Important Extracts from: The Merchant of Venice: Reference to the Context

Extract 7.

O, my Antonio, I do know of these,
That therefore only are reputed wise,(100)
For saying nothing; who, I am very sure,
If they should speak, would almost damn those ears
Which, hearing them, would call their brothers, fools.
Reference to the Context: These lines occur in William Shakespeare’s famous play ‘The Merchant of Venice’, Act I Scene (i). Gratiano, the common friend of Antonio and Bassanio, is the speaker of the above lines. He is inspired to speak these lines to convince Antonio that he is sad. But Antonio says that he looks sad because he has been made as such by God to play his sad role given to him.

Explanation:

Gratiano is trying to convince Antonio that he is sad due to certain reasons, not because of his nature. While giving examples to prove his point, he says that he knows another type of persons who seem to be wise till they do not open their mouths. Since they always prefer to keep silent, people think them to be wise. The moment they speak, their true value is exposed. Their listeners curse their ears in their privacy as to why they were listening to such nonsense.

Extract 8.

In Belmont is a lady richly left,
And she is fair, and, fairer than that word,
Of wondrous virtues. Sometimes from her eyes
I did receive fair speechless messages:
Her name is Portia; nothing undervalued(170)

To Cato's daughter, Brutus'  Portia.
Reference to the Context: These lines occur/have been taken from ‘The Merchant of Venice’, Act I, Scene(i) written by William Shakespeare. Bassanio is speaking to Antonio, his friend. We already know that both are very good friends. Bassanio needs money, so he is making background to borrow it from Antonio. He wants to go to Bolmont to impress Portia to make his life-partner. Antonio had also asked Bassanio to tell about the lady he was so much interested in.

Explanation: In the above lines, Bassanio is trying to explain the qualities that Portia possessed. First, he tells him about a ‘huge amount’ she had inherited from his father. Second, Bassanio appreciates her beauty by calling her ‘fairer’ than the word ‘fair’. Third, she is a virtuous lady. After that, Bassanio tries to prove his point that it was not his one-sided infatuation. He had received ‘speechless messages’ from her. It means that her facial expression also show that she also likes Bassanio. Lastly, he tells Antonio her name. He says that she is Portia. He also adds that one cannot undervalue her to Cato’s daughter and Brutus’ wife Portia of antique, who was the Roman heroine. By referring to the Roman Portia, he brings about the point that Portia of Belmont is no less rich and virtuous than Portia of the antique world.