Questions and Answers from The Merchant of Venice Act 3 Scene 2 by William Shkaespeare

Structured Questions from Act 3 Scene 2 of the Merchant of Venice by William Shakespeare
Questions and Answers from The Merchant Of Venice ACT 3 SCENE 2

Portia:
I pray you, tarry, pause a day or two
Before you hazard; for, in choosing wrong, 
I lose your company : therefore, forbear awhile. 
There's something tells me (but it is not love) 
I would not lose you; and you know yourself, 
Hate counsels not in such a quality. 
But lest you should not understand me well
And yet a maiden hath no tongue but thought
I would detain you here some month or two
Before you venture for me. I could teach you 
How to choose right, but then I am forsworm

1. To whom are these words addressed? What request does the speaker made to the person addressed?

Answer

These words are addressed to Bassanio. Portia requests him to wait for a couple of days before making the choice of the caskets.

2. What's the meaning of 'forbear'? Why is the person asked to forbear?

Answer

'Forbear' means, to show patience or wait for a while before making the choice. Portia is scared that if Bassanio makes a wrong choice, he'll have to leave immediately as per the conditions and she'll be deprived of his company. There's something that tells her that she should not lose him.

3. Explain 'a maiden hath no tongue but thought'.

Answer

A maiden's modesty prevents her from expressing her love directly. A young girl has no choice. She only thinks of her feelings but cannot express them.

4. What does the given passage tell you about Portia's attitude towards her father?

Answer

The above given passage portrays Portia as a devoted and loving daughter. Even though her father is not alive, yet she is deeply attached and very much loyal to his memory. She is determined in marrying only as per her father's will even at the risk of losing the man she loves.

5. Why does Portia wish that she had not forsworn?

Answer

Portia wishes that she had not taken the oath to reveal the right casket because after meeting Bassanio she wishes to guide him in the right choice of the caskets as she loves him and wants to be his wife.

Bassanio : Let me choose;
For as I am, I live upon the rack. 
Portia : Upon the rack, Bassanio ! then confess
What treason there is mingled with your love. 
Bassanio : None but that ugly treason of mistrust,
Which makes me fear th' enjoying of my love : 
There may as well be amity and life 
'Tween snow and fire, as treason and my love.
Portia : Ay, but I fear you speak upon the rack,
Where men enforced do speak anything.
Bassanio : Promise me life, and I'll confess the truth.
Portia : Well, then, confess, and live.

1. Why does Bassanio want to make the choice as soon as possible?

Answer

Bassanio can no longer bear the suspense and the uncertainty. He wants to make the choice and know if Portia can be his.

2. What's the meaning of 'rack"? Explain in detail its significance.

Answer

'Rack here means torture of not knowing the outcome of choosing the caskets. The rack was an instrument in the old times used to torture the suspects and make them confess their sin. The person used to be tied to a frame which was stretched and the pain of stressing the limbs was unbearable. Here Portia and Bassanio are also tortured as their feelings are stretched to the limit.

3. What's the 'treason' mentioned here? Explain the comparison in the extract. How is this reference relevant here?

Answer

Treason is disloyalty. Portia playfully asks what disloyalty has Bassanio committed to be on the rack. Bassanio says the torment is due to the doubt whether he will be able to choose correctly. This is taking away his peace of mind; so he wants to make the choice fast.

4. What has been spoken by Portia earlier that reveals her feelings for Bassanio?

Answer

Portia had revealed her feelings by asking Bassanio to stay back and wait a while before making the choice. She says his eyes have cast a spell on her and divided her. One half is his and the other half is also his as she gives herself to Bassanio.

5. What's the significance of this scene?

Answer

This is the famous casket scene that makes the drama very popular. The theme of appearance and reality culminates in this scene. All that glitters is not gold; even humble and not so good looking things have value. The others who chose gold and silver were blinded by pride and desire for worldly things. It is Bassanio, guided by true love makes the right choice and wins the hand of Portia.

Portia : Away then! I am lock'd in one of them :
If you do love me, you will find me out. 
Nerissa and the rest, stand all aloof. 
Let music sound while he doth make his choice; 
Then, if he lose, he makes a swan-like end, 
Fading in music : that the comparison 
May stand more proper, my eye shall be the stream
And watery death-bed for him. 

1. What does Portia mean by, 'Away then'? Is she happy in saying this? Give reason.

Answer

Portia is asking Bassanio to go ahead with the choice of the casket. She is not very happy as she is anxious about the outcome. She wants to enjoy his company at least for a month or so, but if he makes a wrong choice, he'll have to leave her.

2. Explain 'I'm locked in one of them'. What is Nerissa and others asked to do?

Answer

Portia shows the caskets and says that her portrait is locked in one of them. The one with her portrait is the right choice. Nerissa and others are asked to stand a little distance away, so that Bassanio can make the choice.

3. Why should the music sound?

Answer

The music should sound so that the right atmosphere is created for the choice. It is also to soothe the tension. The music may be to warn Bassanio against giving importance to appearance over less showy things.

4. What contemporary belief about swans is expressed here?

Answer

The contemporary belief expressed is that swans sing only once, just before they die. In fact, swan just disappears into a distance, singing its last song.

5. What does Portia want to do to make the comparison more proper?

Answer

Portia compares Bassanio to a swan. To make the comparison more proper, she says that her tears will become the stream in which the swan will drown itself. If he fails to make the right choice, he'll have to leave and that will drown Portia in grief. The stream will be Bassanio's grave, as he'll be seen no more.

6. What music will be played if Bassanio wins?

Answer

If Bassanio makes the right choice, the music will be like the sound of the trumpet, when loyal subjects bow before the newly crowned king. It will be like the melodious sound that reaches the ear of a dreaming bridegroom at dawn, to call him for his marriage.

Portia :
Now he goes,
With no less presence, but with much more love, 
Than young Alcides, when he did redeem 
The virgin tribute paid by howling Troy
To the sea-monster. 

1. Who is the 'he' mentioned in the first line? Who is Alcides?

Answer

The 'he' mentioned here is Bassanio who is venturing to make his choice of the caskets. Alcides was Hercules, the Greek hero who saved the daughter of the Trojan king from a sea monster. He was famous for his courage.

2. Why is the 'he' compared to Alcides?

Answer

Bassanio is being compared to Hercules or Alcides as he is also venturing for a prize in the form of Portia. His mission is also adventurous and risky as the attempt of Alcides who had to rescue the princess who was being given as a sacrifice to a sea monster.

3. What adventurous deed did Alcides do? How is his act is compared to the act 'he' is going to make?

Answer

Alcides rescued Hesoine, the virgin princess of Troy, from being sacrificed as a virgin tribute to a sea monster. Alcides did it not for love, but for the horses offered as a reward. Portia imagines herself as Heroine and Bassanio rescuing her with more love than Alcides had for the girl.

4. Give the meaning of 'virgin tribute' and 'howling Troy'.

Answer

Virgin tribute is the sacrifice of unmarried daughter of the Trojan king to appease the sea monster. The women of Troy were grief stricken to see this pitiable sight and cried loudly in misery.

5. In what state of mind is Portia now?

Answer

Portia is full of anxiety about the outcome of the choice. Bassanio's success will give her life and happiness. She will watch the choice with more anxiety than Bassanio shows although he is the one going to make the choice.

Bassanio: 
So may the outward shows be least themselves :
The world is still deceiv'd with ornament. 
In law, what plea so tainted and corrupt
But, being season'd with a gracious voice, 
Obscures the show of evil? In religion, 
What damned error, but some sober brow 
Will bless it and approve it with a text, 
Hiding the grossness with fair ornament? 
There is no vice so simple but assumes
Some mark of virtue on his outward parts. 

1. Bring out the context of the passage.

Answer

Bassanio is about to make the choice in this last of the casket scenes. He was shown the caskets by Portia and was asked to wait before making his choice, but Bassanio can't stand the tension and decides to go for it. Portia orders for music to ease the tension. It warns Bassanio against choosing according to appearance.

2. What major theme of the play is dealt with in this extract?

Answer

The theme of appearance against reality is the theme dealt within the extract. The world is always misled with outward show.

3. What two examples are given by Bassanio to prove his point?

Answer

Bassanio gives examples from the Law and religion. In the law court, a case most dishonest may be pleaded with utmost eloquence to conceal the face of the evil. In religion some pious looking person may do a sin but justify it with verses from the scriptures. A vice is concealed by the appearance of virtue.

4. Explain the last two lines of the extract.

Answer

The last two lines means that an evil may not have the least element of goodness in it and not the least touch of grace about it; but it is possible for that evil to wear some mark of virtue on its outward appearance.

5. What does Bassanio say about cowards soon after this?

Answer

Bassanio says that cowards with hearts are as deceptive as a sand staircase. They may wear a beard like that of Hercules or the frowning Mars but on close observation; they turn out to be lily livered cowards. They show off as though they are most courageous and hard to deal with.

Bassanio : 
Therefore, thou gaudy gold,
Hard food for Midas, I will none of thee; 
Nor none of thee, thou pale and common drudge 
'Tween man and man: but thou, thou meagre lead, 
Which rather threaten'st than dost promise aught, 
Thy paleness moves me more than eloquence,
And here choose I : joy be the consequence ! 

1. What does the speaker say about beauty before this extract? What idea is brought out here?

Answer

Bassanio says that artificial beauty can be purchased by weight in a chemist's shop and those who wear most of this artificial make up are light in character. The idea that one should not go by appearance is brought out. Gaudy things are for show; they lack value.

2. Why does the speaker talk about crispy golden locks earlier ? What do they turn out to be at times?

Answer

The speaker talks about crispy golden locks again to reinforce the idea that appearance is deceptive. Beautiful, crispy locks may be a wig, made by hair borrowed from another head that may be lying now in a tomb. Outward shows are treacherous shores of a dangerous sea at times.

3. Who is 'Midas'? What was hard food for him? Why?

Answer

Midas was the mythical king of Phrygia from Greek mythology. He had asked for the boon that everything he touched should turn to gold. When he touched his food, it turned to gold and he could not eat it. Gold was hard food for him. Therefore, he remained hungry. Then he realized his foolishness.

4. Why does Bassanio not choose the golden casket?

Answer

Bassanio doesn't choose the golden casket as he feels that, all that glitters is not gold. It may invite you to its outward show but deceives you when it comes to reality. Thus, he rejects the gold casket with its inviting inscription.

5. What does Bassanio call the silver casket? Why? Why does Bassanio choose the lead casket?

Answer

Bassanio calls the silver casket 'thou pale common drudge'. He considers it as an ordinary slave passing from hand to hand as coins. He chooses the lead casket as the ugly material seems to warn rather than promise anything. The plain message on it moves him than the eloquent words engraved on the other caskets.

6. What does he find inside the lead casket? What does he say about the thing found inside it?

Answer

Bassanio finds Portia's portrait inside the lead casket. He says only a demy-god could have created such a lovely picture which is almost like the person herself. The eyes seem to move, lips be slightly parted as though they are in motion. Her hair is as though the artist has worked like a spider spinning a golden web to entrap the hearts of men. But all his praises seem to do injustice to her portrait just as the portrait does underestimate the original beauty, that is, Portia herself.

Portia: 
Myself and what is mine, to you and yours
Is now converted : but now I was the lord 
Of this fair mansion, master of my servants, 
Queen o'er myself; and even now, but now, 
This house, these servants, and this same myself 
Are yours, my lord's. I give them with this ring; 
Which when you part from, lose, or give away,
Let it presage the ruin of your love,
And be my vantage to exclaim on you.

1. Where are Portia and Bassanio? Two other people are also present. Name them.

Answer

Portia and Bassanio are in Belmont, in a room in Portia's house. Gratiano and Nerissa are also present there.

2. Which possession does Portia want to transfer to Bassanio? What does this show of her character?

Answer

Portia offers herself, her house, her servants and a ring to Bassanio. She, like a true wife, generously offers everything to Bassanio. This shows her deep love for her husband and desire to please him.

3. In what ways does Portia want to excel herself?

Answer

Portia wants to excel herself in many ways. She wants to be a thousand times more beautiful, ten thousand times richer and many times better in virtues, property and friends. She calls herself inexperienced, untrained and uneducated girl but she is happy that she is young enough and capable enough to improve.

4. On what condition does she give the ring to Bassanio?

Answer

Portia gives an expensive ring to Bassanio, saying that he should not part with it at any time, at any cost. If and when he parts with it, it'll be a sign of his diminishing love for her and that will give her an opportunity to accuse him for that.

5. Explain the last two lines of the extract. How do these become significant later in the play?

Answer

The last two lines mean that if Bassanio gives the ring away that will be a sign that his love is dead and Portia will take it as an opportunity to accuse him of that. These words become significant later in the play, as Bassanio feels obliged to give the ring to the lawyer who asks for it as the fee for rescuing Antonio. Portia berates him for giving away the ring without revealing herself as the lawyer. This is a source of humor in the ring episode.

6. What does Bassanio say in reply to this speech of Portia?

Answer

Bassanio says that he is deprived of words. Only blood running in his veins can show his emotions. There is so much confusion in his thoughts like the one that follows after the speech of a prince, amid the applause of the delighted audience. His confused joy cannot be expressed. He promises that when the ring leaves his finger it'd be a sign that Bassanio is dead. In other words, he'll not part with that ring till he dies.

Salerio :
Not one, my lord.
Besides, it should appear, that if he had 
The present money to discharge the Jew, 
He would not take it. Never did I know 
A creature, that did bear the shape of man,
So keen and greedy to confound a man. 

1. To whom is Salerio speaking? Where is he? Who else are with him?

Answer

Salerio is speaking to Bassanio. He is in Belmont, in Portia's house where the caskets are kept. Lorenzo, Jessica and Portia are with him.

2. What is Salerio referring as 'No one'? What has he brought for Bassanio? What's the content of that?

Answer

When Bassanio asks Salerio to confirm that no ship of Antonio has escaped from getting lost, he says not a single one. He has brought a letter from Antonio addressed to Bassanio. The content of the letter is that Antonio's ships have miscarried, his creditors are mercilessly troubling him, his resources are very low, and the Jew is waiting for the forfeiture. If he pays for the penalty, he will not be alive and he wants to meet Bassanio before he dies. If Bassanio fulfills his wish, all debts owed to Antonio will be cleared.

3. According to the speaker, what would not the Jew do? How is he describing the Jew in this extract?

Answer

According to Salerio, even if Antonio pays the money to the Jew, it'll be too late, as the time for the forfeiture is over and as per the condition, he will insist on taking one pound of flesh. He describes the Jew as a creature that has taken the shape of a man, who is so keen and greedy to bring ruin to another man.

4. What does the speaker say about the efforts of the Jew in extracting the forfeiture?

Answer

The Jew urges the duke at morning and at night to take speedy actions. He threatens legal actions against the country's legal system, if he is denied justice. Twenty merchants, the duke himself and the noblemen of the highest rank have tried to persuade him but no one is able to prevent him from his revengeful claim.

5. What does Jessica say about her father just after this extract?

Answer

Jessica says that she had heard her father conversing with Tubal and other Jews that he would rather have a pound of Antonio's flesh than twenty times the value of the debt. She says that she knows well that unless the law and the higher powers intervene, it is going to be tough for Antonio.

Portia : 
What, no more ?
Pay him six thousand, and deface the bond; 
Double six thousand, and then treble that, 
Before a friend of this description 
Shall lose a hair through Bassanio's fault. 
First go with me to church and call me wife, 
And then away to Venice to your friend; 
For never shall you lie by Portia's side
With an unquiet soul. 

1. To what information does Portia say, 'What no more? In what way had Bassanio praised Antonio just before this?

Answer

When Portia comes to know that the debt owed by Antonio is only three thousand ducats, Portia says 'What no more?' Bassanio had praised Antonio as his dearest friend and kindest man with the best of intention who never gets tired of showing kindness to others. He displays the old spirits of Roman honor more than any other person in Italy.

2. What does Portia advice Bassanio regarding the bond? What does it show of her character?

Answer

Portia advises Bassanio to pay Shylock six thousand ducats and cancel the bond. If it is not enough, he should double the six thousand and multiply that by three. This shows that she is generous at heart. As a true wife, she considers her husband's honor and problems as hers and she values his friendship.

3. What does she tell Bassanio to do before he leaves? Why does she want Bassanio to leave immediately?

Answer

Portia tells Bassanio to go to church, marry her, and then go to the rescue of his friend. She wants Bassanio to leave immediately as she knows that Bassanio's mind will be troubled as long as his friend is in dire trouble. She doesn't like her husband to be in a distraught condition when he is with her. Moreover, it is his duty to be with his friend who has helped him in spite of the risk to his life.

4. How will Portia and Nerissa spend the days of separation? What does Bassanio promise his wife at the end of the scene?

Answer

Portia and Nerissa will live as unmarried women or widows. Bassanio promises his wife that he will hurry up and come back to Belmont as soon as possible. No bed will be guilty of his stay; no rest will keep him separated from his wife.

5. What is Portia actually going to do? Does she succeed in her mission?

Answer

Portia along with Nerissa is planning to go to Venice dressed in male attire to argue the case for Antonio. Yes, she succeeds in saving Antonio with her argument that not a drop of blood should be shed while taking the flesh.


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