English Literature Made Easy for Students: February 2020

Tuesday 25 February 2020

Antonio-Bassanio Relationship: Its Dramatic Importance: The Merchant of Venice

Q7. 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 Bassanio.

Antonio-Bassanio relationship becomes crystal clear to the reader in act I, Scene (i).

At Bassanio’s entry on the stage, Solanio tells Antonio:

‘Here comes Bassanio, your most noble kinsman, …’

Bassanio is Antonio’s kinsman also. We also come to know that Antonio is ready to do anything for his friend, Bassanio. Bassanio also confides (opens his heart to) in him his heart’s secrets.

In this scene, Antonio asks him to tell him about his love:

‘Well, tell me now what lady is the same/ To whom you swore a secret pilgrimage…’

Here Bassanio does tell about Portia and also requests his friend about a fresh loan in order to reach Belmont to take part in the casket contest. He says:

‘Tis not unknown to you, Antonio/ How much I have disabled mine estate…’

Thus Bassanio opens his heart to Antonio and tells him about Portia, his love, in his most poetic manner. But he needs a fresh loan to reach Belmont to take part in the casket contest. Antonio has recently invested all his money on ships. At present, he has no cash with him. But he cannot see his friend sad. So he manages somehow a loan of three thousand ducats from Shylock, the cruel money lender of Venice.

But he has to sign a dangerous bond. If he fails to repay the loan in fixed time, then, Shylock would be free to cut one pound of flesh from Antonio’s body part that is very close to his heart. Bassanio stops him to sign this bond, but Antonio is hopeful that his ships would return in time with profits in his business.

It is this loan that lands Antonio in Shylock’s death trap. The reason for Shylock’s enmity with Antonio is just the latter’s (Antonio’s) generous nature. He gives loan to people without any rate of interest. Thus Shylock considers Antonio his business rival.

Bassanio takes part in the casket contest and wins Portia’s hand for marriage. But as soon as he comes to know about Antonio’s troubles, he reaches Venice at once to save Antonio. Ithappened that Antonio’s all ships were destroyed in the sea.

According to the bond’s condition, Shylock was free to cut one pound of flesh from Antonio’s body.

In the meantime, Portia reaches Venice in the guise of a lawyer in male dress. She enters the Duke’s court and proceeds to argue. She saves Antonio very cleverly from Shylock’s death trap. She also proves the Jew guilty of a crime against humanity and gets him duly punished.

Thus in the Trail scene, Bassanio’s character is also redeemed (saved/recovered). Otherwise, the reader would have thought him to be a spendthrift person who marries Portia for money. He offers his life to Shylock in order to spare his friend’s life.

Thus we see that the relationship between Antonio and Bassanio has a lot of dramatic significance.

Female Characters in The Merchant of Venice

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, humour, etc.

These qualities make her stature very high. The reader/audience loves her even in her weak moments of life, when she feels herself caught in a difficulty due to the vow given to her late father. She is not free to choose her husband of her choice. She respects her father’s strange will unto the last. She shows her deep love for Bassanio and deep respect and loyalty to her father. She is also full of the milk of human kindness. When she comes to know from Bassanio about Antonio’s difficulty, she at once tells her husband to stop all his work and go to Venice to save his friend.

It is her presence of mind that she at once makes a plan to reach Venice to save Antonio in the Duke’s court. She intelligently and very confidently handles Antonio’s case. Thus she not only saves Antonio but also gets Shylock punished for his crime that he committed against humanity.

In this way, she also overshadows not only other female characters but also male ones including her husband Bassanio, who has been created in low profile. It is later on, Bassanio’s character is redeemed (saved/recovered) when he reaches Venice to help Antonio in the Duke’s court. There he shows much concern for his friend’s life. He offers Shylock several times more money than it was taken as a loan from him. But the Jew is not ready to forgive Antonio. Bassanio also tells the Jew that he can cut every part of his body but spare Antonio’s life.

Another female character is Jessica. She is Shylock’s daughter. She elopes with her lover Lorenzo taking with her a lot of valuables from her house. She does not love her father. She condemns him for his evil-doings. She also calls her house a hell. She feels ashamed of being called Shylock’s daughter. although she feels bad for such types of feelings for her father. Lorenzo and Jessica waste Shylock’s money when they stay at several places during elopement time. Thus we do not have a very high opinion about Jessica. She loves money. That is why she took diamonds and ducats with her. In Portia’s absence, Lorenzo and Jessica take care of her house.

The third female character in the play is Nerissa, who marries Gratiano. She is Portia’s woman-in-waiting. She provides (gives) company to her. Portia shares her thoughts and feelings with her. In Act I, Scene (ii), Portia feels sad to think that she is not free to choose the husband of her choice. Then she tells Portia that her father was really a wise person. She consoles her that she would finally get a husband who would truly love her. Nerissa also accompanies Portia in the Duke’s court. In the ring episode also, Nerissa has an equal part to play. In a way, she has been created as a foil to Portia to highlight her qualities.

In this way, there are three female characters in The Merchant of Venice, who dominate their male counterparts.

Dramatic Importance of the Trial Scene; The Merchant of Venice

5. 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 caused by his misfortune. He just wants to die as he is unable to pay money to Shylock. It reflects his righteousness and honesty also.

Bassanio’s true friendship for Antonio is also reflected in this scene. He is greatly grieved (pained) to see his friend Antonio in death trap. He leaves Belmont at once and reaches Venice to help Antonio. Portia also tells him to reach Venice by suspending all his work. He is ready to pay Shylock several times more money than it was taken on loan. He even wants to give all parts of his body to save Antonio’s life.

We also come to know how the casket and the trial scenes are inter-related. This shows Shakespeare’s skill as the greatest playwright of the world. All the scenes and acts are inter-woven. They have logical unity in them.

Description of The Trial Scene: The Merchant of Venice

Q4. 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, whom the Duke had sent for. She appears in the court in male dress as a young layer Balthazar sent by Bellario. She is accompanied by Nerissa also as Portia’s assistant in male dress. She reads the bond and tells the court that Shylock has a right to take one pound of flesh from Shylock’s body. The Jew feels very much happy at Portia’s remarks in his favour. But she requests Shylock to show mercy on Antonio, whose ships have got destroyed in sea. Shylock refuses to do so. Then Portia understands that the Jew is adamant on taking Antonio’s life.

After that, Portia plays her trump card. She tells Shylock to cut one pound of flesh from Antonio’s body, neither less nor more than a pound. She puts another condition on him she says that the bond allows him to take flesh not even a single drop of blood. If a drop of blood from Antonio’s body sheds, then, the law of Venice will punish him for taking the life of a citizen of Venice. The Jew comes on the back foot. He asks for only three thousand ducats.

After some time, he is ready to drop the case and go. But Portia plays the role of a shrewd (smart/astute) lawyer here. She does not let him go unpunished. She tells him about a law of Venice that applies on him. If a foreigner tries to take life of a citizen of Venice, his half property will be confiscated (taken by law) by the state. Another half of the property will be given to Antonio, the aggrieved party. The life of the culprit (wrong doer) will be at the mercy of the Duke.

Finally, the Duke spares Shylock’s life and even reduces the penalty regarding the half portion of his property. Antonio is allowed to take the second half of the Jew’s property as a trustee. After Shylock’s death, it would be given to Jessica and Lorenzo. In that case, Shylock will have to become a Christian. In addition, he will have to sign the documents regarding transfer of his property to Jessica and Lorezo after his death. Shylock agrees to all the conditions and is allowed to go home.

Shylock’s Character from The Merchant of Venice

Q3. 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 taking one pound of Antonio’s flesh. This shows his cruelty.

Shylock can do anything for money. He charges high interest from the people. When his daughter Jessica flees with Lorenzo by taking diamonds and ducats, he cries more for money and very less for his daughter. He says: ‘….I would my daughter dead at my foot and the jewels in her ear!...’ Even his daughter does not love her father. She does not like his diabolic nature. She thanks God that she has not inherited any evil form her father. She calls her house a hell. She feels ashamed of being Shylock’s daughter.

Shylock is not only greedy for money but he is cunning and hypocrite also. He very cunningly gets the dangerous bond signed by Antonio. He calls it just a joke, a formality. But in the heart of hearts he feels happy to catch Antonio in a death trap.

He is a hypocrite person. He shows that he endures misbehaviour and maltreatment done to him by Christians. But he also hates them very much. He does not like his daughter to marry a Christian boy. He advises her not to open window and see the Christian procession that would pass through their street.

His daughter, Jessica, does not like her father. She does not want to live with him. She calls her house a hell. She feels ashamed of being Shylock’s daughter. She feels happy that she has not inherited even a single feature from her father’s personality.

But some critics defend Shylock. One of them is Hudson. In his opinion, Shylock’s character is ‘essentially tragic’. It is also said that Shylock is ‘more sinned against than sinning.’ It is true that he has several negative features in his character. But the punishment given to him is harsher than he deserves. No matter, all of his property has been confiscated and his life has been spared. But he has been converted to a Christian. That is quite wrong.

To conclude, we may say that Shakespeare created Shylock’s character as a villain in this play. He created him in the social and religious background that prevailed in society at that time. If we see Shylock in the modern perspective, in spite of his defects, he has been given unduly harsh treatment by the Christians of that time.

Saturday 22 February 2020

The Merchant of Venice: Long Answer-type Qs

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 Bassanio. She expresses her deep love for him in her most poetic manner. Bassanio also shows his balance of mind, intelligence and wisdom while choosing the right casket. He does not show any hurry. He thinks and rethinks about the meanings of the words written on each casket. He applies his own reasoning and then decides not to be deceived by the shine neither of the gold nor of the silver casket. Finally, he selects the lead casket and wins Portia. When he comes to know about Antonio’s troubles, he feels very sad. Portia also shows her greatness by advising her husband to reach Venice at once to save his friend. She also decides to help Antonio secretly.

Thus Bassanio’s character is redeemed in the reader’s mind due to this scene. Earlier, the reader had an impression about Bassanio that he is extravagant and wishes to marry Portia only for her beauty and money.

Even Portia’s loyalty towards her late father is proven in this scene. She does not tell anything about the secret of the caskets to Bassanio, whom she loves most.

In the subsidiary two scenes in which the Prince of Morocco and the Prince of Arragon try their luck to win Portia. We come to know that Portia does not like them. We come to know that both of them were boastful and were attracted by the outward glitter of the things.

Thus the casket scene is very important in this play. It has very important role in the plot of the play.

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, romantic, brave, and intelligent person. Portia is in all praise for him. But, he is extravagant. He borrows loans from Antonio to raise his standard of living to impress Portia. He wins Portia’s hand for marriage by his intelligence.

Q4. Who is Nerissa and what role does she play in the text?

Ans. Nerissa is Portia’s waiting-woman. So we always find her with Portia. She also plays an important role in the development of the plot of the play. Their conversation makes the reader/audience several things clear to them. She also accompanies Portia to the court disguised as a male clerk. Her love story with Gratiano also creates a lot of interest for the audience/reader.

Q5.Who is Lorenzo?

Ans. He is a common friend to Bassanio, Antonio, Gratiano, etc. We also know him as Jessica’s lover. His elopement with his beloved, Jessica, makes Shylock, Jessica’s father, infuriated (extremely angry). This incident makes the story move further at a quicker pace.

Q6. Who is Jessica?

Ans. Jessica is Shylock’s daughter. She is Lorenzo’s sweet heart also. She does not like her father’s greedy and mean nature. She calls her house a hell. She even feels ashamed of being her father Shylock’s daughter. All these points show that she herself is of a very good nature. She knows that her father would never allow her to marry Lorenzo because he is a Christian. So she elopes with him and marries with him.

Q7.Who is Portia?

Ans. Portia is a very beautiful and intelligent rich lady of Belmont city in Italy. Her father died leaving a huge property in her name. She proves loyal (faithful) to her father and her lover Bassanio. She helps Antonio in the guise of a male lawyer. She fights Antonio’s case and saves his life. She is truly witty, intelligent and noble at heart.

Q8. Who is the Prince of Morocco?

Ans. The Prince of Morocco also wants to marry Portia. So he reaches Belmont to try his luck in selecting the right casket. He keeps on boasting about himself. Portia tells him about the conditions about the caskets. He reads the words written on each casket carefully. But he selects the gold casket. It was a wrong choice.

Q9. Who is the Prince of Arragon?

Ans. The Prince of Arragon was also Portia’s suitor. Portia tells him about the conditions about the caskets. She also tells him to take an oath to follow three things. These are: (i) not to tell anyone as to which box he chose (ii) to remain unmarried all of his life if he failed (iii) to leave the place at once if he failed. He also selects silver casket. It was a wrong choice. So he has to leave the place in shock.

Q10. Who is Gratiano?

Ans. Gratiano is a common friend of Bassanio and Antonio. He is also a hard critic of shylock. He is also a talkative person. Bassanio says about him that it is very difficult to find out meaning from his words. He falls in love with Nerissa, Portia’s maid servant and finally marries her.

Q11. Why did not Antonio lend money to his friend, Bassanio?

Ans. Antonio had invested all of his money on goods. These were loaded in the ships to go in different parts of the world. He had no cash in hand. So Antonio did not lend money to his Bassanio.

Q12. What was Portia’s father’s will about choosing her husband?

Ans. Before dying, Portia’s father binds her with his will. According to it, Portia is bound to marry the person who chooses the right casket out of the three. The suitors from all over the world come to try their luck. There are three caskets and on each of them several lines are inscribed. One of the three caskets contains Portia’s portrait. That would be right casket. Whosoever chooses that would be Portia’s husband.

Q13.Why does Antonio feel sad or melancholy in Act I, Scene (i)?

Ans. As the play begins, we find Antonio in sad mood. He himself does not know as to why he is sad. His friends try to guess the reason for his sadness. Sararino says that he might be sad due to his ships. Antonio rejects it. Then Solanio says that Antonio might have been fallen in love. But this reason is also rejected. Actually, this is Antonio’s nature to become sad sometimes without knowing its reason.

Q14. What is Shylock’s first reaction when Antonio asks him for loan?

Ans. Antonio requests a loan from Shylock on behalf of Bassanio. But Shylock talks in a roundabout way. He does not say at once that he is ready to loan of 3000 ducats. He reminds Antonio that once he had insulted him. He expresses his hatred and feeling of revenge for Antonio. He blames him for harming his business by giving without interest money to people.

Q15. Which casket does the Prince of Arragon choose and why?

Ans. The Prince of Arragon chooses the silver casket. He is very much impressed to read the words written on the casket: ‘Who chooseth me, will get what he deserve.’ He thinks himself worthy of Portia. So he deserves her. Thus he opens the silver casket. He finds inside the portrait of a blinking idiot

Q16. How many caskets were there? What was there in each of the casket?

Ans. There were three caskets, i.e., of gold, silver and lead. The gold casket contains a human skull. The silver casket contains the portrait of a blinking idiot. The lead casket contains the portrait of beautiful Portia.

Q17. What is written on the three caskets?

Ans. (i) The words inscribed on the gold casket are: “Who chooseth me shall gain what many men desire.”

(ii)The words inscribed on the silver casket are: “Who chooseth me shall get as much as he deserves.”

(iii)The words inscribed on the lead casket are: “Who chooseth me must give and hazard all he hath.”

Q18. What is Portia’s reaction to prince of Arragon’s exit?

Ans. Portia never wants that the Prince of arragon should win the contest. So she feels relaxed on his failure in selecting the right casket. He leaves the place in anger. He did not take proper farewell from Portia. She says that another moth has got burnt in the candle’s flame.

Ans.19. Describe the scene of Jessica’s elopement with her lover, Lorenzo.

Ans. Jessica is Shylock’s daughter. She loves Lorenzo. She knows it very well that her father would never allow her to marry a Christian boy. So she makes a plan to elope with Lorenzo. She disguises herself as a boy and with valuables.

Q20. What wealth does Jessica take along with her while eloping with Lorenzo?

Ans. Jessica takes a lot of valuables like diamonds, ducats and other valuables from her house. She fills the valuables in boxes and gives them to Lorenzo. She knew that her father would never allow her to marry a Christian boy.

Q21.What is Shylock’s reaction to Jessica’s elopement?

Ans. Shylock gets (becomes) mad with anger and grief. He keeps on (continues) crying for most of time. He is shocked more at the loss of his valuables than that of his daughter. Solanio reports about his cries: ‘My daughter! O my ducats! O my daughter!...’

Q22. Why did Portia and Nerissa appear in the court under disguise (in male dresses)?

Ans.Portia wanted to save Antonio. But, in those days, women were not allowed to appear in courts in Venice. So she had to appear in court in disguise. She was in the guise of a lawyer and Nerissa was a clerk.

Q23. Why did Portia allow Bassanio to leave for Venice just at the time of their marriage?

Ans. Portia and Bassanio were about to marry. But at that very time, Bassanio received a letter from Antonio, whose life was in danger. Shylock was adamant on taking one pound of flesh from his body. So Portia allows Bassanio to go at once to help his close friend.

Q24. Write a note on the importance of the casket scene.

Ans. The casket scene is very important in The Merchant of Venice. First, Bassanio wins Portia’s hand to marry her by selecting the right casket. Thus two lovers come together. Second, we come to know about Portia’s several qualities. She proves her loyalty to her father. She honours his will. The scene shows her intelligence and beauty was well known. The scene also shows Portia’s father’s wisdom and foresightedness.

Q25.How does the Prince of Morocco fail to choose the right casket?

Ans. The Prince of Morocco reads carefully the words written on each casket> he thinks and rethinks deeply. He rejects the lead casket. He thinks that Portia’s portrait cannot be placed in the casket made of cheap metal. Then he says that silver is ten times cheaper than gold. Finally, he decides to select the gold casket. That was his wrong choice. Thus he fails in his attempt.

Q26.Why does Bassanio need money from Antonio?

Ans. Bassanio wants to try his luck to win Portia as his wife. He believes that she also likes him. For this, he will have to raise his status to be capable of being Portia’s suitor. So he needs a loan from Antonio. He also thinks by marrying Portia, he will be able to pay off Antonio’s loan.

Q27. What kind of a money lender Shylock is?

Ans. Shylock is a cruel and heartless money lender. He charges (takes) high rate of interest from people on loans. He is full of hatred for Christians. He is a merciless fellow. He wants to kill Antonio by taking one pound of flesh from his heart.

Q28. Write a short note on the opening scene of the play ‘The Merchant of Venice’.

Ans. The opening scenes in all Shakespearean plays are very important. They strike the keynote of the plays. In this play, we meet several characters like Solanio, Salarino, Gratiano, Antonio, Bassanio and Lorenzo in scene one of the act one. We also come to know that Antonio is a melancholic character. We come to know that Antonio and Bassanio are fast friends. It is due to this friendship that Antonio signs a fatal bond with Shylock.

Q29. What does the opening scene of the play ‘The Merchant of Venice’ tell us about Antonio?

Ans. We find Antonio in sad mood in the opening scene of this play. He is unable to know the reason from his sadness. But the most important thing about Antonio we find is his true friendship with Bassanio. It is this friendship that makes Antonio sign the bond that further pushes the events of the play.

Q30. How does the Prince of Arragon fail to choose the right casket?

Ans. The Prince of Arragon also carefully reads the words inscribe on each box. He rejects the gold casket because he does not want to gain what many men desire. He also rejects the lead casket. He is not ready to hazard anything for that ugly looking casket. Finally he reads the words written on the silver casket: ‘Who chooseth me shall get as much as he deserves.’ He thinks that he deserves Portia. So he opens it and finds a blinking idiot inside. He fills with anger and leaves the place.

Q31.How does Antonio ill-treat Shylock?

Ans. Antonio’s behaviour with Shylock was not friendly. We come to know that he used to call him a dog and even spat at him. Antonio hates him because he is a cruel money-lender. Shylock does not forget insults made to him. Shylock himself says that Antonio has caused loss to his business. Antonio has also provoked Shylock’s enemies against him

Q32.How does Bassanio choose the right casket and wins Portia’s hand?

Ans. Bassanio thinks deeply before choosing the right casket. He is not attracted by the shine of gold and silver. He tells himself that the world is still deceived by outward show. People are quite seasoned () in fooling others by their sweet voice. Even priests may misguide people by interpreting text from religious books wrongly. After a long arguments with himself, Bassanio selects the lead casket. His joy is boundless to see Portia’s portrait in it.

Q33. What is Portia’s opinion about the Prince of Morocco?

Ans. Portia has no special liking for the Prince of Morocco. She shows no interest in him. She just tells him about the conditions that he must follow. He fails to choose the right casket and leaves the place in disappointment (sadness). Portia calls it a ‘gentle ridddance’.

Q34. What does the Prince of Morocco tell Portia about himself?

Ans. The Prince of Morocco boasts a lot about himself. First he tells her not to dislike him for his black skin. ‘Mislike me not for my complexion.’ He also tells her that ‘the best regarded virgins of his country love his black complexion. He also boasts of his bravery.

Q35. What does Jessica say about her father, shylock?

Ans.Jessica dislikes her father for his evil deeds (acts). She feels ashamed of calling himself her father’s (Shylock’s) daughter. She even calls her house a hell. Actuaqlly she is quite different from her father.

Q36. What does Portia say about mercy?

Ans.Portia says that mercy is a divine virtue. It is natural like rain. It has a double blessing. It blesses both, the heart that possesses it and the heart that receives it. She also says if justice is mingled (mixed) with mercy, it gets a god-like quality in it.

Q37.What does Portia say about the Count of Palatine?

Ans. She says that the count of Palatine looks serios and sad. ‘He doth nothing but frown.’ The frown on his face seems unpleasant to her. She thinks he will become like the weeping philosopher, Hereaclites. In his old age, he will become a pessimist.

Q38.What does Portia say about the Baron of England?

Ans. The Baron of England seems to be a handsome and perfect man to Portia. But he speaks English and Portia does not understand it. He does not even know other language that Portia may understand. So he is like a dumb man fpr her. ‘She even comments on his dress having different parts brought from different place.

Q39. What does Portia say about the French Lord?

Ans. She calls the French Lord ‘every man in no man.’ She says that it is a sin to laugh at God’s creation. But she says that his frown is more horrible than that of the Count of Palatine. He even starts dancing if he hears as bird singing. His knowledge on a horse is better than that of the Prince of Naples. In short she does not like him.

Q40.Why does Shylock ask his daughter not to look out of the window when masquerade passes their house?

Ans. Shylock advises his daughter to close all the windows and doors of the house. He does not like Christian festivals. So he tells his daughter not ot look out of the window when the masquerade passes through their street.

Q41. How does Portia finally save Antonio from Shylock’s death-net? Or How does Portia turn the tables upon shylock in the court of Venice disguised as a young lawyer?

Ans. Portia handles Antonio’s case very cleverly. She moves step by step in a logical way. She tells Shylock to cut one pound of flesh from Antonio’s chest. But, she also warns him not to shed even a single drop of blood from Antonio’s body. She tells him that the contract allows him to take one pound of flesh. If a drop of Christian blood sheds, his land and goods will be confiscated () by state’s law.

Q42. Why is Antonio willing to die?

Ans. We know Antonio’s melancholy nature. In the famous trial scene also, he often says that nothing can be done to save him. The Duke of Venice would pronounce judgment against him on the basis of the contract. He also equates himself to a diseased sheep whose fate is only to die. He wants to sacrifice his life for Bassanio.

Q43. Who is Old Gobo?

Ans. Old Gobo is Launcelot’s father. He is almost blind. It is his own son, Launcelot, whom asks the address of Shylock’s house. Launcelot understands that he has not recognized him. So, first he creates some comedy out of this situation. Then he tells him about himself.

Q44. Who is Balthazar?

Ans. Balthazar is Portia’s most faithful servant. It is he, who takes a secret letter to Portia’s cousin, Bellario to Padua. He brings some notes and dresses for her. Portia names herself as Bathazar, a law doctor to fight the case to save Antonio from Shylock.

Q45. Who is Launcelot?

Ans. Launcelot is a servant in shylock’s house. Like a clown, he creates comedy in this play. It relieves (removes) tension from the audience/reader’s mind. He creates fun with his father Old Gobo. Then his conversation with Jessica in Act 3 scene 5, creates a lot of fun. He tells Jessica that the sins of father passes to children.

Q46. How is Shylock a cunning and hypocrite person?

Ans. Shylock is a cunning and hypocrite type of person. He gets the bond signed by Antonio very cleverly. He says the bond is just a joke. He is a revengeful person. He shows that he bears the misbehaviour done to him very peacefully. But he is full of hatred for Antonio just because he gives money to people without interest.

Q47. Write a note on Gratiano’s wisdom.

Ans. Bassanio says about Gratiano that it is very difficult to find meaning in his words. But in reality, he has a very deep insight into human nature. Some parts of his speeches are full of his wit and wisdom. When he talks to Antonio about melancholy people, he gives sound examples from life.

Q48. What does Bassanio’s request lead to?

Ans. Bassanio requests Antonio about a new loan from him. But Antonio refuses to pay him any money because at that time he had no cash with him. Then he manages money for him from Shylock. He has to sign a bond that leads the story of the play to a great tension. It is Portia who resolves all the issues in the play.

Wednesday 19 February 2020

Questions & Answers (Long Answer-type) : The Merchant of Venice

The Merchant of Venice: Long Answer-type Qs

Portia’s Character

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 at first sight with Bassanio when he visits Belmont and meets her late father. When Nerissa mentions Bassanio’s name to her, she feels excited and says, “Yes, yes, it was Bassanio; as I think, he was so called.”

Then we find Portia’s love for Bassanio blooming forth in the main casket scene, Act III, Scene (ii), in which Bassanio takes part and wins her hand. She does not want that Bassanio should choose the wrong casket. She tells him not to hurry and take much time before deciding about his choice. She enjoys his company most.
Whatever she speaks in this scene is most poetic and romantic and shows her love for Bassanio. Her joy knows no bound when he chooses the right casket.

Portia has all the qualities of head and heart. She is wise and intelligent. She is able to read human minds. She knows well that Bassanio would prove faithful to her. She understands Shylock and his evil mind in the Duke’s court. Her wisdom turns the tables on Shylock. Her farsightedness and presence of mind are proven when she leaves for Venice to help Antonio. It also shows her feelings of sympathy. She keeps her and Nerissa’s identity secret. This also shows her maturity.

Thus it may be concluded safely that Portia’s character in this play is fully developed.