as his enemies would do.

The fierceness of his thirst for revenge is

expressed in his final threat "I will have the heart of him'. In this
scene, Shylock appears as a blood-thirsty, vindictive and self-centred
man. He is more worried about the loss of his money than the loss
of his daughter. He is determined lo take a pound of Antonio's
tlesh to take his revenge on him. But when he expresses his deep
anguish at his daughter's act of exchanging his dead wife's ring in
exchange for a monkey, he appears as an affectionate husband and
as a tornmented alien.

ACT III Scene 2

CONTEXT QUESTIONS
1. (1) This scene takes place in a room in Portia's house at Belmont. The
first line refers to Portia's maidenly modesty according to which she
has no other choice except to think, though she may not express her
thoughts. Portia says enough to convey to Bassanio that she loved
him. She is doubtful whether Bassanio has understood what she
has said and wanted to explain further. But then she is taken over
by her maidenly modesty.
(ii) At the end of her speech, Portia says that she spoke at length to
stretch the time and delay to the fullest extent Bassanio's act of
choosing the caskets. This shows that she has feelings of love for
Bassanio and does not want to lose him soon. In her speech, she
repeats her wish to make him stay in Belmont for a month or two
before he hazards the choice of the caskets.
i ) Portia cannot teach Bassanio to choose the correct casket as she
has promised her father not to reveal the secret of the caskets to
anyone. She would never break her pledged word. If Bassanio were
to make an incorrect choice he would lose Portia and Portia would
have wished that she should have broken her promise.
(iv) The given lines mean, "May your eyes be confounded. They have
cast a spell on me and divided me'. Portia says that Bassanio's eyes
have cast a spell on her and divided her for she no longer seems to
be herself. She says that half of her belongs to him and the other
half to her. Even if the latter half is hers, it would still be his. So
she is entirely his.
(v) The extract shows that as a lover, Portia loves Bassanio and does
not want to lose him and wants to detain him with her for a montn
or two. Also she wants to train him how to choose the right casket.
She says that Bassanio's eyes have bewitched her and divided he
She affirms that she is completely his. But as a dutiful daughite
she will never guide Bassanio to choose the right casket as it wou
break her promise to her father.
 DCetne

2. (i) It means: If Bassanio were 'to die', that is, to lose the love for Portia,
by choosing the wrong casket, then his end will be accompanied by
the lading music, like the swan that sings before it dies. There was
a contemporary belief that the swan, which is usually mute, sang a
beautiful song just before its death. The swan-song was sung only once.

(ii) Portia calls for music first of all to calm the excitement in her own
heart and her tension when Bassanio is choosing the casket. She further
detends her action saying that if Bassanio fails he will bid him his
last farewell in the midst of music and thus will be like the swan
that sings betore it dies. If Bassanio succeeds, the music will add

to the testive atmosphere of the occasion, making everyone hapPPy

(111) P'ortia explains the condition if Bassanio fails to choose the right casket.
In that case, he will have a swan-like end. Making the comparison
more explicit, Portia says that her eyes with tears will be Bassanio's

Watery grave the river is the grave for the dying swan.
as

also
(iv) It Bassanio is successful in the choice of caskets then the music
represents the sweet notes of music that awakens the dreaming
bridegroom on the of his marriage and tells him that his
morning
wedding day has come. It refers to an old English custom of playing
music under the windows of the bridegroom on the morning of the

wedding day.
(V) In the given scene, Portia acts as a romantic heroine. Her maidenly
modesty and bright wit is seen when she detains Bassanio a little
longer while making his choice. She accomplishes the difficult task of
revealing to Bassanio her affection for him. When Bassanio chooses
correctly, she is happy and surrenders herself, her property and
her servants to Bassanio. She also offers him a ring and makes him
promise never to part with it.
The theme of love versus wealth is developed in the scene by
comparing the choice of casket made by Morocco and Arragon with
that of Bassanio. Morocco and Arragon were led, in their choice by
appearance of gold and silver. On the other hand, Bassanio was not
deceived with outward appearance. Therefore, he rejected the gaudy
gold and pale silver and instead chose the unattractive meagre lead.
Bassanio was able to make the right choice as his motive was love
rather than wealth.
3. (i) of Alcaeus. In Greek mythology,
Alcides refers to young
Hereules, son
he is depicted as a strong and courageous youth. "Virgin Tribute' refers
to Hesione, the unmarried daughter of the Trojan King. Hesione was
tied to a rock on the sea-shore of Troy, expecting every moment to
be devoured by the sea-monster. Hercules saved the 'Virgin Tribute
by killing the sea-monster and setting her free. Here Portia compares
her tension and suspense while Bassanio makes his choice of caskets
to the anxiety of Hesione, waiting for the sea-monster's attack. She
sees Bassanio as having more love than Alcides.
 () P'ortla vomparen Bannano to lorcules by nayiny, that Bamanio ha
an
h dignity of bwariny an lereulen
ove than
had, but he yoes with much
ore
Tlerculen. Tlerculen
dd not to
HO tsave Hesione out of
love but to get the hornen offored an n reward. Here Portia
compares
hwrnelt to Tlesione, who Wan oflred an a t1Crificee to a
s*a-monster.
Similarly, if Bannanio choonen the Wrong catsket, she will fall into
the clutchen of an unworthy uitor.
(ii) (a) houwling Troy: the loud lamentations of the people of
Nacrifice of llenione.
Troy at the
(b) bleured visagew: means lear-stainwd faces. The reference is made
to the Trojan wonen who had assembled on
the beach with
lear-tained faceN to wail and watch the result of
between the sea-nmonsler and Hercules. the encounter
() The isse of Ile exploil: l means the
outcome of the rcscue
operation. It refers to the oulcone of the encounter between
lercules ad the se-monster.
(iv) "The rest aloof' referred to in the extract are
like Nerissa, Gratiano and others whom people in the room
Portia compares to
women. Dardanian wives are Trojan
Trojan women. Dardanus was the
mythical ancestor of the Trojans, who were called Dardanians. The
Trojan women had assembled on the beach with tear-stained
to wait and watch the result of faces
the encounter between Hercules and
the sea-1monster.
(v) Portia asks Bassanio, 'Go Hercules' because in her
similarity between Bassanio and Hercules is opinion the
Portia tells Bassanio to go ahead and choose complete
and perfect.
the casket. While he
is choosing
she will be watching the test with much
more anxiety
than he, who has to make the choice. She that
says if he lives, that
is, he succeeds, she lives. If he fails, it is death for
her.
4. (i) In the the
given extract, theme of appearance and
Bassanio, commenting on the caskets says that areality exterior
is highlighted.
often hide a rotten interior. The multitude is pretty may
decorations and adornments of various kinds. He is always led astray by
this theme by the examples of lawyers,
highlighting
providing
and cases of cowards, who assume
religious heresies
outward signs of valour.
(ii) Bassanio says that every wrong has some
appearance of virtue. He
explains through
it the example of a lawyer. In a law-Suit, possession
of a
pleasing voice and attractive presence in a lawyer, entirely hide
any appearance of wrong in the cause he pleads. The ornament of
the voice gives an unsound plea, the false
appearance of a
good
reality. Similarly religious heresies can be
gloSsed over if a
preacher
makes them appear as true and just.
(iii) 'Stairs of sand' refer to a stairway made of
shifting
stairway is unreliable and gives way beneath the footstep it should
sand. Such a

support. These stairs are compared to cowards, who cultivate beards

to give them the appearance of great warriors like Hercules
and
ACT

41
Mars. The
manly
thinking that appearance
into
they
is
cultivated
)The Elizabethans looked are
formidable. only to
deceive the world
brave man's
liver upon the liver
was said to be red with the
as
seat of
spoken of as having white livers. blood. courage. A
/) Hercules was a great hero in Cowards were
Roman god of war. Hercules Greek mythology and Mars was the
they, with their beards, stand and
for
Mars are
referred to here because
5. )Bassanio says that if strength, marnliness and
imitation
we take the case of bravery.
and may bebeauty
of is easily
it we find
The obtainable
cosmetics which enhance brought in the
that an
market.
shop. These bring beauty
a chemist's can be
about bought by weight in
marvellous
appearance of women. The word lightest is
a
change in the
means that the addition of cosmetics
makes a
punned on Bassanio
fair coloured. The other woman 'lighe'
that is
fickle-minded.
meaning of "lightest' is to be frivolous
and
(ii) 'Crisped snaky golden locks' refer to false hair that
women wear.
Bassanio says that the
shining, golden tresses whose
tossed about by the playful breeze, seen on the head ofringlets
are
a woman,
appear to be real. Actually it is false hair and originally it belonged
to a dead woman, who is
lying in the grave.
(ii) The 'dowry of a second head' refers to the false hair (wig) worn by a
woman, that appear to bereal but actually is a gift from some dead
woman, ie., it originally belonged to a dead woman who is lying
in the grave. Shakespeare refers to the popular custom of wearing
among the Elizabethan women.
wigs
(iv) Bassanio says that outward adornment is always deceptive. It is
like the attractive but treacherous sea-shore that leads people into
perilous waters.
he
(V) Bassanio asserts that appearances are deceptive. Two examples
First, the shining, golden false hair that
some women
mentions are :

real, belong to a dead person. The

wear. Though they look they
hides the ugly face of
second example is that of a lovely scarf that
an Indian beauty.
scroll it was written
.(4) gentle scroll
The in the lead casket. On the
was
he
outward appearances, may
not chosen by mere
that since he has his choice as wisely as he has done. Since this
make
be fortunate and he should be satisfied and
seek nothing
fortune has come to him, with his luck and feels that
happiness. If he is pleased and
to his beloved
more for his he should go
has brought him happiness,
ate with
loving kiss.
claim her as his own
casket, 1.e,
has won Portia. The speaker chose the correct
looks impressed
h e speaker Portia's portrait. Its simple
silver. Besides, the
aacasket containing protestations
of gold and it, must
m o r e than
the who chooscs
dssanio that the m a n
stated his t r u e
love.
on the casket which m e a n s
Scription
hazard his whole being
8vVe and
 claim ner as his own
(111) The speaker asked was to go to the lady and
from her.
with a loving kiss and receive a kiss

applause of joy.
shout: loud
This refers to the shouts
(iV) (a) universal there at Bassanio's choice of
present
of approval from everyone
the right casket.
(b) Giddy in spirit: overwhelmed joy. This speaks
with
of
the bewildered
state of mind of Bassanio after
his choice of the lead casket.
is striving to win
(V) The speaker compares himself to the one who
He compares himself
S o m e contest, like one of two prize-fighters.

as someone who wins a prize in

the contest.
the correct casket.
Bassanio is at the of his
heightafter joy choosing
there. He is so
He hears a loud applause from the people standing
that he is
bewildered by the outcome of making the correct choice,
or for him not. He asks Portia to confirm
not sure applause is
it the
it and sanction it by returning his kiss.
7. (1) Ater Bassanio chooses the correct casket, Portia transfers her mansion,
to him.
her servants, herself and all her possessions

() Portia, for the sake of Bassanio wishes that she were sixty times better
than herselt, a thousand times more beautiful and ten thousand times
wealthier. These wishes express her desire to excel in everything for
the sake of Bassanio.
(1) As a token of her love to Bassanio, Portia gives him a ring. She warns
him that if he parts with the ring or loses it or gives it away, that
will be a sign that his love for her is dead and give her the right
to reproach him. The ring becomes a part of the main plot of the
story as it starts the ring episode we come across later in the play.

(iv) dead
The given lines mean: "Let that be a sign that your love for me is
and it will give an opportunity for me to accuse you for that.
Here Portia asserts that if Bassanio loses the ring she has given him,
it will show the loss of his love for her and will give her the right
to reproach him.
(v) After Portia's speech, Bassanio is overpowered with emotion and
he tells Portia that her love and goodness has made him speechless.
Regarding the ring, Bassanio promises Portia that when the ring
leaves his finger, his spirit will flee and his life will leave him. He
will part with the ring only at his death.
3. (i) After Bassanio's successful selection of the right casket and after the
speeches of Portiaand Bassanio Nerissa greets them and wishes them
great joy. Thereafter Gratiano speaks these words. Gratiano wishes
Portia and Bassanio that all the joy and happiness they desire may
be showered upon them.
(ii) Gratiano requests Bassanio to grant him a special favour that is,
to allow him to marry at the same time as they marry, i.e., Portia
and Bassanio.
(ii) Bassanio gives his consent most heartily, provided Gratiano can get
a wife.
 while Bassanio wooed Lady Portia, Gratiano wooed her laay-l
Nerissa. 1owever, the promise that Gratiano received from
g that Bassanio
would love Gratiano provided
had the g0odNerissa
fortune of winning the love of Portia by selecting
te
na the
g n t casket. Thus, Gratiano's fortune too stood on the caskets.

() Gratiano-Nerissa episode has added humour to the story. n

a n d marriage of Nerissa and Gratiano strengthen the Ola
l C h a r a c t e r s in association with nobility are themseives
ennobled. Gratiano experienced the joy of love in the company
Portia, was abie
. Nerrisa being educated by her mistress
Eentleman's
keen
love. Gratiano, with a sense of humour
arouses much mirth and laughter in the scene.
LTenzo and Jessica. They are united when Jessica elopes with nis
tather Shylock's money and jewels. Shylock loses the case agains
Antonio and Jessica gets half the share of Shylock's wealth.
9. (i) The scene takes place in a room in Portia's house at Belmont. 5alero
brings the letter from Antonio to Bassanio.
(i) Portia concludes that there is some bad news in the letter because
as soon as Bassanio reads the letter, his face turns pale and ne
the bad news in the
Decomes greatly agitated. According to Portia,
letter must be about the loss of someone loved by Bassanio.

(11) Portia begs of Bassanio to tell her the cause of his sorrow as she and
Bassanio are one, and she ought to share in everything that happens
to him. Hence, she asks Bassanio to tell her what news that letter

has brought.
of the most
(iv) Bassanio tells Portia that the letter contains
some
indebted to a
unwelcome He tells Portia that he is deeply
news.
bond with his worst
kind friend. This friend for his sake agreed to a
a man, who hates him. He did
this solely to supply Bassanio
enemy,
with the money he needed to come to Belmont. Bassanio looks upon
and the cruel words of the letter
Antonio's letter as if it is his body
then tells that all
as wounds from
which blood is gushing out. He
on the dangerous rocks.
the of Antonio have been wrecked
ships
was a greedy man, who
could destroy
(v) Salerio said that Shylock
of money and revenge. So twenty merchants,
another man for the sake him to give up
noblemen could not persuade
the Duke and the even if Antonio had
claim of the Theretore,
his revengeful bond.
would not accept it because his aim was
sufficient money, Shylock
Antonio.
his enemy, i.e.,
to inflict pain on
and his desire for
of the play, Shyock lost bond
the
At the end had to lose his property,
his daughter
recoiled on him and he
revenge
and his religion. When Jessica
of Shylock.
was
are two Jewish fricnds
10. (i) Tubal and Chus to lubal and Chus that
had heard shylock swearing Antonio's
at home, she c a r r i e d out
and that a pound of

he will have the penalty

 n a n to be paid the debt twentu
esh would give him more pleasure
ties over
(11) The Duke, law and influential citizens would use all their powore

opersulsion to prevent Shylock

Irom taking his cruel forfeiture
(1) t the lorteiture is denied lo Shylok as per the terms of the bond
there was the danger of Shvlock taking legal action against the citv'
Ovemors and call in question the equality of rights of foreigne
the citizens of Venice. Thus, there was
the
danger of Shylock
With in Venice,
to the business
Dringng discredit
(1) ln ternms of payment to Shylock in cash, Fortia olters to pay him
him double of six thousandd
double tlhe amount. Then she says to give
nd then three times of that. Laler she says that she will give himn
times over.
enough gold to pay the debl twenty
(V) Since the pavment of the penalty means his death, Antonio's last
wIsh is to see Bassanio before he dies. He says that it will cancel
all bonds and obligations between Bassanio and him. However,
he adds that Bassanio should do as he wishes and should not pay
anv attention to Antonio's welfare. Antonio's last wish shows his
affection tor Bassanio and that he lives only for him.
11. (i) Portia gives money to Bassanio and sends him to rescue Antonio.
She makes a plan to disguise herself as a lawyer and Nerissa as her
assistant and then go to Venice to rescue Antonio from the clutches
of Shylock.
(ii) (a) "call me wife': make me your wife, get married to me.
(b With an unquiet soul': with a disturbed, grief stricken mind.
1i) Bassanio was supposed to go to Venice and offer double the amount
of bond to Shylock and cancel the bond. If he did not agree to that
Bassanio is to offer him, double of six thousand ducats or three
times that amount or even twenty times the bond amount.
(iv) Portia and Nerissa were to stay in Belmont as spinsters or widows
after their husbands leave for Venice. But in fact they did not do
so. Portia and Nerissa went to Venice in disguise of a lawyer and
her assistant, respectively and
played a constructive role in saving
Antonio from the clutches of
Shylock.
(v) This scene is important for the forward movement of the
It storyline.
completes the casket story and
brings it in direct contact with the
other stories - the bond story, Jessica-Lorenzo love story and the

ring story. The ring story begins in this scene. The bond story is
revealed through Antonio's letter and Bassanio's
return to Venice.
It is true that after the choice of the casket
by Bassanio, Portia takes
over leadership in the
play. When Antonio is in trouble, she ofters
Bassanio twenty times the bond amount to save Antonio. She herselit
dons the guise of a lawyer and using a perfect blend of mercy and
justice saves Antonio.