Act II - Scene 8

Extract 1 : Read the extract given below and answer the questions
that follow :

Salanio:
I never heard a passion so confused,
So strange, outrageous, and so variable,
As the dog Jew did utter in the streets :
‘My daughter ! O my ducats ! O my daughter’
Fled with a Christian ! O my Christian ducats !
Justice ! the law ! my ducats, and my daughter !
A sealed bag, two sealed bags of ducats.

(i) Who is Salanio addressing to ? Where is he at present ?

Answer: Salanio is addressing his friend Salarino. He is in a street in Venice.

(ii) What has happened ? What makes Shylock almost mad ?

Answer: Lorenzo and Jessica have eloped. Jessica has taken with her a lot of
money and jewels. That Jessica has taken away so much of his money makes
Shylock mad with rage. He curses and abuses his daughter in public.

(iii) In what mood is Salanio ? Why is he so contemptuous of the Jew ?

Answer: Salanio is in a gleeful mood. He is contemptuous of the Jew because
he is a heartless moneylender and a stingy Jew.

(iv) Later in the scene he expresses his fear. What is it about ? Does it turn to be
true ?
Answer: Later he expresses his fear that Jessica’s elopement with a Christian
will harden Shylock’s attitude towards Antonio. He fears the Jew will not spare
Antonio if he forfeits the bond. Yes, his fear turns out to be true.

(v) What does he say about Antonio and Bassanio towards the end of the scene?
Answer: He says that Antonio and Bassanio are great friends. There were tears
in Bassanio’s eyes at the time of his parting from Antonio. Antonio was also very
sad and serious.