MERCHANT OF VENICE ACT 1 SCENE 3

MERCHANT OF VENICE ACT 1 SCENE 3

Bassanio: 

For the which, as I told you…………………

Bassanio:

Have you heard any imputation to the contrary?

1. Give the conditions to which Antonio is bound. How wise was Antonio to bind himself to such conditions?

Antonio is bound to a bond according to which if he fails to repay the amount in due time, Shylock will be entitled to take an exact pound of flesh from any part of Antonio’s body that he may wish. It was very unwise of Antonio to misjudge Shylock’s intentions and sign such a fatal bond.

2.  Give the meaning of:

May you stead me? Will you pleasure me?

Can you help me and will you do me this favour?

3.   Shylock says that Antonio is a good man. What does Shylock mean with the connotation ‘good’?

When Shylock says the above words, he means that Antonio is a reliable man, whose surety is sufficient to give a loan. 

4.   Enumerate the possible threats to Antonio’s business ventures as stated by Shylock, after the above extract.

Shylock enumerates the possible dangers to Antonio’s merchandise-ships being only planks of wood are apt to be broken; the mariners being merely human beings, are liable to be drowned; there are pirates on the waters; and there are all the dangers of the ocean from the gales, tempests and dangerous rocks. 

5.  How can it be proved that Antonio is a prudent businessman but he is overconfident?

Antonio can considered as a prudent businessman as his wealth is distributed over the whole world. one of Antonio’s ship is on its journey to Tripolis, another is bound for the Indies, a third is voyaging to Mexico, fourth to England and others to various other distant places. He is so overconfident of his riches that he agrees to an unreasonable and dangerous bond. 

Extract II

Shylock:

How like a fawining publican……….most do congregate

1.     What is meant by ‘a fawning publican’? Give three reasons why Shylock hates Antonio.

Publicans were tax collectors for the Romans and were generally oppressive. They were hated by the Jews because they were the agents of Rome, who collected taxes also from the Jews. Publican is a natural term of contempt and loathing in the mouth of a Jew. Shylock hats Antonio because he is a Christian, lends money without interest and hurls abuses on him. 

2.     Give the meaning of the following:

a)     Low simplicity: Childish foolishness

b)    Gratis: Free of interest

c)     Rate of usance: rate of interest

3.     Write the meaning of the following in your own words:

I can catch him once upon the hip,

I will feed fat the ancient grudge I bear him

The above words mean that if Shylock could get hold of Antonio at a disadvantage or in a weak spot, he will satisfy fully the long-standing hatred he has against him. 

4.     What old grudge does Shylock have against Antonio?

Shylock had a long-standing grudge against Antonio because Antonio was a Christian and looked upon the holy Jewish race with contempt. He used to lend money without interest. He even spat on Shylock, kicked him and called a ‘cut-throat dog.’

5.     What does the ‘sacred nation’ refer to? What insults has Antonio heaped upon Shylock? 

‘The Sacred Nation’ is a reference to the holy Jewish race. Antonio insults Shylock for his business deals and for earning profit by lending money on interest. 

6.     How does Shylock plan to get the money immediately? What light does this extract throw on Shylock’s character?

Shylock plans to get money immediately from a wealthy fellow-Jew, Tubal. It shows that Shylock wants to execute the bond as soon as possible and use the chance to take his revenge on Antonio.

Extract  III

Shylock:

When Jacob grazed……….

Shylock:

Should fall as Jacob’s hire.

1. What topic is referred to in the extract? Who were Jacob and Abhraham?

The topic referred to in the extract is lending money for interest. Jacob was the second son of Issac who became the third successor to Abraham. Abraham was the founder of the Hebrew nation and Jacob’s grandfather.

2. Give the story of Jacob who got his share as his payment from Laban.

Laban was Jacob’s uncle. Jacob and Laban entered into an agreement that Jacob would receive as his wages the lambs which were born with spots or stripes. During the breeding season, Jacob arranged the wooden rods in such a way that the shadows of the rods should fall on the sheep. Consequently, most of the lambs were born spotted or stripped, and thus, they became Jacob’s property.

3. What is the difference between taking interest and receiving payment for one’s labour?. 

Taking interest means to charge specific amounts on the money given as loan for a specified period. Receiving payment for one’s labour means to take remuneration for one’s service rendered. This is legitimate while taking interest is not in order. 

4. What role did Jacob’s wise mother play to make him the third possessor?

Esau and Jacob were Issac’s sons. Issac wanted to bless his elder son Esau but would do so after he brought him some savoury meant. Jacob’s mother Rebecca overheard this conversation. She wanted to get this blessing for Jacob. She told Jacob to fetch two goats to make a savoury dish. Rebecca then asked Jacob to go to his blind father with the savoury meat. In this way, Jacob, through the crafty assistance of his mother, got the blessing of his father.   

5.How does Antonio interpret Jacob’s success after this extract?

After this extract, Antonio tells Shylock that it was purely a matter of chance in Jacob’s case. He had no control over it himself, but providence guided and governed the event. It was not a matter in the hands of men, like the taking of interest. 

Extract IV

Antonio: 

 Well, Shylock, shall we be beholding to you?

….for all use of that which is mine own.

1.     What is meant by ‘shall we be beholding to you’? What is Rialto?

‘Shall we be beholding to you’-this statement was made by Antonio and he wants to say to Shylock, “Are you going to lend us money?”

Rialto was the Venetian Stock Exchange where the merchants met for the transaction of business.

2.     Give some examples to show that Shylock was ill-treated by Antonio. How did Shylock react to Antonio’s insults?

Shylock speaks of his ill-treatment at the hands of Antonio. He says that Antonio had spat upon    his Jewish robe in contempt and called him an unbeliever and a cur. He had also spat upon his beard. On another day, he had pushed him aside with his foot as if he were a stray dog being kicked out of his house. Shylock reacted to Antonio’s insults patiently.

3.     Why did Shylock bear Antonio’s insults patiently?

Shylock bore Antonio’s insults patiently since, as a shrewd Jew, he was waiting for an opportune time to take revenge on Antonio. Earlier, in the scene Shylock admits that patience is the badge of his race.

4.     Give the causes, financial and racial, for Shylock’s hatred for Antonio.

Financially Antonio is a threat to Shylock’s money lending business because he lends money without charging interest and thus brings down the rate of interest charged by money lenders. Besides, he hates Antonio since he is a Christian, who despises the Jewish race.

5.     What is the need for Antonio to borrow money from his enemy?

Antonio needs to borrow money from his enemy Shylock to give it to Bassanio, his friend so that he can go to Belmont  to woo the rich lady Portia. 

6.     Which trait of Shylock’s character emerges in this scene?

In this scene, Shylock is presented as shrewd, cunning and crafty. However, the most evident trait of his character is that of revenge- to take revenge on Antonio for all the insults heaped on him by Antonio. He is eager to execute the bond-document for this purpose.

Extract V

Shylock: 

Why, look you, how you scorn!

…..kind I offer.

1.     What were the ‘shames’ which stained Shylock?

Shylock is referring to the insults hurled on him by Antonio such as speaking abusively of him and his money-lending, spitting on him, kicking him, calling him a dog and ridiculing the Jews.

2.     What is meant by ‘the present wants’? On what terms is the speaker willing to supply the wants?

‘The present wants’ refer to the immediate need of Antonio-three thousand ducats to provide for Bassanio’s trip to Belmont to woo Portia. The speaker is ready to supply the wants provided Antonio signs a bond, according to which if Antonio is unable to pay him the money on the specified date, the penalty to be paid will be an exact pound of flesh from any part of Antonio’s body.

3.     How does Antonio storm Shylock? Why was Shylock willing to lend money without interest? 

Antonio storms Shylock by saying that in future too he is likely to abuse and disgrace him and that he should lend the money as to an enemy rather than a friend. He challenges him exact the penalty if he fails to repay on time. Shylock is willing to lend the money without interest because he wants to trap Antonio in a fatal bond and take his revenge.

4.     What did the speaker propose to do immediately after this?

Immediately after this, the speaker proposes to Antonio to accompany him to a lawyer and execute a bond with his signature wherein the forfeit to be paid will be an exact pound of flesh from any part of Antonio’s body.

5.     What is meant by Shylock when he says: “This is kind I offer’?

‘This is kind I offer you’ means this is the kindness that I offer you. This refers to his lending of money without charging any interest on it. 

6.     Who is the third person, present at the scene? Why is he reluctant to agree to Shylock’s terms?

The third person present at the scene is Bassanio. He is reluctant to agree to Shylock’s terms because he did not trust the kind words uttered by Shylock. He tells Antonio that he will not  have him make such an agreement on his account. He would rather remain as poor as he is now and do without his wants supplied at such a price. 

Extract VI

Shylock;

Go with me to a notary…….pleaseth me.

1.     Who is a notary? Whom does Shylock want to take to the notary? Why?

A notary is a lawyer who has the authority to execute official and legal dealings and agrrements.  Shylock want to take Antonio to the notary to sign the bond document which stipulates that the forfeit to be paid will be a pound of flesh from any part of Antonio’s body.

2.      Give the meaning of:

a)     Single bond: agreement in which Antonio will be the only signatory

b)    Merry sport: for a pleasant joke.

3.     What does Bassanio say to prevent Antonio from signing the bond?

Bassanio tells Antonio that he will not have him make such an agreement on his account. He adds that he would rather remain as poor as he is now and do without his wants supplied at such a price.

4.     Why is Antonio confident that there is no danger in signing the bond? What aspect of Antonio’s character is shown in this incident?

Antonio is confident that there is no danger in signing the bond because he is confident that one month before the date of payment, his ships  will have brought nine times the amount they are borrowing and they will not have to pay the penalty. This incident shows Antonio’s overconfidence and generosity towards Bassnio.

5.     Why does Shylock insist on a pound of Antonio’s flesh in the bond? Which aspect of his character is shown in his absurd demand?

Shylock insists on a pound of Antonio’s flesh to take revenge on him and to put him completely at his mercy. Shylock’s hatred for Antonio and Christians is shown in his absurd demand. Taking advantage of the situation, he wants to take revenge on Antonio and all Christians, who persecuted him and his race. 

MERCHANT OF VENICE ACT 1 SCENE 2

 MERCHANT OF VENICE ACT 1 SCENE 2

Extract I

1.    What has Portia just said in response to which Nerissa speaks these words?

Portia has just  said that she can neither choose the one she likes nor refuse the one she dislikes because the choice of her husband depends on the lottery of caskets devised according to her late father’s will.

2.    Describe the lottery referred to in the extract.

The lottery refers to the choice of the right casket containing Portia’s portrait from a among the three caskets of gold, silver and lead. The suitor who will make the right choice as per the will of Portia’s father will win her in marriage.

3.    Give the reaction of Portia as well as of Nerissa to the lottery.

Initially, Portia appears to be anxious over the prospect of choosing her husband through a lottery devised according  to her father’s will. She feels sad as she can neither choose the one she likes nor refuse the one she dislikes as her husband. But later on she accepts her father’s will. Nerissa’s reaction to the lottery was positive. She calls Portia’s father pious and asserts that good men do have inspirations at the time of death. She consoles Portia by saying that she will be chosen correctly by a person whom she truly loves.

4.    Give the meaning of “never be chosen by any rightly, but one who you shall rightly love.”

These lines mean that Portia will be chosen correctly by a person whom she truly loves.

5.    Portia is melancholic in the beginning of the scene as it was the case with Antonio in the previous scene. What is the difference between Antonio’s melancholy and that Portia?

Portia’s melancholy is the result of her anxiety over the prospect of her future husband while the cause of Antonio’s melancholy is unknown.

6.    How does this scene show a mood  of melancholy, anxiety and suspense?

The scene show a mood  of melancholy, anxiety and suspense. The mood of melancholy and anxiety is due to the prospect of Portia’s future husband to be decided by the lottery designed according to her deceased father’s will. This also creates an atmosphere of suspense. The conversation between Nerissa and Portia, Portia’s comments on the  suitors  and Nerissa’s reference to Bassanio as ‘the best deserving  a fair lady’ increase the elements of anxiety and suspense in the scene.

Extract 2

Portia:

He doth nothing………………God defend me from these two!

1.    Where are Portia and Nerissa? What  are they generally discussing about? In what mood is Portia in the scene?

Portia and Nerissa are in a room in Portia’s house at Belmont. They are discussing the lottery of caskets and about the suitors who have already come to try their luck. In this scene, Portia is in a mood of melancholy and anxiety.

2.    Who is County Palatine? Why has he come to Belmont?

County Palatine was the Count from Palatinate, the region on the west bank of the Rhine in Germany. He was a powerful lord who came to Belmont to win Portia’s hand.

3.    Who is the first prince described by Portia? What does she say about him?

The first prince described by Portia is the Neapolitan Prince from Naples, Italy. Portia describes him as a dashing  youngster and as wild as a young horse. He does nothing but talks of his horse. He further considers his ability to shoe a horse himself as a great accomplishment.

4.    Who is the weeping philosopher? In which context is he referred to in the extract?

The weeping philosopher refers to Heraclitus of Esphesus. He was a Greek philosopher who lamented the stupidity and folly of mankind and wept at everything in the world. Portia refers to him to describe County Palatine. She feels that since County Palatine is usually gloomy in his young age, he will become a sad philosopher like Heraclitus when he grows old.

5.    Give the meaning  of:

A)  An you will not have me, choose

If you do not want me , choose anyone you wish

B)   A death’s-head with a bone in his mouth

 A skull with a bone in its mouth. The emblem of a skull with two bones crossed underneath was usually known as ‘death’s head.’

6.    Give a character-sketch of the County Palatine.

County Palatine is described as gloomy and self-conceited person. He is always frowning  as if to say that if Portia will not marry him, she may choose someone else. He is morose and sullen that even jovial stories don’t make him laugh. He has an abrupt manner of speech and may become a sad philosopher like Heraclitus when he grows old.

Extract III

Portia:

God made him, and therefore let him pass for a man…….I shall never requite  him.

1.    What has Portia said earlier about Neapolitan prince and his horse? Which characteristic is common between Monseieur  Le Bon and the Count Palatine?

Earlier Portia described the Neapolitan Prince as wild as a young horse and so attached to his horse that  he always spoke about the horse only. The Count Palatine and Le Bon share the common characteristic of frowning.

2.    Give the meaning of:

A)  He is every man in no man: He has every man’s characteristic  but no personality of his own

B)   He falls straight a -capering: He starts to jump about. Monsieur Le Bon is so fickle-minded that if he hears a thrush sing, he starts to jump about.

3.    How does the French lord react to the singing of a thrush?

When he hears the singing of a thrush, the French Lord starts jumping immediately.

4.    What would happen:

a)    If Portia were to marry the Count?

It would be as if she were married to twenty husbands as he is never one man but twenty men by turns.

b)    If he were to despise Portia?

If he were to despise Portia, Portia would not be in  least angry and would forgive him.

c)    If he were to love Portia passionately?

Portia could never return his love since she could never possibly love twenty husbands.

5.    Give any three negative qualities of the French Lord, as described by Portia.

Portia says that the French Lord is more attached to his horse than the Neapolitan Prince and excels Count Palatine in frowning. If he hears a thrush singing, he starts jumping immediately. Further, if he does not have anybody to fence with, he will take his own shadow as adversary.

Extract IV

Portia

You know I say nothing……………………and his behaviour  everywhere.

1.    How is the young baron’s external appearance described in the passage? What light does it throw on the national pattern of clothes of Englishmen?

The baron’s external appearance is described as odd and strange. He is oddly dressed and very odd in behaviour too. He wears an Italian jacket and breeches in the French fashion. He seems to have got his hat from Germany and his manners from everywhere. Englishmen of Shakespeare’s days had fondness for the manners and clothes of foreigners.

2.    What shows that the English Lord has poor knowledge of the European languages? Why does Portia find it difficult to interact with him?

Portia’s sentiment that the Englishman did not know Latin, French or Italian shows that he had very poor knowledge of European Languages. Portia found it difficult to converse with him as he did not know Latin, French or Italian and Portia’s knowledge of English was very poor.

3.    Give the meaning of:

a)    He is a proper man’s picture

He is handsome and fine-looking

b)    How oddly he suited: He is dressed very strangely

4.    What is referred to as a ‘dumb show’? why is the baron said to be a dumb show?

The word dumb-show refers to a play in which all characters act without speaking , that is by gestures. A pantomime is a dumb show. Here it means that the Englishman is unable to speak foreign languages and had to converse by means of signs as in a dumb show.

5.    Give a brief description of the Scottish Lord

The Scottish Lord is not impressive. Portia speaks about his cowardice in a sarcastic way by calling him kind-hearted as he did not return the Englishman’s blow immediately.

6.    What type of contemporary relationship among England, Scotland and France is reflected in the description of the Scottish Lord?

The description of the Scottish Lord is a reference to the frequent alliances between the Scots and the French again England when Scotland was at war with England.

Extract V

Portia

Very vilely in the morning, when he is sober………………..ere I will be married to a sponge.

1.    How does  the young German behave when he is sober and when he is drunk? If the worse happens to Portia which would compel her to marry him, what would she do?

When sober, the young German is less than a man in behaviour  and when drunk he is no better than a beast. If the worse happens to Portia, she will manage to do  without him.

2.    Give the meaning of:

a)    When he is worst, he is little better than a beast

When is drunk, he is no better than a beast

b)    Set a deep glass of Rhenish wine on the contrary casket

Place a  tall goblet of Rhenish wine on the wrong casket

3.    What plan does Portia  make to prevent the young German from choosing the right casket?

To prevent the young German from choosing the right casket, Portia instructed Nerissa to place a tall goblet of Rhenish wine on the wrong casket. Portia was sure that the German suitor  will not be able to resist the temptation of his national drink even if the picture of the devil himself was within.

4.    Why is the young German referred to as a ‘sponge’?

A sponge constantly absorbs water. Similarly, a drunkard, who constantly take liquor is called a sponge. Since the young German is a drunkard, Portia calls him a sponge.

5.    After  Portia’s speech, what does  Nerissa say to console her about the suitors?

Nerissa tells Portia to set aside her fears concerning the suitors. She says that they have informed her of their  decision to go back home and not to press their courtship further unless Portia’s  father’s decree concerning the caskets can be set aside and they may woo her in an ordinary way.

Extract VI

Portia

If I live to be as old as Sibylla…………………..a fair departure.

1.    What was Portia’s father’s will as far as Portia’s marriage is concerned?

Portia’s father’s will was that her marriage will be decided by the lottery of the three caskets. The suitor, who chooses the right casket containing Portia’s picture will be her husband.

2.    Who is Sibylla and who is Diana? Why are they referred to in the extract?

In Ovid’s metamorphoses, Sibyl was prophetess. She was granted a wish by god Appllo that she would live for as many years as the grains of sand she held in her hand. She was the ageless old woman.

Diana was the goddess of moon and hunting. She is known as the virgin goddess. They are referred to here to explain Portia’s resolve to remain a virgin like Diana even if  she lives to be as old as Sibyl of Cumae unless she is won in marriage by some suitor in the lottery of casket.

3.    What does Nerissa say to introduce Bassanio? What were the feelings of Portia for Bassanio in this scene?

To introduce Bassanio, Nerissa recalls the visit of a young Venetian along with the Marquis o f Montferrat, when Portia’s father was alive. He was a scholar and a soldier. In this scene, Portia’s feelings for Bassanio are quite positive. She recalls his name and tells Nerissa that he fully deserves her praise. Her simple reply shows that she is already in love with Bassanio.

4.    In what scene can we say that the opening of the first two scenes of Act I give the plots of the play?

The opening of the first two scenes of Act I gives the plot of the paly. The two main plots of the play are the bond-story and the casket -story. The bond-story is initiated in Scene I while the casket-story is initiated in Scene 2 of Act I.

5.    Name the six suitors given in this scene. Give two characteristics of each suitor described by Portia.

i)                The Neapolitan Prince from Naples, Italy, was a dashing youngster, as wild as a horse. He always talked about his horse.

ii)             The County Palatine was always frowning  and unusually gloomy.

iii)           Le Bon is from France, who had the characteristic of every man and had no personality of his own.

iv)            Falconbridge from England, though handsome was strangely and unmannerly dressed and did not know Latin, French  or Italian.

v)              The Scottish Lord, was a coward and did not repay the Englishman who gave him a blow.

vi)            The Duke of Saxony was drunkard. He in his sober moments, behaved less than  a man and when drunk no better than a beast.