespeare’s plays, Portia’s character is the most developed round character. She has all the qualities of head and heart. She has intelligence, wisdom, farsightedness, presence of mind, wit and humour, kindness, poetic mind and romance in her heart. She is introduced to the reader/audience in Act I, Scene (ii). In this scene, she is discussing with Nerissa, her attendant, about her father’s will. She feels caught in a difficult position. She is unable to choose husband of her own choice due to that will. She has to welcome unknown people who come to her mansion to try their luck to win her hand for marriage.  In spite of that, she honours her father’s will up to the last stage when Bassanio succeeds in choosing the right casket. She does not reveal any clue about the right casket to Bassanio. She wants that he must select the right casket and marry her. It seems she has love a...