THE MERCHANT OF VENICE - HANDBO

32

about recent even

v Salanio and Salarino prowide the intormation nts
They eport Shylok's fury and parody his behaviour. They
are
worried about Antonio and go quickly to look for him and ches
him up. They do not take part in the action of the play, but k
the action going when the chiet characters are absent. At the e
end
of the sone, Salanio and Salarino decided to look for Antonio and
with some amusement.
rte his low spirits

ACT II Scene 9
CONTEXT QUESTIONS
1. (i To honour Arragon as a prince, trumpets were sournded as he entered
the room and Portia addressed him as 'noble prince'.
(11) 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.
11) Arragon explicitly kept the last condition at the end of the scene.
(iv) 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.
(v) Prince Arragon is too proud and self-opinionated. While making his
selection, he calls the common people as 'tool 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.
2. i) The inscription on the gold casket
says 'who chooses me shall gain
what many men desire'. The speaker chooses the silver casket.
(11) 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.
heir untaught eyes never see the inner meaning of things, but is
content to remain on the outside like the swallow.
 33
Scene 9
II
ACT

The martlet, instead

mullitude to the martlet.
the
compares constructs it in the ost
most
ii) Arragon place for its nest,
a sheltered fro
of secking the outerwall, unprotected rom, any stormy
places like o c c u r . Similarly,
the foolish
Cxosed1
which may
accident
any fall into errors
the outside ot things,
or
wcather
people wo judge by
common
and calanmities.

path of danger
disaster and
in the very
to foolish common
(iv) (a) open the level of the ignorant and
myselt at
(b) I don't put
people. out in the choice of
appearance
and reality is brought
and appearance
(y)The theme of distinguish
between reality
to human values.
caskets. The ability but on insight
and deeper
materialistic
on intelligence influenced by
depends not silver casket is
choice of the love for Portia.
self-love and not by
Arragon's
and Portia because
considerations
choice of caskets for
devised such a
loves her. The
Portia's father who truly
3. (i) chosen by someone

wanted her to be
as
he chooses m e shall get
silver casket says, 'who
on the
inscription
deserves'.
much as he to Arragon
on the silver casket appeal
Words on the inscription 'merit' in the inscription
(i) meaning feels
because the word "deserves deserving. He
thinks himself to be the most
to him.He inner merit.
appeals who succeed
without having any
that there are many inherited nobility.
because of his
But he 'deserves' without merit. It
means

fortune and win something

ii) To try to cheat deceive and trick fortune by asking
no one ought
to be allowed to
not deserve.
her for what he does honoured
should aspire to be
further tells that no man
(iv) Arragon wishes that all the positions
of rank,
unless he deserves it. Arragon
bestowed on the deserving,
instead of being
dignity and offices were low ranking people
obtained dishonestly. If this happens, many
would be out from the
separated ranks of the truly honourable.
the choice,
the silver casket. After making
(v) Arragon finally chooses with what he finds
Arragon is dumb-founded and very disappointed
a long time before speaking.
in the casket. He pauses silently for
and
difference between that creature
He says that there is such a

to He asks Portia whether he deserves no

the picture he hoped see.
that is his
more than the head of a fool. He wants to know whether
prize and whether he deserves nothing more than that.
He is in
4. (i) Arragon speaks these words after opening the silver casket.
a mood of disappointment. He came to woo Portia with one foolish
head of his own.

(i) The second head he got was from the silver casket. The scroll
attached to the second head says that silver metal of the casket was
 THE MERCHANT OF VENICE -HANDRo
34 00K
never makes an error
tested times by fire. A mind which
seven
seven times. Some people find #
jtudgment must be similarly tested their
in shadows and unreality. Their happiness is therefore onl.
happiness fools whose foolishne
shadowy and unreal. There are many living
is hidden by their silvery-hair because they have the appearance n
being venerable and wise. One of these is the foof's head concealed
in the silver casket. Arragon will always have a toolish head. H
should now leave as his chance is over.
(i1) The speaker chooses the silver casket. The motto of the silver casket
appeals to the speaker. It says 'who chooses me shall get as much
as he deserves, He feels that he deserves Portia because of his
inherited nobility.
(iv) After the departure of the prince, Portia says that there is another
moth which has burnt itself in the flame of the candle. These people,
when they choose, the wisdom of their superficial krnowledge makes
them look utterly foolish and lead them to make the wrong choice.
()After the Prince's departure, Nerissa utters an old saying "Hanging
and winning goes by destiny". It means that it is fate that decides
what happens to one, whether one is to be hanged or to be wedded.
It implies that it is destiny that has saved Portia from two unsuitable
suitors and it is destiny that may give her a worthy suitor.
5. (1) This scene takes place in a room in Portia's house at Belmont.
Gratiano has alighted at the gate.
(ii) Gifts of rich value indicate the great regard and love Bassanio has
for Portia.
(ii) In the last three lines of the extract, the servant says that he has not
seen so generous an ambassador of love. Even a day in April, the
sweetest spring day, coming to give people a foretaste of bright and
bountiful summer, is not comparable to this
gorgeous messenger,
who rides in advance of his master.
(iv) Portia asks the servant to stop speaking because he is so
generous
in his praise that she is dreading to hear him say that he is some
relative of his. Then Portia tells Nerissa to come quickly along with
her to meet this messenger of Cupid, who has arrived in such a
courteous manner. Nerissa prays to Cupid, the god of love, that the
lord announced be Bassanio if such is his will.
(v) Portia tells. the servant to be silent because he is too extravagant
in his praises that she is dreading to hear him say that he is some
relative of his.
The plot of the play makes further progress in this scene. This scere
important because it fills up the
the second of the casket
scenes, is
interval of the three months between the signing up of the Dord
and the forfeiture. It also seems to reveal the wisdom of the device
 I Scene 1 35
ACT

that the resuits are not

mere lottery, Jt
a
ofcaskets because il shows
the person, who rightly loves, will choose rightly.
proves that only
audience which is the right casket
This s c e e also, reveals to the
during Bassanio's selection later. This
lt will heighten the suspense and reality.
the theme oft appearance
scene also keeps up

ACT III Scene 1

CONTEXT QUESTIONS
Venice. In the first line
'she' refers
1. (i) The scene place in a street in
takes
as a tatling old
woman.

to the or report which is personified

rumour
wishes that
talks about Antonio's ship, Salanio only
When Salarino
case as any old woman,
Rumour may prove to
be a big liar in this
her ginger bread cakes
with her neighbours over
gossiped
who
ever for the
believe that she mourned sincerely
and made her neighbours
death of her third husband.
was wrecked in
the waters
(ii) Earlier, it was told that Antonio's ship a most
known as Goodwin Sands,
of the English channel at spot
a
spread at the
bank. The news about the ship-wreckage transactions.
perilous sand
merchants met for business
Rialto or the Exchange where
much or beating about
The given words mean: 'without speaking
(ii) of any lengthy, irrelevant
or
the bush'. That is without being guilty
tedious speech or going
outside plain direct speech.
He
was pleased to
hear about the loss of Antonio's ship.
(iv) Shylock who used to come smiling, so
calls him a spendthrift and a beggar,
must take to redeem his bond
care
self-satisfied to the market. He
in time.
and Salanio express their feelings
(v) In the given extract, Salarino
Antonio. Salanio calls him 'good
of concern and sympathy for describe
wants a better adjective to
Antonio', honest Antonio and has lost a
news that Antonio
him'. Finally, Salanio conveys the
be the end of his losses. Shylock
ship. Salarino hopes that this may
Salarino says that he is aware of the
enters the scene at this time.
He then tells Shylock that
fact that his daughter, Jessica has eloped.
and his daughter as is between
there is a difference between him blood
a difference between his
black and white. Further, there is
red wine and the expensive
and hers like there is between ordinary
white German wine.
talked about. She has flown to Belmont.
2. (i) The flight of Jessica is being
Lorenzo.
Jessica has flown with
 THE MERCHANT OF VENICE - HANDB00
36

(in) Just before the arrival of Shylock. the news about the Antonio's
ship wreck in the English Channel at a spot called Goodwin Sands
15 given

(1) The given words mean that it is the nature of a fully feathered young
bird to leave the nest when it is old enough. He mears to say that
essica was old enough to run away with her lover, Lorenzo.
tv Shylock took all possible steps to get back his eloped daughter. He
asked the Duke for justice and even persuaded him to check the ship
which Bassanio left for Belmont. Later it was said that someone
saw Lorenzo and Jessica in a gondola. Shylock engaged his friend
Tubal for finding and bringing Jessica to him.
(V) After the extract, Salarino compares the character of jessica and
nylock. He says that Jessica is a complete contrast to Shylock as
black is to white or as ordinary red wine is to expensIve white
Rhenish wine.
3. 1) A "'bankrupt means a person who has not
enough money to pay
off hisjust debts. 'Prodigal' means a spendthrift who spends money
recklessly. The man has gone bankrupt because his ship has been
wrecked in the English Channel
who has
with its rich cargo. Heis a spendthrift
mismanaged his affairs and has gone bankrupt. That is
why he is called a prodigal by Shylock.
(ii) The Venetian Stock Exchange where the merchants
used to met to
transact business deals, was known as the
Rialto. The man used
to go to Rialto
smiling and so self-satistied because he was sure
of his financial
position as he owned a number of ships carrying
merchandise to the four cormers of the world.
words to compare Antonio's financial Shylock savs these
position the past with his
in
present bankrupt condition.
(ii) The man referred to in the extract, Antonio, used to insult
He used to disgrace him, Shyiock.
laugh at his losses, mock at his
gains,
despise his race and interfere in his business deals simply because
he was a Jew.
(iv) The bankrupt caused loss to Shylock in Venice by lending money
without interest and thus, affecting Shylock's business of
money at exhorbitant rate of interest. lending
(v) The bankrupt is likely to go into a loss as his ship has been wrecked
with its rich cargo. Besides, he is to
pay three thousand ducats he
had borrowed from Shylock for Bassanio. Such a loss will
favour
Shylock to pursue his plan of revenge.
4. (i) The thief referred to in the extract is Shylock's daughter, Jessica. The
thief had stolen his money, gold and gems, incduding a diamond
costing two thousand ducats. After the theft, Shylock has to spend
money to locate Jessica. So he has suffered loss upon loss due to
the theft.
CNICE - HANDBOODk
Scene 1
ACT III

about the Antonio's friend of ShylOCk. He went to Genoa to

alled Goodwin Sands (ii) Tubal is another Jew, a
has eloped with Lorenzo.
search for Jessica, who
the places in Genoa where
i ) Tubal brought the news that he went to
uly feathered young news about Jessica but could not find her.
he heard some
He means to say
that the expressions revenge in the context
satistaction and
lover, Lorenzo. i) Shylock uses
and eloped daughter. His
retrieve his lost money
of his efforts to stones, and many other
eloped daughter. Hek daughter, Jessica had stolen money, preciousthem have not succeeded.
nim to check the ship locate her and retrieve
jewels. His efforts to
:s said that someone back his lost daughter
the satisfaction of getting
So, he has neither on the Christians,
who caused her
engaged his friend and money nor taking revenge
elopement. the way back
acter of jessica and has been wrecked on
(v) One of Antonio's large ships
that befell Antonio. Shylock
was
ntrast to was the il1-luck
Shylock as from Tripolis. This
on Antonio
to expensive white
over the news as
his chances of taking revenge
happy
became brighter.
heard from somne
undone because he has
ugn moner to pay 5. (i) Tubal says that Antonio is Antonio's large ships has
who spends money sailors he met in Genoa that one of
of the context of the
his ship has been back from Tripolis. In the
been wrecked on the way Leah
He is a a reference to
his bachelor days. His wife
.

spendthrift theft, Shylock makes

His daughter
bankrupt. That is a turquoise ring
to him before their marriage.
gave it tor a monkev.
before eloping and exchanged
Jessica stole that ring
nts a mood of grief.
He feels as if he is the
used to met to In this scene, Shylock is in
(ii) to be
to. The man used from ill luck. Tubal is said
one in the world suffering
only alternate accounts of
Antonio's losses
ause he was sure torturing Shylock by giving
of ships carrying makes Shiock elated and
and Jessica's extravagances. He alternately
reason. He elates him by
the n e w s of
hylock says these depressed for apparently no while he
the on its way back from Tripolis,
past with his Wreckage of Antonio's ship she
he could not find Jessica and that
depresses him by saying that and exchanged a ring with
to insult Shylock. had spent eighty ducats on one evening
nock at his gains,
a merchant for a monkey.
is simply because elated because he will be able
(ii) Antonio's misfortune makes Shylock
to take his revenge on Antonio.
He will punish Antonio by exacting
vlending money a pound of flesh from any part
of his body. By his revengeful action,
siness of lending Antonio and the Christians. Further,
he would avenge his hatred for
he can make protits as he likes.
if Antonio is removed from Venice
as been wrecked of prayer. Shylock's journey to the
(vi) A synagogue is a Jewish house
on Antonio.
1sand ducats he synagogue gives us
the clue that he will take revenge
loss will favour Mosaic law, which prescribed an eye for
Shylock believes in the old he is justified in
a tooth. So, Shylock feels
an eye, and a tooth for
ter, Jessica. The of his religion and race.
taking revenge against an enemy
ing a diamond and his complete justification of it is
k has to (v) Shylock's passion for revenge
spend given in this scene. He explains
the insults he has suffered unjustlyy
on loss due to believes that he is doing as his
and his right to take revenge. He
 MERCHANT OF VENICE
-

HANDB OOK
THE
38

thirst for revenge

is expresse
The fierceness ofhis tha
e n e m i e s would do.
the heart of him'. Shylock states
have
in his final
threat 'I will will follow thoeir
Christians and they
no different
from
Jews are
in the matter of revenge
too.
example