CONTEXT QUESTIONS 1. (i) 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. People born in north are fair- skinned. This is because the sun’s rays are so faint in the north that they are“hard! iy able’ to melt the frost, snow and icicles. : (iii) Phoebus in ‘Greek mythology is-one of thes names of the Sun God,” Apollo. “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.a sign, of courage. (iv) Morocco’s physical appearance frightened the brave mén. whereas the prettiest women admired and loved it. The speaker. is prepared: to change his dark complexion ‘only.to win over :Portia’s, favour. From’ the extract “we, Know’ that ‘he’ © ‘of Moraees is a wattior and self. red mah. He-has adarge imposing physical appearance: . _and js proud: of his dark complexion. He is ar egoist who thinks. ‘that he is_bettei-than other people, He boasts’ of ‘his red blood and’ the.admiration and. affection. he ere his. land from thé nobles and best-of maidens. Lottery’ of Portia’s destiny 1 refers fo ‘the lottery devised ‘according " t6°her devéased’ 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 make the correct choice 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. (ii) 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.” (iii) 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. (iv) From the extract we know that the Prince of Morocco is a warrior Gi18 THE MERCHANT OF VENICE - HANDBOOK ) 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 best of niaidens, 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, chosing, fortune and hazards. 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. “3. (ii) (iii) “ivy = (vi) ‘Scimitar’ means sword. By using his sword, Moroceo haid slain the Emperor of-Persia and a Persian Prince, who had defeated Sultan Solyman of Turkey thrice. ee The brave deeds Morocco is prepared to petform inorder to win Portia are: oo (i) to challenge the most. brave warrior on earth,’ ae (ii) snatch away the young sucking cubs from the mother bear and dare. her wrath. oe In Greek’ mythology, ‘Hercuiles «was renowried for his manliness, strength and exploits, Licha was his servant: According to the legend, once Hercules and: Lichas were playing a game of ‘di schancé, the winning throw came from Lichas. This example s-applicable to Morocco since his’ fame, wealth’ and ‘achievements -aré-of no help : to-him-to-win Porti z He is forcéd to take. his chance-against' any, inferior. rivak Sia eet a 5 The goddess fortune is ustrally represented blindfolded. Fortunéis said. -40-be. blind-dire’to.t ¢ the. unaccountable variations. in her dispensation, of favours to mankind:.He. fears that asthe blind fortune is leading him to choose:the right casket, the.outcome depends only on charicé as in a game of dice. : 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. - 4 Before he makes the choice of the Casket, Portia asks Morocco to go to the temple to swear an oath that if he makes the wrong choice, he will never again speak to any lady on the subject of marriage."ACT 11 Scené2 0, ie : Le 19 - ACT I Scene 2 CPs ae .1. (i) 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 pithy the temptation to yield to it or not. : @) Launcelot wants 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, wheh. 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. . (iii) 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 ~Aritonio "agrees ‘to’ sigti7a treacherous bond that stipulates a pours - of his flesh in. case, he: forfeits the agreement. Launcélot’s. conscience: advises him not to ran away as such. an ‘act v2 of fleéing is a matter .f contempt.'It adds: that-he:is the child ‘of a.” ee good father ot at Jeast: a Bood: mother’ eae hence whe should stay, on with :the: master... . : Finally, Lauineélot obeys the. ey The theme.of peal acento: he ‘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. (vi) 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. 2. (i) Launcelot and Old Gobbo are in a street in Venice. ‘True-begotten father’ means ‘my father who begot me’. Old Gobbo cannot recognise his son as he is more than half-blind. (ii) 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 Saye i end20 + | THE MERCHANT OF VENICE --HANDBOOK 3. Shylock’s household 4s still there. Launcelot, confuses Gobbo by giving him. wrong directions to Shylock’s house. (iii) Gobbo says that by the saints, it was a difficult direction to follow. (iv) Gobbo has brought a dish of cooked doves to give to the Jew. (vy, @ Launcelot tells his father to give Shylock a rope to hang himself with rather than any present because he has half-starved 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 directions are too confusing for Old Gobbo to follow. The second example is Launcelot’s asking his fathers’ blessing. He “kneels before his father. Being blind, his father touches Launcelot’s “face and says that Launcelot has more hairs on his face than that Dobbin, his cart-horse. 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 the habit of some vain people of his-time who pretended to be what they were not. (ii) Launcelot calls Old Gobbo ‘father’ in the first line.of the extract as _ (iii) Old. Gobbo_is stunned ‘on, hearing: that. his: son-is au He ‘states, “v) ‘When “Cobb, asks Launcelot: to tell him whether his: son is really * ’son:But Gébbo does jot believe hijn. Then Eauncelot mentions ‘the: : Gobbo’s- son.” | “(vy Gobbo is -forid: of -his ‘son: “When: TLaunéelot tell is déad, Gobbo' is shocked. to hear it and ‘laments that his son. was “his only support in his old age. Further Gobbo does ‘not believe 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. that his ‘ ‘son was his. only support i inhis old age. dead: or. not,. Lauicelot.diamatically confesses ‘that“hé is Gobbo’s ‘namie-of his mother, Mery asa -Prgof & show ee hevis prea, Launcelots’ 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. (vi) One humorous situation is when Launcelot gives Gobbo directions to go to Shylock’s house. The directions are so confusing that Gobbo does not follow it. Another humorous situation is the scene of Launcelot asking his fathers’ 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. 4, (i) When Gobbo remarked that Launcelot has more hair on his face than Dobbin, their shaft-horse has on his tail, Launcelot responded im ‘that. his'son:*ACT Ii Scene'2 - By 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 ace. At this Gobbo remarked that Launcelot has chariged. Gobbo has brought a dish ‘of cooked doves to be given to Shylock. - Gi) (a) My master’s a very Jew: My master is a typical jew, ie, he is a miserly man. : ‘ _ (b) give him a halter: give him a rope to a himself witl: ——, - (ity In the extract Launcelot tells his father that under Shylock’ s seice he has grown so thin for want of proper food that his ribs and bones are standing out prominently and can be counted with the finger. This shows that Launcelot has been suffering in the Jew’s service. (iv) Launcelot means to say that anyone can count all his ribs by feeling them with a finger. But Eayncelot reverses the order, thus achieving, - a comic effect. . (v)- If Launcelot serves Bassanio, he will nave 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. (vi) The miserly nature of ‘the Jews is. shown in this scene. Launcelot * says that he is half famished under Shyléck’s service and adds that - he has grown so thin for want of food that his bones and ribs are standing. out prominently. and.can be counted with a finger. i 5 (i) When Old Gobbo delays in asking Bassanio to accept. his son; Tatincelot in Hid service, Pau cuts him: ‘short ‘arid- fells Base that he wants fo serve him... - ~ - Gi) The palm reading. by. inancelel: provides the audience aA:comié:. relief-and-foretells: the} od. forte: that may app ii) Alter. reading his patie Launeelot foretells that he ail ‘awe a long: life. -He. will marry. a lagge: number: wives (eleven. widow's and... nine ‘maids. in all). He will-escape thricé from’ drowning - and’ will havea hair-breadth escape once-from falling out from a feather bed. (iv) 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. 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’. Bassanio speaks these words to Gratiano when the latter makes a request to him to permit him to accompany him on his trip to Belmont. (Wy > the life’ of:e2 THE- MERCHANT OF VENICE - HANDBOOK — (ii) To tone down your ea ‘spirits by exercising a little moderation. (iii) 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 spirits by exercising moderation. *. (iv) 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. 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 is trying to please his grandmother by showing-a quiet and serious behavioui. (vi) Bassanio tells Gratiana that his rude behaviour will be tolerated for the night because of the party. This is because Bassanio wanis 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 nie yeildest spirits and be in his most Cae mood, _ACT ty Scene 3” (v) i CONTEXT QUESTIONS* | Latincefot lett sica’s house since her-fathet Shylock wasa a miserly’ “Jew, and‘ his. stay as’his servant has half-famished: him. He felt that ‘any’ further stay’ with shir would make himr like the Jew: Besides, . Bassanio’ has’atcepted him in his-service. and Launcelot- feels ‘that Bassanio is a better master. (ii) 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. (iii) Jessica shows in words and actions that she liked Launcelots’ 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. (iv) 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.” ACT I Scene 4 = . : ©. 133 (v) Jessica shows herself as a scheming lady when she plané to elope with a Christian boy, Lorenzo-without the knowledge of het father. She proves herself to be prudent when she’ instruets Launcelot _ to deliver her letter to Lorenzo at Bassanio’s party secretly. Her " character is entirely different froni that of Portia. While Portia obeys ther deceased father’s will to marry the one who wins -the lottery of caskets, Jessica betrays her father and religion to marry Lorenzo. | 2. . (i) 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 is still obstinate, miserly and with evil intentions. Further, be shall lose his . daughter as well as money. Gi) 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 sim. because even if she is Shylock’s daughter by birth, she does not actually detest her father but detests his miserliness and tyrannical natute. ' © iii), The given lines mean ‘that- although 1 am his Sg by birth, I iv) Lozenzo.has to. keep the Pomise of elo ing with Jessica that night. Pine Pe Fe eae don’t have his habits. Jessica will end the struggle | between lesire to matr and -her duty-to‘her father, Shylock: ae Jessica is a lively young girl, who rebels against the oppression 16F her. : father and the joylessness. of her lifé at home. She ‘calls ‘her home, // hell, She-cannot get along with-her father. She detests her father > s miserliness ,and :tyrannical ‘nature: She’ affirritg that: though’ she is: “Shylock’s' daughter by. birth,:she. do al different attitude ‘to life. than her father’s. She is ready to leave her a ‘e, his, disposi! Besides, she is. influenced by’ the Venet und: Tier to form father and elope with Lorenzo, a Christian. ACT If Scene 4 CONTEXT QUESTIONS Lorenzo and his friends plan to disguise themselves at dinner time since they were organising 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24 oS THE MERCHANT OF VENICE.- HANDBOOK ..” s . Masks and costumes and took part“in a torch procession; playing musical instruments. They: were not fully prepared for the disguise. (ii) Jessi¢a, 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. * 2 (iii) Launcelot brings the letter of Jessica. It is an Sporn confidential Se 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. * (iv Bassanio is giving the dinner party. Launcelot invites Shylock ford the dinner party. - (vy) The dinner party facilitates the elopement of Jessica with Lorenzo. oe Jessica is free to leave Hér houise as her father is away at’ Bassattio’s dinner party. Lorenzo and his friends organise a masquerade for’ * Bassanio’s dinner party. Jessica joins them as a torch-bearer. dressed * as a-boy and elopes with Lorenzo. : 2. 4) Jessica informs Lorenzo about the arrangements she had made to elope with him. She will leave her fathers’ house with money and | " .” jewellery, disguised in the uniform of a page-boy. (ii) 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- will be because of her; He. prays e =r except for being Shylock 's aught __senfaithless'Jews 4w6n't-go-t. ieiwen: . ey Am’ atmosphere of activity’ and pres occupation prevails in this scene. os Activities include preparations fot 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 M1 Scenes. os : gps ae ACT II Scene'5 |. SRR EIS RO CONTEXT QUESTIONS 1. (i) Shylock accepts the invitation to dinner out of hatred and to eat the food 6f 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 reddy to do business with them. . (ii) Shylock is unhappy to accept the invitation this time too as he feels a*premonition of some misfortune about, to take place. The preyious night he had a dream about money-bags which was considered as a bad omen. Sen . : 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 sqn described : in the Bible who wasted his shate.of wealth by lavish and careless living: 7 : “+ ii) (a) 1 ain not bid for love: 1 am not invited out of love. . &) Lam right loath to go: I hate.to accept the invitation to dinner. :_. (av) Jessica, and Lorenzo taking advantage of Shylock’s absence from : “home makes a plan to elope. Jessica tases the Occasion'to leave home © + .with her father’s: money and jewellery.-Lorenzo-uses the.occasion: ~.. to-arrange the masquerade in which Jessica wiltbe the, torch-bearer ‘and-thus, easily elope with-him. °°. eB oo, + 2(v). Shylock had: a:dream-about money bags-on the previous night.:To° 3.°/2 & “dreant-about ‘money and all kinds of “coins.-ias. considered as: a e ad.omen. This made Shylock think, that there, was some evil being. ‘ plotted. against him. i ee ae ee 2. (i) 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. The speaker is going for Bassanio’s dinner party. He is going out for dinner out of hatred for the Christians and to eat the food of the extravagant, Bassanio. Jacob was the grandson of Abraham, the founder of the Jewish race. According to 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. B26 a ne . THE MERCHANT OF VENICE - HANDBOOK’ Gi (iv € (vi) oy ) (a) Do not climb‘up’ to see from the windows.” oe ~ (b) shrill notes of the fife. ' ) 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’§ money and jewellery. The speaker had warning of | this in the form of a ‘dream. where_he saw money bags and coins’. 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. ‘ j The speaker advices his daughter, Jessica to lock up the doors. He tells her not to go upto the windows when she hears the drums and 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. 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 costume.-So the word patch is used in the ‘extract for‘Launcelot. Shylock says isat he is sending Launcelot to Bassanio as he would assist Bassanio in his spendthrift habits and. waste his borrowed money. +. (ii) Shylock -wishes Bassanio to be ruined because he wants to take “Gil By the given words; Shylock means that lazy people cannot live-with revenge'upon Antonio. and-can do ‘so if Bassanio and Antonio-fail | ; t@ repay the loan’ ont’ a stipulated dates ore ee seme mee BE et him. Shylodc:says that Launcelots lazy and canriot be his'servant;. =: $0 he allows him to:join Bassanio’s’service. 3 pen “-(iv) “Borroived purse’ refers to:the-thiee thousand ducats borrowed by. Me (vi) ‘Bassania fram ‘Shylock: on the basis of the. bond, signed-by Antonio: = 2 * The inoiey was borrowed .to-enable Bassanio to. go to Belmont and witt Portia in mairiagé ‘after participating in the lottery of caskets. Shylock asks Jessica #6 shitt thé’ doors to -inake his house-safe fron 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.) ) 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. .ACT II Scene 6 ‘ oe : ar ose Alt .-' ACT If Scene. 6 : CONTEXT QUESTIONS 1, (i) 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. em (ii) In Greek mythology, Venus is the goddess of love. Salarino comments - that the doves that draw the chariot 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. (iii). According to Gratiaho, 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. fF So 4g {iv) (a) he overstays the time fixed by him to meet. (by To bind new love more firmly. | - - (v) The given lines mean that you: will not find even a hoise travel again over the same road on its return journey with the same energy and. . animation. with which, it-set out: : af. th enjoy” means that the pursuit of any desired object'is’ more enjayable a task.and gives more joy.comparedlto the pleasure. ‘one gets on its attainment. The-tiuth of the statement is broughtabout. : vy the'example of a ship:'A’ ship with its sails spread and flags flying, , Sails out fromthe harbour like a high-spirited. spendthrift youth iin Search of pleasiire, But after. being tossed:about and hugged: by. the - 7” ““rough'wind, it coines Back-to: the port with broken planks and-torrt ‘sails. Il looks:like-the: returning ‘of the prodigal ‘son; rained by the faithless. gales! -” ey Pi Sa 2. (i) Lorenzo is in the street outside Shylock’s house. His sweet friends are Salarino and Gratiano. (ii) 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. (iii) 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. (iv) ‘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28 ; THE MERCHANT OF VENICE — HANDBOOK hig wife, he will weit as long as théy have done.to help him.on the eccasion. 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. | ~ 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. (vi) After this extract, Jessica appears on the stage. She appears on the stage dressed in a boy's clothes, as a page-boy. 3. (i) The casket must haye 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. - fos (ii) The given words mean that Jessica is much ashamed that she has to change her dress to that of a pag, s-boy. This éxchange was needed for-her to elope with ‘Lorenzo: . : : (iii) Love is plirid in the context since it makes Jessica dress like a page-boy, steal jéwellery and money from her house-and be ready to Jope-with -Lérenzo,.a.Christian. Cupid, is, the classical god_of love, - who is’ always, represented as a blind. boy. with bow and arrows." Jessica says that Cu id, the little’ blind god of love himself: would ~-be stocked’ and’ blush if te saw her dressed like.a boy. + i ee (iv) Masquerades were dramatic perfornvances: whiere’ the players wore, ; -masks-and costamiés and,took part in.a torchlighit- procession, ‘playing. ee druins and: fife: Jessica was to-carty the torchlight-or-candle: Jf-she* attire, the casket containing her theft and the fact of her elopement. (v) The given lines mean: “The duty of 4 torch-bearer-would expose me . °° to all when I should be concealed.” Jessica means that her shameful disguise of a page-boy’s dress is too frivolous and Lorenzo should not light them further by having her as torch-bearer. (vi) 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. ~~ girries ‘thie candle; she:will-show tip her-shameful acts.—--het miale ..ACT U.Scene 7 . . ; se . a3) . . -ACT I Scene 7 ~~ CONTEXT QUESTIONS 1. (i) Portia asks ‘one of her attendants to pull apart the curtains so that "” the different caskets-are made visible: The Prince of Morocco ‘is asked-to make the choice. - . : (ii) After reading the inscription on the three caskets,. Morocco asks _ Portia how he will know if he chooses the correct casket. Portia replies. that her portrait will be iri the right casket. If he selects that one, then she will be his wife. . ~ .. (iii) "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 a& she 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 with the figure of an “angel engraved on it. Portia is an angel and hence her portrait.may be in the golden casket. Z (iv) The prince 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 suck a rich gem: -_: (v) When the’ prince’ opéns the'caskét he finds'a Skull aid ii-its eyeless “> ee, =socket-a scroll; 7019+ ¢ Gre Re Ep oe (vi): Mérocco’ bids" farewell: to’ Portia: with, the ‘warm-heartedness of a “lover: atid says: he must accept the:cold ‘comfort of the rejected. He ; says that ‘his Sorrow is-too gréat ‘for-tany! words: Those who have. ost their hearts’. desire depart thus ‘sadly. When: thé prince leaves the.place,,Portia calls it a. good riddance and.wishes tliat every suitor, ike him: should: make'a sintilar choice. - - ae ) The given words appear on the silver casket. ix (ii) 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. (iii) 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. (iv) (a) And compare your personal worth impartially. (b) A sign of weakness which would bring discredit on myself. cee30 . THE MERCHANT OF VENICE - HANDBOOK (v) 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 detlares 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. a 3: @ The Prince of Morocco speaks these words. He is in a room inPortia’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. (ii) 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. Morgcco says ” that people came: from every part of the globe to worship at the ._ holy place which enshrines this living object of adoration — Portia. " , (iii), Before he makes the choice, the speaker is told -by. Portia that the ~ correct casket contains her pe and if he chooses it, she will be . his ‘wife. -(iv) The word ‘they’ refers to the many suitors who come to Belmont from ail parts of the globe to woo Portia.. While coming they travel - through Persian deserts, immense wilderness of Arabia and even. cross the oceans. : : “(wy (a) Hyrcanian: pe Evian a “province ‘of the-ancient .” ~ Persian empire. Hyrcanian deserts were eget ying ‘in the. 6 oo 4 7 south of. Caspian sed. ’ Fe ny (b): The watery kingdom: ‘The oceans sand it fierce waves do not siop ae «suitors from: abroad. : (wi) The ‘speaker rejects tie’ lead dapket: singe ori it“was' written Hat: . -siy -whoever'seleets it must bey prepared togive all and to tisk everything... > “Morocco declares that only a fool will risk.everything for the dull”. - lead. He thinks lead 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. 4. (i) The Prince thinks that Portia’s picture is not in the silver casket because silver is ten times undervalued as compared to gold and such a rich gem.can never be set in anything less than gold. (ii) ‘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. (iii) 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ACT Ii Scene 8. | ~ : 2 macs and its value was about ten shillings. Morocco, says that the figure of the angel on the coir’ 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..’ a (iv) 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 Hives. Costly gold-plated tombs may be erected; but they have no real value.. Decay and death as wise as his courage and if he had united youthfulness of body to the wisdom.of riper years, the answer would have been a living woman, not a written scroll. (v) the prince. In spite of his good qiualities, the prince is materialistic. He only sees the outward appearance and value of the caskets. He thinks - that in birth,"in fortune and outward graces, he deserves Portia. : However, he says nothing about his inner worth, that is, of his good : deeds, character-and education. He chooses the gold casket for its bright and glittering appearance. The’ prince is motivated by ‘pride and ‘admiration; not true love. If he loved her, he would have been ready to risk everything for hér. 2 _ACT ILS Scene 8: anaes Se NS “CONTEXT. QUESEIONS changing, : .« daughter, has eloped .after.robbing-him of his money.and jewellery. vent.to it by an exhibition of passionaié exciterent 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. are all-they contain. The message tells the-Prince that if he had been. e given’ lines, Sdlanio” says that he‘ has’ not-séeh such an outburst-of anger, so confused; so strange; excessive arid frequently sis displayed ‘by: the: Jew.- Shylock: discovers that’ his’ This makes him excited and. furious with. grief and despair. He gives* The theme of appearance and reality is shown. in the choice madé by. .32 : i: THE MERCHANT OF VENICE - HANDBOOK ~*~ - (iv) (a) double ducats: coins of double ducats., , | 6 (b) @ sealed bag: a bag that is securely sealed to, ensure the security a of its contents. . 7 : . (v) Shylocks’ lamentations add to the humour in the play. He is depicted > asa comic character in the scene. ‘The manner in which he laments -—2.- he loss of his daughter and his ducats amuses the audience; Shylock’s repetition of ‘O my daughter! O my_Christian ducats!’ indicate’ his ' greedy nature ‘and shows that Jessica is another possessiori for him See the ducats. The manner in which all.the boys of Venice follow him and repeat his words of {amentation in a tone of mockery and jeer ‘at him further add tothe humour in the scene. _ 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. (i) In his conversation with a Frenchman, Salatino 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 - a _ one of his ships. ; et - - (ii) Salarind wished that the wrecked ship might not be one of Antonio's - ships. . Te ws POE A @ , (iv) Salanio advises Salarino to tell ‘Antonio what he has heard about.a aoe _ shipwreck, However, he ‘Advises hitri not to’tell, Antonio abaut the news immediately for it niaymaKe him meade nee Fag eh ty Bea ater at nin “"(w) The’ news’ given: by the Frenchman creates a.suspense in thé 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 thé:day the’ bond is due. After heating the tiews, Shylock is happy that he could take hi fevenge'on,Antonio:: 4. He: ealls-hinv’ a, bankrupt and insists on the execution of the bond: (vi) Salanio and Salarino provide the information’ about tecent*eventss>» -Théy report Shylock’s fury and parody his behaviour. They: are F 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 characiers 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. (i) (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.ACT I Scene9 - ne : 33 (iv) While parting, Antonio's eyes were filled with tears. He tumed his face away ard extended his hand beltind him. Then, moved by his - love, he held the hanids of Bassanio and they parted from each other. Ii shows that there is great love and affection between them. () At the end of the scene, Salanio and Salarino decided to look for Antonio and raise his low spirits with some amusement,