1. Where does
this scene take place? Who are present in the scene? What explanation does
Morocco give for his dark complexion?
This scene takes place in a room in Portia’s
house at Belmont. People present are: Prince of Morocco and his attendants,
Portia, Nerissa and her attendants. Morocco says that he got his dark colour
because of the fierce sun. He was born and brought up in a country where the
sun is very close to the earth.
2. What
qualities does a creature born in north have? Why?
People born in north are fair-skinned.
This is because the sun’s rays are so faint in the north that they are hardly
able to melt the frost, snow and icicles.
3. Who is
Phoebus and what is meant by Phoebus’ fire? What test does the speaker
propose, to prove ‘whose blood is reddest’?
Phoebus in Greek mythology is one of the names
of the Sun God, Appollo. Phoebus’ fire means the rays of the sun. Morocco
proposes that he should be matched with any fair-skinned man born in the north.
They should open their veins to see whose blood is redder. Red blood was
considered to be sign of courage.
4. What
effect does the physical appearance of Morocco have on the brave men and the
prettiest women of his country?
Morocco’s physical appearance frightened the
brave men whereas the prettiest women admired and loved it.
5. On what
condition is the speaker prepared to change his dark complexion?
The speaker is prepared to change his dark
complexion only to win over Portia’s favour.
6. What idea
do you get about the character of the Prince of Morocco from the extract?
From the extract we know that the prince of
Morocco is a warrior and self-assured man. He has a large imposing physical
appearance and is proud of his dark complexion. He is an egoist who thinks that
he is better than other people. He boasts of his red blood and the admiration
and affection he enjoys in his land from the nobles and the best maidens.
1. What is
the lottery of Portia’s destiny? How does it prevent her from the right
of voluntary choosing?
Lottery of Portia’s destiny refers to the
lottery devised according to her deceased father’s will. According to the lottery,
each suitor has to choose from amongst the three caskets of gold, silver and
lead the one containing Portia’s portrait. The suitor who will choose the
correct casket will win Portia’s hand in marriage. The lottery of caskets
designed by her father, thus prevents Portia from exercising her freedom of
choice. The suitor, who will make the right choice will win her as wife.
2. Give the
meaning of:
But if my father had not scanted me,
And hedged me by his wit, to yield myself
His wife who wins me by that means I told you,
These lines mean: “ If I had not been
limited and restricted by my father’s wisdom and obliged to accept for a
husband the one who will succeed in winning me by the means I have told you.”
3. How
prudent was Portia’s father to have arranged her marriage through a lottery?
Give a reason for your answer.
Portia’s father was prudent to have arranged for
her marriage through a lottery. We see that at the end the wisdom of her
father prevails and she is won as wife by Bassanio whom she loves and admires.
4. Give the
brief character sketch of the Prince of Morocco in this scene.
Form the extract we know that the Prince of
Morocco is a warrior and self-assured man. He has a large imposing physical
appearance and is proud of his dark complexion. He is an egoist who thinks that
he is better than other people. He boasts of his red blood and the admiration
and affection he enjoys in his land from the nobles and the best of maidens. He
admits that the lottery of the caskets has no consideration for heroism and can
be won by anyone, even an undeserving candidate. He harps on the
idea of chance-choice, lottery, destiny, choosing, fortune and hazards.
5. Do you
agree with Portia’s statement that the Prince of Morocco stands as fair a
chance as the other suitors? Give a reason to justify your opinion.
Portia does not really mean that Morocco had a
good chance of winning her love, because in Act I, Scene 2 she holds her former
suitors in contempt. She thinks the same of Morocco because he is boastful.
Portia treats him with perfect courtesy and tact and speaks as if she holds him
in high esteem.
Extract III
1. What
is meant by a ‘scimitar’? What conquests did Morocco make by using his
scimitar?
‘Scimitar’
means sword. By using his sword, Morocco had slain the Emperor of Persia and a
Persian Prince, who had defeated Sultan Solyman of Turkey thrice.
2. State
two of the brave deeds Morocco is prepared to carry out in order to win Portia.
The
brave deeds Morocco is prepared to perform in order to win Portia are:
a) To
challenge the most brave warrior on earth
b) Snatch
away the young sucking cubs from the mother bear and dare her wrath
3. Who
are Hercules and Lichas? What could happen if they were to play a game of dice?
In what way is this example applicable to Morocco?
In
Greek Mythology, Hercules was renowned for his manliness, strength and
exploits. Lichas was his servant. According to the legend, once Hercules and
Lichas were playing a game of dice. By chance, the winning throw came from
Lichas. This example is applicable to Morocco since his fame, wealth and
achievements are of no help to him to win Portia. He is forced to take his
chance against any inferior rival.
4. Why
is the fortune said to be blind? What does Morocco fear since the blind fortune
is leading him to choose the casket?
The
goddess fortune is usually represented blindfolded. Fortune is said to be blind
due to the unaccountable variations in her dispensation of favours to mankind.
He fears that as the blind fortune is leading him to choose the right casket,
the outcome depends only on chance as in a game of dice.
5. What
final instruction does Portia give to Morocco before he is led to make
the choice?
Before
he is led to make the choice, Portia tells Morocco that he must take a chance.
He must either leave the matter altogether and not make the attempt or swear in
the Chapel before choosing, that if he makes the wrong choice, he will never
again speak to any lady on the subject of marriage.
6. Why
does Portia ask Morocco to go to the temple before he makes the choice of the
casket?
Before
he makes the choice of the casket, Portia asks Morocco to go to the temple to
swear on oath that if he makes the wrong choice, he will never again speak to
any lady on the subject of marriage.
Extract I
Launcelot:
Well, my conscience says, “ Launcelot, budge not……..is the devil
himself.
1
1. Who is Launcelot Gobbo? What inner struggle is going on in
his conscience? What does his struggle show about the contemporary Christian
practice?
Launcelot Gobbo is Shylock’s servant. An inner
struggle is going on in his mind between his conscience advising him to be a
faithful servant and the devil tempting him to leave Shylock’s service and take
up service with Bassanio. Launcelot’s inner struggle shows the
contemporary Christian practice of struggling with the temptation to yield to
it or not.
2. Why does Launcelot want to run away from the Jew? What does his
conscience advise him to do?
Launcelot want to run away from the Jew because his
master, Shylock is the very devil in human form. According to Launcelot,
Shylock is a miserly man under whose service he remains famished. Besides, he
fears that he would become a Jew if he served Shylock any longer. Initially,
his conscience tells him not to run away from Shylock’s household and to be
careful. However, when the devil persuades him to flee, his conscience tells him
that as he is the child of a good father or at least a good mother and so, he
should stay where he is and not move.
33. Launcelot’s speech provides some comic
relief in the play? Why was such a relief need in the context of the play?
In this scene Launcelot provides some
comic relief in the play. In the context of the play such a relief was needed
because the previous scene related to the bond story, depicted a serious mood
where Antonio agrees to sign a treacherous bond that stipulates a pound his
flesh in case he forfeits the agreement.
44. Enumerate the reasons given by Launcelot’s
conscience to stay on with the master.
Launcelot’s conscience advises him not
to run away as such an act of fleeing is a matter of contempt. It adds that he
is the child of a good father or at least a good mother and hence he
should stay on with the master.
55. Finally, whom does Launcelot obey-the devil or his
conscience? How is the theme of racial discrimination brought out in
Launcelot’s decision to run away?
Finally, Launcelot obeys the devil. The
theme of racial discrimination is brought out in Launcelot’s decision to run
away because he runs away from his master, Shylock, who was a Jew and takes up
service with Bassanio, a Christian.
66. How is the theme of conflict between the
good and the evil shown in this scene?
The theme of conflict between the good and
the evil is shown in this scene. Launcelot’s conscience advises him to stay on
with his master while the devil advises him to flee. He feels the devil’s
advice as good and that of the conscience as rigid. He follows the good
advice of the devil.
Extract II
Launcelot:
O heavens, this is my true begotten father!.........turn of no
hand but turn down indirectly to the Jew’s house.
1. Where are Launcelot and old Gobbo? What
is meant by ‘true-begotten father’? Why can’t old Gobbo recognize his son?
Launcelot and old Gobbo are in a street in Venice. ‘True begotten
father’ means my father who begot me. Old Gobbo cannot recognize his son as he
is more than half-blind.
2. Why is old Gobbo looking for the
way to Master Jew’s house? How does Launcelot confuse the old man while giving
directions to him to reach the Jew’s house?
Old Gobbo is looking for the way to the Jew’s house to go there to
find out if his son Launcelot , who was working as a servant in Shylock’s
household is still there. Launcelot confuses Gobbo by giving him wrong
directions to Shylock’s house.
3. What was Gobbo’s reaction to the
directions given to him by Launcelot?
Gobbo says that by the saints, it was a difficult direction to
follow.
4. What present has Gobbo brought to give
to the Jew? What does Launcelot say to his father about it?
Gobo has brought a dish of cooked doves to give to the Jew.
Launcelot tells his father to give Shylock a rope to hang himself with rather
than any present because he has half-starved him.
5. Launcelot plays a comic role in this
scene. Give two examples of comedy provided by him.
When Gobbo asks Launcelot the way to Shylock’s house, the wrong
directions which Launcelot gives him provide real comedy in the scene. The
direcitions are too confusing for Old Gobbo to follow. The second
example is Launcelot’s asking his father’s blessing. He kneels before his
father. Being blind, his father touches Launcelot’s face and says that
Launcelot has more hair on his face that Dobbin, his cart horse.
Extract III
Launcelot:
Ergo, master Launcelot…….a staff or a prop? Do you know me father?
1. Why does Launcelot use high-sounding
words in his conversation with Gobbo? What does Shakespeare want to convey to
the audience in this context about the habit of some people in his time?
Launcelot uses high-sounding words in his conversation with Gobbo
to impress him that he possesses classical learning and is a gentleman.
Shakespeare wants to convey to the audience that habit of some vain people of
his time who pretended to be what were not.
2. Why does Launcelot call old Gobbo
‘father’ in the first line of the extract? Give the meaning of :
According to Fates and Destinies, and such odd sayings, the
Sisters Three and such branches of learning,
Launcelot calls Old Gobbo ‘father’ in the first line of the
extract as he plans to reveal his identity gradually to him. In the given lines
Launcelot tells Gobbo that according to his Fate or Destiny or the Three
Sisters of the ancient Greeks and such other branches of learning the
young man is dead.
3. How does Gobbo react to the news of the
apparent loss of his son?
Old Gobbo is stunned on hearing that his son is dead. He states
that his son was his only support in his old age.
4. How does Launcelot show dramatically
that he is Gobbo’s son? Why does the former refer to his mother’s name in the
context?
When Gobbo asks Launcelot to tell him whether his son is really
dead or not, Launcelot dramatically confess that he is Gobbo’s son. But Gobbo
does not believe him. Then Launcelot mentions the name of his mother, Margery,
as a proof to show that he is really Gobbo’s son.
5. How does Gobbo show by words and actions
that he is fond of his son?
Gobbo is fond of his son. When Launcelot tells him that his son is
dead, Gobbo is shocked to hear it and laments that his son was his only support
in his old age. Further Gobbo does not believe Launcelot’s confession till he
mentions the name of his mother. When Launcelot tells him that he is his son,
Gobbo, being blind, feels Launcelot’s face to ascertain that he is actually his
son.
6. Give any two humorous situations from
this scene.
One humorous situation is when Launcelot give Gobbo directions to
go to Shylock’s house. The directions are so confusing that Gobbodoes not
follow it. Another humorous situation is the scene of Launcelot asking
his father’s blessing. He kneels in front of his father. His father feels his
beard and says that Launcelot has more hair on his face than their cart-horse
has on his tail.
Extract IV
Gobbo:
Lord, how art thou changed!...........for I am a Jew, if I serve
the Jew any longer.
1. What has just happened that makes Gobbo
say that Launcelot has changed? What present did Gobbo bring? To whom does he
want to give it?
When Gobbo remarked that Launcelot has more hair on his face than
Dobbin, their shaft-horse has on his tail, Launcelot responded that Dobbin’s
tail is growing less because when he last saw him, he had more hair on his tail
than he had on his face. At this Gobbo remarked tha Launcelot has changed.
Gobbo has brought a dish of cooked doves to be given to Shylock.
2. Give the meaning of:
a) My master’s a very Jew: My master is a
typical Jew, i.e., he is miserly man.
b) Give him a halter: give him a rope to
hang himself with.
3. How can we conclude from the extract
that Launcelot has been suffering in the Jew’s service?
In the extract Launcelot tells his father that under Shylock’s
service he has grown so thin for want of proper food that his ribs and bones
are standing our prominently and can be counted with the finger. This shows
that Launcelot has been suffering in the Jew’s service.
4. What do you find strange in the
expression: You may tell every finger I have with my ribs?
Launcelot means to say that anyone can count all his ribs by
feeling them with a finger. But Launcelot reverses the order, thus
achieving a comic effect.
5. What special privilege would Launcelot
have if he serves Bassanio? What would happen if Launcelot were to serve
the Jew ‘any longer’?
If Launcelot serves Bassanio, he will have the privilege of having
new uniforms. According to Launcelot if he works any longer for the Jew, he may
become a Jew himself. He means that it is impossible for him to remain in
Shylock’s service any further.
6. What kind of attitude against the Jews
is shown in this scene?
The miserly nature of the Jews is shown in this scene. Launcelot
says that his is half famished under Shylock’s service and adds that he has
grown so thin for want of food that his bones and ribs are standing our
prominently and can be counted with a finger.
Extract V
Launcelot:
Father, in. ……………….I’ll take my leave of the Jew in the twinkling
of an eye.
1. How has Launcelot shown that he could
speak for himself to be employed by Bassanio?
When old Gobbo delays in asking Bassanio to accept his son,
Launcelot in his service, Launcelot cuts him short and tells Bassanio that he
wants to server him.
2. What impact is the palm-reading by
Launcelot likely to make on the audience?
The palm-reading by Launcelot provides the audience a comic relief
and foretells the good fortune that may happen in the life of Launcelot.
3. What does Launcelot predict about his
wives and his escape from dangers to his life?
After reading his palm, Launcelot foretells that he will have a
long life. he will marry a large number of wives(eleven widows and nine maids
in all). He will escape thrice from drowning and will have a hair-breadth
escape once from falling our from a feather bed.
4. What instructions did Bassanio give to
the Gobbos and to his servants after employing Launcelot?
After employing Launcelot, Bassanio tells the Gobbos to go to
Shylock and bid him farewell and then reach his house. He tells his servants to
get a uniform for Launcelot with more decorations or ornamental stripes
than those of his other servants.
5. Before this extract Launcelot referred
to a proverb which is applicable both to Shylock and to Bassanio. What was the
proverb and how is it applicable to both of them?
The old proverb that Launcelot mentions is : ‘The grace of God is
wealth enough.’ He says that this proverb is equally applicable to Shylock and
Bassanio. Bassanio is a good man and has the grace of God. Shylock does not
have grace of God. But he has ‘wealth enough.’
Extract VI
Bassanio:
Why, then you must . I be misconstrued in the place I go to and
lose my hopes.
1. Give thecontext in which Bassanio
speaks these words.
Bassanio speaks these words to Gratiano when the latter makes a
request to him to permit to accompany him on his trip to Belmont.
2. Give the meaning of:
To allay with some cold drops of modesty
Thys skipping spirit,
To tone down your lively spirits by exercising a little
moderation.
3. Briefly summarise the advice given
by Bassanio to Gratiano in the extract.
Bassanio tells Gratiano that he is uncontrollable, blunt and
rough. These faults of his are acceptable to Bassanio and his friends as
qualities of his nature. But his wild behaviour may be misunderstood at
Belmont. Hence, Bassanio advices him to control his wild behaviour and tone
down his lively spirit by exercising moderation.
4. Why does Bassanio ask Gratiano to behave
properly in Belmont?
Bassanio asks Gratiano to behave properly in Belmont because he
fears that for people who don’t know Gratiano, his behaviour will appear as
faulty. His wild behaviour will be misunderstood at Belmont and Bassanio may
lose all chances of marrying Portia.
5. What assurance does Gratiano give to
Bassanio about the latter’s advice?
Gratiano promises to behave in a proper manner. He says that he
will converse gravely and will seldom use an oath. He will carry prayer
books in his pockets and look most sedate. During the grace before meals, he
will veil his eyes with his hat and solemnly say ‘Amen’. He will do
everything that politeness demands and follow all the customs of good
manners, as though he trying to please his grandmother by showing a quiet
and serious behaviour.
6. What exception to Gratiano’s behaviour
is accepted for the particular night? Why?
Bassanio tells
Gratiano that his rude behaviour will be tolerated for the night
because of the party. This is because Bassanio
wants that night to be one of fun and
mirth. He will be sorry to see Gratiano in a sad mood. Bassanio would prefer to
see him in his wildest spirits
Extract I
Jessica:
I am sorry thou wilt leave my ………see me in
talk with thee.
11. Give reasons
for Launcelot’s leaving Jessica’s house.
Launcelot left
Jessica’s house since her father Shylock was a miserly Jew and is stay as his
servant has half-famished him. He felt that any further stay with him
would make him like the Jew. Besides, Bassanio has accepted him in his service
and Launcelot feels that Bassanio is a better master.
22. Give
the meaning of:
Our house is hell, and
thou, a merry devil,
Didst rob it of some
taste of tediousness.
In the above lines,
Jessica says that her house is hell because of her father’s avarice.
Launcelot with his jolly nature and with his antics and nonsensical
capering has relieved it of much boredom and dullness.
33. How
does Jessica show in words and action that she liked Launcelot’s presence in
her house?
Jessica
shows in words and actions that she liked Launcelot’s presence in the house. He
calls him a merry devil and thanks him for reducing the boredom and dullness in
her house. She offers him a ducat too.
44.
What errand does Jessica give to Launcelot? What precautions does she ask
him to take while doing the errand?
Jessica
gives to Launcelot the errand of delivering a letter to Lorenzo at supper in
Bassanio’s house that night. She advises him to deliver the letter to Lorenzo
secretly.
55. How
does Jessica show herself as a scheming but prudent young lady? In what
way is her character different from that of Portia?
Jessica
shows herself as a scheming lady when she plans to elope with a Christian boy,
Lorenzo without the knowledge of her father. She proves herself to be
prudent when she instructs Launcelot to deliver her letter to Lorenzo at
Bassanio’s party secretly. Her character is entirely different from that of
Portia. While Portia obeys her deceased father’s will to marry the one who wins
the lottery of caskets, Jessica betrays her father and religion to marry
Lorenzo.
Extract II
Launcelot:
But, adieu: these
foolish…….become a Christian, and they loving wife!
1.
How does Launcelot bid farewell to Jessica? In this context, what are your
feelings for Launcelot, Jessica and Shylock?
Launcelot
bids farewell to Jessica calling her ‘most beautiful pagan’ and later ‘most
sweet Jew’. He says that tears prevent his tongue from uttering his feelings.
We feel happy for Launcelot and Jessica. Launcelot is leaving his miserly
master and is undertaking Bassanio’s service where he will be
happier. Jessica too will soon escape from the ‘hell’ and marry Lorenzo. We
feel sorry for Shylock as he still obstinate, miserly and with evil intentions.
Further, he shall lose his daughter as well as money.
2. Why
does Jessica regret being the daughter of Shylock? What is the ‘heinous sin’
referred to in the extract? Is it really a sin? Give reasons to justify your
answer.
Jessica
regrets being the daughter of Shylock due to his behaviour, his being a bad
father to her and for making her home ‘hell’. Jessica describes her
feeling of being ashamed for being her father’s daughter as a
heinous sin. It is not really a sin because even if she is Shylock’s daughter
by birth, she does not actually detest her father but detests his miserliness
and tyrannical nature.
3. Give
the meaning of :
But
though I am a daughter to his blood,
I
am not to his manners.
The
above lines mean that although I am his daughter by birth, I don’t have his
habits.
4. Which
promise has Lorenzo to keep? Describe the strife that Jessica is going to end.
Lorenzo
has to keep the promise of eloping with Jessica that night. Jessica will end
the struggle between her desire to marry Lorenzo and her duty to her father,
Shylock.
5. Explain
Jessica’s relationship with her father which is shown in the scene.
Jessica
is a lively young girl who rebels against the oppression of her father and the
joylessness of her life at home. She calls her home ‘hell’. She cannot
get along with her father. She detests her father’s miserliness and tyrannical
nature. She affirms that though she is Shylock’s daughter by birth, she does
not share his disposition. Besides, she is influenced by the Venetians around
her to form a different attitude to life than her father’s. she is ready to
leave her father and elope with Lorenzo, a Christian.
Extract I
Lorenzo:
Nay, we
will slink………we have two hours to furnish us.
1. Why
do Lorenzo and his friends plan to disguise themselves at dinners time? How
well are they prepared for the disguise?
Lorenzo and his
friends plan to disguise themselves at dinner time since they were organizing a
masquerade for Bassanio’s dinner party. During Elizabethan times the masque was
an amateur dramatic practice usually performed in private houses. The players
wore masks and costumes and took part in a torch procession, playing musical
instruments. They were not fully prepared for the disguise.
2. Who
is supposed to be the torch-bearer? What is the actual purpose of having a
torch-bearer in the scene?
Jessica, disguised as
a boy, is supposed to be the torch-bearer. The actual purpose of having a
torch-bearer in the scene is to facilitate the elopement of Jessica with
Lorenzo.
3. Whose
letter does Lancelot bring? Why is it an important confidential letter? How
does Lorenzo guess whose letter it is?
Launcelot brings the
letter of Jessica? It is an important confidential letter as it contained
Jessica’s plan to elope with Lorenzo. On receiving the letter Lorenzo guesses
whose letter it is after looking at the handwriting. He declares that the
handwriting is familiar to him and the letter is written by a lovely, fair and
beautiful hand.
4. Who
is giving the dinner party? Whom does Launcelot invite for dinner?
Bassanio is giving
the dinner party. Launcelot invites Shylock for the dinner party.
5. Describe
briefly how the dinner party facilitates the elopement of Jessica with Lorenzo.
The dinner party
facilitates the elopement of Jessica with Lorenzo. Jessica is free to leave her
house as her father is away at Bassanio’s dinner party. Lorenzo and his friends
organize a masquerade for Bassanio’s dinner party. Jessica joins them as a
torch-bearer dressed as a boy and elopes with Lorenzo.
Extract II
Lorenzo:
I must
needs tell thee all……..shall be my torch-bearer.
1. What
information has Jessica given to Lorenzo regarding her elopement?
Jessica informs
Lorenzo about the arrangements she had made to elope with him. She will leave
her father’s house with money and jewellery, disguised in the uniform of a
page-boy.
2. According
to Lorenzo, how could the Jew go to heaven? How can you conclude that Lorenzo
has a high opinion of Jessica?
According to Lorenzo, the Jew, Shylock could
go to heaven only because of his sweet and gentle daughter. We can conclude
that Lorenzo has a high opinion of Jessica since he feels that if at all
Shylock ever goes to heaven it will be because of her. He prays that no
misfortune ever comes to her except for being Shylock’s daughter.
3. What does Lorenzo
wish for Jessica? According to him, how could misfortune come to Jessica?
Lorenzo wishes that no misfortune ever
happens to Jessica, for being the daughter of a non-believing Jew. She has no
stain of sin in her unless her birth is regarded as a sin.
4. Give an example of
racial discrimination hinted at in the extract.
Reference to Shylock as a ‘faithless Jew’ is
an example of racial discrimination hinted at in the extract. Christians
believed that faithless Jews won’t go to heaven.
5. Describe the
atmosphere of activity and pre-occupation prevailing in this short scene.
An atmosphere of activity and pre-occupation
prevails in this scene. Activities include preparations for the masquerade and
Jessica’s elopement. Pre-occupation regarding the dinner party dominates the
scene. Even Shylock is invited for the party. Launcelot acts as a
messenger in this scene. He delivers Jessica’s letter to Lorenzo and
Lorenzo’s reply to Jessica. He invites Shylock for Bassanio’s party on
Bassanio’s behalf.
Act II: Scene 5
Extract I
Shylock:
I am bid forth to supper, Jessica…….dream
of money-bags tonight.
1. Why
does Shylock accept the invitation to dinner? On what grounds did Shylock
refuse to accept an invitation to dinner earlier in the play?
Shylock accepts the
invitation to dinner out of hatred and to eat the food of the extravagant
Christian, Bassanio. In act I, Scene 3 when Bassanio invites him for dinner he
refuses to dine with Christians since they were pork-eaters. He asserted then
that he would never eat, drink or pray with Christians although he is ready to
do business with them.
2. Why
is Shylock unhappy to accept the invitation this time too? Who is the prodigal
Christian? Give the significance of a the word: prodigal.
Shylock is unhappy to
accept the invitation this time too as he feels premonition of some misfortune
about to take place. The previous night he had a dream about money-bags which
was considered as a bad omen.
Bassanio is referred to
as the prodigal Christian because he is a wasteful, who spends money
extravagantly which he has borrowed from Shylock. Prodigal is a reference to
the prodigal son described in the Bible who wasted his share of wealth by
lavish and careless living.
3. Give
the meaning of:
a) I
am not bid for love: I am not invited our of love.
b) I
am right loath to go: I hate to accept the invitation to dinner.
4. How
do Jessica and Lorenzo take advantage of Shylock’s absence from home during
dinner?
Jessica and Lorenzo
taking advantage of Shylock’s absence from home makes a plan to elope. Jessica
uses the occasion to leave home with her father’s money and jewellery. Lorenzo
uses the occasion to arrange the masquerade in which Jessica will be the
torch-bearer and thus easily elope with him.
5. What
sort of a bad omen did Shylock have which made him think that there is some
evil being plotted against him?
Shylock had a dream
about money bags on the previous night. To dream about money and all
kinds of coins was considered as a bad omen. This made Shylock think that there
was some evil being plotted against him.
Extract II
Lock my doors; and when you……feasting
forth to-night.
1. Who
is the speaker of the above lines? To whom is he giving his advice? Why should
the doors be locked?
Shylock is the speaker
of the above lines. He is giving this advice to his daughter, Jessica. When
Launcelot tells him about the masquerade, he is alarmed for fear that such
revelry may become unruly. He hates their frivolity. Hence, he asks Jessica to
lock the doors of the house so that no sound of foolish displays may enter his
serious house.
2. Where
is the speaker going? What reason does he give for his going out? Who was
Jacob? Why does the speaker swear by Jacob’s staff?
The speaker is going
for Bassanio’s dinner party. He is going out for dinner out of hatred for the
Christian and to eat the food of the extravagant, Bassanio. Jacob was the
grandson of Abraham, the founder of the Jewish race. According to the
Bible, Jacob, the ancestor of Shylock had a staff that proved a blessing
to him. In Genesis 32:12, Jacob boasts that he had crossed river Jordan only
with a staff yet returned with companies of men.
3. Give
the meaning of:
a) Clamber
not you up to the casements
Do not climb up to see
from the windows.
b) Sound
of shallow foppery
Shrill notes of the
fife
4. Who
are the ‘Christian fools with varnished faces’? What were they planning against
the speaker? What warning did the speaker have of it earlier?
Christian fools with
varnished faces refer to the Christians taking part in the masquerade at
Bassanio’s dinner party. They were planning to make the speaker’s
daughter to elope with a Christian, Lorenzo with the speaker’s money and
jewellery. The speaker had warning of this in the form of a ‘dream where he saw
money bags and coins.’
5. Does
the person to whom the advice is given, follow the speaker’s advice? Why?
The advice was given to
Jessica by her father, Shylock. She did not follow the advice and used the
occasion of masquerade to elope with Lorenzo.
6. Summarize
the advice of the speaker in your own words.
The speaker advices his
daughter, Jessica to lock up the doors. He tells her not to go up to the
windows when she hears the drums ad the shrill notes of the fife. He tells her
not to stretch her neck out to gaze over the public street to look at Christian
fools with painted faces. he instructs her to close all the windows of his
house so that no sound of the foolish display enters his sober house.
Extract III
Shylock:
The patch is kind enough, but a
huge………stale in thrifty mind.
1. What
is meant by the ‘patch’ in the extract? What reasons does Shylock give to
Jessica for parting with Launcelot?
The word ‘patch’ in the
extract means the clown or the fool or the jester. In olden days, the
professional fools or jesters used to wear multicoloured patched costumes. So
the word patch is used in the extract for Launcelot. Shylock says that he is
sending Launcelot ot Bassanio as he would assist Bassanio in his spendthrift
habits and waste his borrowed money.
2. Whom
does Shylock wish to be ruined? Why?
Shylock wishes Bassanio
to be ruined because he wants to take revenge upon Antonio and can do so if
Basanio and Antonio fail to repay the loan on a stipulated date.
3. What
does Shylock mean by saying, ‘drones hive not with me’?
By the above words,
Shylock means that lazy people cannot live with him. Shylock says that
Launcelot is lazy and cannot be his servant, so he allows him to join
Bassanio’s service.
4. What
is meant by the ‘borrowed purse’? For what purpose was it borrowed?
‘Borrowed purse’ refers
to the three thousand ducats borrowed by Bassanio from Shylock on the basis of
the bond signed by Antonio. The money was borrowed to enable Bassanio to go to
Belmont and win Portia in marriage after participating in the lottery of
caskets.
5. Why
does Shylock ask Jessica to shut doors? Give the meaning of: Fast bind, fast
find.
Shylock asks Jessica to
shut the doors to make his house safe from revellers taking part in the
masquerade. He quotes an old proverb ‘fast bind, fast find,’ which means that
if you lock a thing up, you will find it safe. (leave secure and you will
find all secure)
6. Describe
briefly how Shylock becomes an instrument of fate in this scene.
In this scene, Shylock
becomes an instrument of fate to further the action in the plot. On the one
hand, his desire for revenge upon Antonio is revealed because he goes to the
supper to help to consume Bassanio’s borrowed money. He
overlooks his religious principles which forbade him dining
with Christians. He even ignores the premonitions of impending evil
because of his revengeful nature. This provided Jessica an occasion to flee
from home with money and jewellery and to elope with Lorenzo, a Christian.
Thus, fate has used Shylock to further its plans.
Extract I
Gratiano:
And it is marvel he out-dwells……..are with more spirit chased than enjoyed.
1. Where
does this scene take place? Who has out-dwelt his hour? Normally what do the
lovers do as far as the appointed time is concerned?
This scene
takes place in the street outside Shylock’s house. Lorenzo has out-dwelt his
hour to meet Gratiano and Salarino for the masque. Lovers generally rush
to the meeting place long before the appointed hour.
2. Who
is Venus? How do the Venu’s pigeons behave as far as love is concerned?
In Greek
mythology, Venus is the goddess of love. Salarino comments that the doves that
draw the chriot of Venus, the goddess of love, fly ten times faster when
they are journeying to bind new love more firmly, than they do when
love is already pledged and certain.
3. How
does Gratiano explain in the extract the state of people in love?
According to
Gratiano, people in love are anxious to meet each other. They rush to their
meeting places much before the appointed time. Thus, people in love keep
punctuality in their meetings and never delay.
4. Give
the meaning of:
a) He
out dwells his hour
He overstays the time
fixed by him to meet.
b) To
seal love’s bonds new-made
To bind new love more
firmly
5. Explain
the meaning of:
Where
is the horse that doth untread again
His tedious
measures with the unabated fire
The above
lines mean that you will not find even a house travel again over the same
road on its return journey with the same energy and animation with which it set
out.
6. All
things that are,
Are with
more spirit chased than enjoyed
How far is
this statement brought out by giving the example of a ship?
It means
that the pursuit of any desired object is more enjoyable a task and gives
more joy compared to the pleasure one gets on its attainment.
The truth of the statement is brought about by the example of a ship. A
ship with its sails spread and flags flying, sails out from the harbour
like a high-spirited spendthrift youth in search of pleasure. But after
being tossed about and hugged by the rough wind, it comes back to the port with
broken planks and torn sails. It looks like the returning of the prodigal
son, ruined by the faithless gales.
Extract II
Lorenzo:
Sweet
friends, your patience for my long abode…..who’s within?
1. Where
is Lorenzo and who are his sweet friends?
Lorenzo is in the street
outside Shylock’s house. His sweet friends are Salarino and Gratiano.
2. What
did his friends say about the anxiety of those in love?
His friends said that
lovers generally rush to meet each other before the appointed time.
Salarino commented that the doves that draw the chariot of Goddess of
love, fly ten times faster, when they are journeying to find new
love than they do when love is once pledged and certain.
3. What
were the affairs that kept the speaker away so long?
The speaker was kept
away so long due to his business affairs. Also he had to plan for the
masquerade, in which he would elope with his lady-love, Jessica.
4. What
is meant by ‘to play the thieves for wives’? How apt are these remarks in
the context?
‘To play the thieves for
wives’ means if ever any of them wishes to do what he is doing that
night and steal away a fair lady to be his wife, he will wait as long as
they have done to help him on the occasion. These remarks are
quite relevant because Lorenzo wants to give the reason for his
delay as well as thank his friends, whom he has kept waiting for a long time.
5. What
does Lorenzo ask Jessica to do later in the scene? What is Jessica’s reaction
to his request?
Later in the scene,
Lorenzo tells Jessica to come down in the street quickly and that she has to
play the part of his torch-bearer in the masque that night. Jessica is shocked
and embarrassed at the suggestion. She asks Lorenzo whether she must hold a
light to show up her shameful acts-her elopement, theft and male dress.
6. Who
appears on the stage after the extract? In what condition does the person
appear?
After this extract, Jessica
appears on the stage. She appears on the stage dressed in a boy’s clothes, as a
page-boy.
Extract III
Jessica:
Here, catch this
casket…..thus transformed to a boy.
1. What
do you think is sent down in the casket? How can you conclude that the contents
in the casket are valuable?
The casket must have
valuables like jewellery which Jessica has stolen from her house. We can
conclude that the contents in the casket are valuables since Jessica hands over
the casket only after making sure that the person to whom she is giving the
casket is her love, Lorenzo. Besides, she tells Lorenzo that it is worth
carrying the casket.
2. What
is meant by ‘I am much ashamed of my exchange.’? Why is the exchange needed?
The above words mean
that Jessica is much ashamed that she has to change her dress to that of
a page boy. This exchange was needed for her to elope with Lorenzo.
3. In
what way is love blind in the context? Who is referred to as Cupid? Why would
he blush?
Love is blind in the
context since it makes Jessica dress like a page boy, steal jewellery and money
from her house and be ready to elope with Lorenzo, a Christian. Cupid is the
classical God of love who is always represented as a blind boy with bows and
arrows. Jessica says that Cupid, the little blind God of love himself would be
shocked and blush if he saw her dressed like a boy.
4. What
is meant by a torch bearer? In what way Jessica would hold a candle to her
shames, if she were a torch bearer?
Masquerades were
dramatic performances where players wore masks and costumes and took part in a
torch like procession playing drums and fife. Jessica was to carry the torch
light or candle. If she carries the candle, she will show up her shameful acts-
her male attire, the casket containing her theft and the fact of her elopement.
5. Give
the meaning of:
Why it’s an office of
discovery, love;
And I should be obscured
These lines mean: ‘The
duty of a torch bearer would expose me to all when I should be concealed.’
Jessica means that her shameful disguise of a pageboy’s dress is too frivolous
and Lorenzo should not light them further by having her as a torchbearer.
6. How
is Jessica’s feminine nature is highlighted in the extract?
Jessica’s feminine
nature is highlighted in the extract. Her shyness at her male clothes shows her
feminine modesty as in Elizabethan times women never wore men’s clothes. Also
she comes down from her house after making sure that the person who has come to
take her is Lorenzo, her lover.
Extract I
Portia:
Go draw aside the
curtains…..make your choice
1. Who
is asked to draw aside the curtains? Who is asked to make his choice?
Portia asks one of
her attendants to pull apart the curtains so that the different caskets are
made visible. The prince Morocco is asked to make the choice.
2. What
does Portia say later to the prince regarding the right casket?
After reading the
inscription on the three caskets, Morocco asks Portia how he will know if he
chooses the right casket. Portia replies that her portrait will be in the
right casket. If he selects that one, then she will be his wife.
3. Which
casket does the Prince of Morocco finally choose? What are the reasons for his
choice?
The Prince of Morocco
finally chooses the golden casket. Morocco argues that base lead cannot
contain such a saintly person like Portia. Silver which is ten times
inferior to gold also cannot hold Portia as he is such a rich gem. So he
concludes that Portia, whom many men desire and is most precious must be
contained in the golden casket. Besides, the English have a gold
coin which with the figure of an angel engraved on it. Portia is an angel and
hence her portrait may be in the golden casket.
4. For
what reasons does the prince reject the other two caskets?
He rejects the base lead
arguing that it cannot contain such a noble person like Portia and silver
which is ten times inferior to gold cannot contain Portia as she is such a rich
gem.
5. What
does the prince find when he opens the casket?
When the prince opens
the casket he finds a skull and in its eyeless socket a scroll.
6. How
does the prince bid farewell to Portia? What does Portia say when the prince
leaves the place?
Morocco bids farewell
to Portia with the warm-heartedness of a lover and says he must accept the cold
comfort of the rejected. He says that his sorrow is too great for many words.
Those who have lost their hearts’ desire depart thus sadly.
When the prince
leaves the place, Portia calls it a good riddance and wishes that every suitor
like him should make a similar choice.
Extract II
Morocco
Who chooseth me
shall……in love I do deserve.
1. On which
casket do the words, who chooses me shall get as much as he deserves?
On the silver casket
2. Why does Morocco
initially doubt his worth to deserve the lady?
Morocco initially
doubts his worth to deserve the lady because he thinks that though by his own
standard, his merits may be very high, yet those merits may not be sufficient
enough to deserve Portia, as her reputation is greater than his.
3. Why does he change
his mind and say that he deserves the lady?
Morocco, after having
doubts about his worth to win Portia, later on changes his mind. He feels that
he deserves Portia because of his royal birth, his wealth, his virtues and his
upbringing. Above all, he is worthy of her because of his deep affection for
her.
4. Give the meaning
of:
A) And weigh thy
value with an even hand
And compare your
personal worth impartially.
B) A weak disabling
of myself
A sign of weakness
which would bring discredit on myself.
5. Why does Morocco
think that Portia’s picture is not in the lead casket?
Morocco read the
inscription on the lead casket which stated that whosoever selects it
must be prepared to give all and to risk everything. Morocco declares
that no one except a fool will be prepared to risk everything for the sake of
dull lead. He argues that lead cannot contain such a noble person like Portia.
Extract III
From the four
corners of the earth…..to see fair Portia.
1. Who
speaks these words? Where is he? What has he said about his courage in an
earlier scene?
The prince Morocco
speaks these words. He is in a room in Portia’s house getting ready to make his
choice of caskets. In an earlier scene, Morocco said that with his sword he had
slain the emperor of Persia and a Persian Prince, who had defeated Solyman of
Turkey thrice. He boasted that he was courageous enough to confront
a hungry lion, defy the most valiant warrior on earth and face the wrath of a
mother-bear by separating its young ones from her.
2. What
is the significance of the words Shrine and Saint in the context?
Shrine is a place
where any sacred relic of a holy person or the image of a saint is
kept. In this context, the saint is Portia and the shrine is Belmont. The
breathing saint is a reference to Portia. Morocco says that people came from
every part of the globe to worship at the holy place which enshrines this
living object of adoration-Portia.
3. What
warning is given by Porita to the speaker before he makes the choice?
Before he makes the
choice, the speaker is told by Portia that the correct casket contains her
picture and if he chooses it, she will be his wife.
4. Who
are ‘they’ that are referred to in the extract? What difficulties do they
face while coming?
‘They’ the
refers to the many suitors who come to Belmont from all parts of the globe to
woo Portia. While coming they travel through Persian deserts, wilderness of
Arabia and even cross the ocean.
5. Give
the meaning of:
a) Hyrcanian deserts
Hyrcania was a
province of the ancient Persian empire. Hyrcanian deserts were deserts lying in
the South of Caspian sea.
b) Watery kingdom:
The oceans and its fierce waves do not stop suitors
6. Why does the
speaker reject the lead casket?
The speaker rejects
the lead casket since on it was written that whoever selects it must be
prepared to give all and to risk everything for the dull lead. He thinks lead
is too crude a metal even to enclose the winding sheet when she is buried in
the grave. He asserts that the lead casket cannot hold Portia’s picture and so
he rejects it.
Because silver is ten
times inferior to gold and such a rich gem can never be set in anything less
than gold.
Extract IV
Or shall I think in
silver she’s immured…….and thrive I as I may.
1. Why does the
prince think that Portia’s picture not in the silver casket?
Sinful thought is the
thought that Portia is contained in the silver casket because silver has only a
tenth of the value of gold and a rich gem like Portia can never be set in
anything less than gold.
2. What is the sinful
thought, why is it so?
Sinful thought is the
thought that Portia is contained in the silver casket because silver has only a
tenth of the value of gold and a rich gem like Portia can never be set in
anything less than gold.
3. Describe the coin
referred to in the extract. What is the difference between an angel on the coin
and the angel in the casket?
The coin referred to
in the extract is the gold coin in England on which the figure of Archangel Michael
standing and piercing a dragon was engraved on one side. The coin was called an
angel and its value was about ten shillings.
Morocco says that the
figure of the angel on the coin is engraved on the surface of the coin. It is
outside, whereas Portia is an angel, who lies on a golden bed within the casket
entirely hidden from view.
4. After opening the
casket, the Prince finds a dead skull and a scroll. Explain what is written on
the scroll?
On the scroll it is
written that things which make the most brilliant show are not always the
truest metal. For the sake of mere gold, hundreds have risked and sacrificed
their lives. Costly gold plated tombs may be erected, but they have no real
value. Decay and death are all they contain.
5.Explain how the
theme of appearance and reality is shown in the choice made by the prince.
Write your own
opinion.
CONTEXT QUESTIONS
1. (i) In the given lines, Salanio says that he has not seen
such an outburst of anger, so confused, so strange, excessive and frequently
changing as is displayed by the Jew. Shylock discovers that his daughter has
eloped after robbing him of his money and jewellery. This makes him excited and
furious with grief and despair. He gives vent to it by an exhibition of
passionate excitement and anger which is strange, excessive and frequently
changing.
(ii) Earlier, Shylock roused the Duke with his complaints
against Lorenzo and Jessica for robbing him and eloping. He made such a
disturbance that the Duke was obliged to attend to his demands. He even
accompanied the Duke to search for Lorenzo and Jessica on board Bassanio's
ship. By the time they reached the place, the ship had already set sail. The
Duke was told by someone that Lorenzo and Jessica had been seen sitting
together in a gondola.
(iii) In his excitement, Shylock utters confused cries for his
daughter, who had eloped with a Christian, taking with her, his ducats and
jewellery. He wants justice from the law. Besides money, Jessica has taken away
from Shylock some jewels, precious stones and diamonds.
(iv) (a) double ducats: coins of double ducats. (b) a sealed
bag: a bag that is securely sealed to ensure the security
of its contents.
(v) Shylocks' lamentations add to the humour
in the play. He is depicted as a comic character in the scene. The manner in
which he laments the loss of his daughter and his ducats amuses the audience;
Shylodes repetition of '0 my daughter! 0 my Christian ducats!' indicate his
greedy nature and shows that Jessica is another possession for him
2. (i) 'Let good Antonio
keep his day' means let worthy Antonio make sure that he has the money to pay
Shylock on the appointed day. If he fails to keep his day, Shylock would take
his revenge on Antonio. In his conversation with a Frenchman, Salarino heard
that a richly laden ship from Italy had been wrecked in the narrow channel
which divides England and France. The news was startling because Salarino
thought of Antonio's ship and wished that it might not be one of his ships.
(iii) Salarino wished
that the wrecked ship might not be one of Antonio's ships.
(iv) Salanio advises
Salarino to tell Antonio what he has heard about a shipwreck. However, he
advises him not to tell Antonio about the news immediately for it may make him
sad.
(v) The news given by the
Frenchman creates a suspense in the story. The possibility of the wreckage of
one of Antonio's ships casts a gloom since it may imply that Antonio would not
be able to make payment of the loan on the day the bond is due. After hearing
the news, Shylock is happy that he could take his revenge on Antonio. He calls
him a bankrupt and insists on the execution of the bond.
(vi) Salanio and Salarino
provide the information about recent events. They report Shylock's fury and
parody his behaviour. They are worried about Antonio and go quickly to look for
him and cheer him up. They do not take part in the action of the play, but keep
the action going when the chief characters are absent.
3. (i) Antonio has said
these words at the time of bidding farewell to Bassanio, when the latter was
about to embank on his journey to Belmont. Salarino quotes his words here.
(ii) (a) Bassanio, do not
spoil your plan for my sake. (b) But stay as long as it would be necessary to
attain your objective.
(iii) Antonio advises
Bassanio to stay at Belmont as long as it would be necessary for winning Portia
and tells him not to bother about the bond. He advises Bassanio to be cheerful
and devote himself entirely to win his lady-love in a most suitable manner.
(iv) While parting,
Antonio's eyes were filled with tears. He turned his face away and extended his
hand behind him. Then, moved by his love, he held the hands of Bassanio and
they parted from each other. It shows that there is great love and affection
between them.
(v) At the end of the
scene, Salanio and Salarino decided to look for Antonio and raise his low
spirits with some amusement.
CONTEXT QUESTIONS
(i) To honour Arragon as a prince,
trumpets were sounded as he entered the room and Portia addressed him as 'noble
prince'.
(ii) Arragon is bound by the oath to
observe three conditions. First, he must never reveal to any other person which
of the caskets he has selected. Second, if he does not win Portia, he should
not woo any other lady. Third, if he chooses wrongly he must depart at once
without further words. He explicitly kept the last condition at the end of the
scene.
(iii) It is not wise to arrange
marriages through a lottery system where chance plays a significant role.
Portia initially feels that her fate is sealed by the lottery of caskets
designed by her father. However, later she accepts her father's will and
asserts that she will abide by it and would remain a virgin like Diana if no
suitor wins her in marriage. Nerissa justifies the lottery of caskets saying
that her father was a virtuous man, who must have had her well-being at heart.
So, according to her father's will she will be chosen by someone who will truly
love her.
(iv) Prince Arragon is too proud and
self-opinionated. While making his selection, he calls the common people as
'fool multitude' and again as 'barbarous multitudes. He says that he will not
act according to what common men choose and put himself on the level of the
ignorant and the foolish. Secondly, Arragon thinks himself to be most deserving
because of his inherited nobility.
(i) The inscription on the gold
casket says 'who chooses me shall gain what many men desire'. The speaker
chooses the silver casket.
(ii) Arragon says that the words
'many men' probably refer to the foolish majority, who are so slow-witted and
who have so little wisdom that they judge only by appearances and outward
glitter. Their untaught eyes never see the inner meaning of things, but is
content to remain on the outside like the swallow. Arragon compares the
multitude to the martlet. The martlet, instead of seeking a sheltered place for
its nest, constructs it in the most
