56. 501. The Merchant of Venice(31)

1.Why does Antonio agree to Shylock’s terms for the loan?

A:- When Shylock states the terms he proposes for the loan, Antonio immediately accepts without any questions and agrees to offer a pound of his flesh if he cannot pay the loan back. Bassanio is the one to hesitate, urging his friend not to accept these dangerous terms, but Antonio is confident that the terms of the loan are irrelevant because he will easily be able to repay it. As he explains, “I do expect return / Of thrice three times the value of this bond” (I.iii.157-158). Because Antonio has always been prosperous and enjoyed good returns on his investments, he is lured into a false sense of security and does not worry about the risks he assumes. His intense devotion to Bassanio also makes him willing to accept almost any risk in order to help his friend, whom Antonio has an almost romantic obsession with.

2. Why does Shylock demand Antonio’s flesh instead of money?

A:- Bassanio offers large sums of money to Shylock in exchange for Shylock’s forfeit of the original conditions of his bond. Shylock refuses to accept this offer, and he also refuses to justify his decision. As Shylock explains, “You’ll ask me why I rather choose to have / A weight of carrion flesh than to receive / Three thousand ducats. I’ll not answer that / But say it is my humour” (IV.i.40-43). Shylock argues that he does not have to explain or justify his decision because he has the force of law on his side. However, some of his extreme insistence on Antonio’s flesh likely comes from his desire to have revenge against a member of the Christian community that he blames for discriminating against him and stealing his daughter. As he tells Salarino in Act III, Scene i, “If it will feed nothing else, it will feed my revenge.”

3. Who does Bassanio give Portia’s ring to?

A:- Bassanio gives Portia’s ring to someone he believes is a lawyer named Balthazar, but who the audience knows is actually Portia herself in disguise as a man. Balthazar/Portia asks for the ring as a thank-you gift in exchange for having saved Antonio from Shylock, but Bassanio is initially reluctant because he promised Portia never to take the ring off. However, after Balthazar/Portia rebukes him and Antonio encourages him to give the ring away, Bassanio relents.

4. How does Bassanio win the right to marry Portia?

A:- As her dead father’s will stipulates, Portia cannot decide for herself whether to take a husband, and her suitors must choose between three caskets in the hopes of selecting the one that contains her portrait. Bassanio wins the right to marry Portia because he solves the riddle and correctly chooses the right casket. While the other suitors have incorrectly chosen the gold or silver casket, Bassanio chooses the lead casket and finds a picture of Portia inside, signaling that he can claim her as his bride. Bassanio’s choice indicates that he is clever and not easily distracted by superficial charms. As the scroll inside the lead casket explains, “You that choose not by the view / Chance as fair and choose as true” (III.ii.135-136). Portia, who has already fallen in love with Bassanio, is delighted when he chooses correctly.

5. Why can’t Antonio pay back his loan?

A:- After a series of accidents, all of Antonio’s ships are reported as wrecked. As Bassanio laments, “Have all his ventures failed? What, not one hit? . . . And not one vessel ’scape the dreadful touch / Of merchant-marring rocks?” (III.ii.274-279). Therefore, Antonio does not have the money to pay back Shylock and is in danger of having to pay the penalty of a pound of his own flesh. Antonio was initially confident that his investment was guaranteed, but he learns the hard way that nothing is ever certain. Thanks to Portia’s generosity, Antonio gains enough money to pay back the loan, but by then, Shylock is insistent on claiming the penalty that he is technically owed.

6. How “The Merchant of Venice” is a romantic comedy?

A:- The Merchant of Venice is a romantic comedy because it is rich in romantic elements like the events; lottery of caskets, great and gripping trial scene, young maiden acts as a lawyer and becomes the savior of virtue in trouble, and lyrical poetic beauty in the last scene.

7. How “The Merchant of Venice” is a tragic comedy?

A:- The Merchant of Venice is mingling of comic and tragic elements like happy ending for Antonio, Bassanio, Portia and Jessica but tragic end for the Shylock.

8. Who is the real merchant of Venice Antonio or Shylock?

A:- The real merchant of the Venice is Antonio because in the opening scene of the play he is presented as rich merchant that his rich ventures, tossing on the oceans. He has worldwide trade but Shylock is only cruel money lender and usurer not a merchant.

9. What is the significance of the title The Merchant of Venice?

A:- The title of the play The Merchant of Venice is significant because it represents the Antonio who is real merchant of Venice. He has pivotal role in the plot that the bond story, trail scene has direct relation and casket story is also indirectly related to Antonio.

10. What are the main and sub plots in the play?

A:- In the play The Merchant of Venice the main plot is the bond story and other sub plots are the casket story, Lorenzo and Jessica episode and the story of ring.

11. Who is Portia in the drama The Merchant of Venice?

A:- Portia a beautiful lady is the rich heiress of Belmont. Bassanio’s beloved and later they married. She is witty, humorous and modest character. She saves the life of Antonio from the knife of Shylock in trials. She disguised herself as a lawyer and defends Antonio.

12. What do you know about Shylock in The Merchant of Venice?

A:- Shylock is rich Jew and money lender. He is the father of Jessica. He is hypocrite, cunning, blood-thirsty and vindictive. His passion for money and revenge are leading traits. He is criticized by Christian characters throughout the play.

13. What justification do Salerio and Solanio propose for Antonio’s sadness?

A:- According to them, Antonio melancholic attitude suggests that his money is tied up in his ships, which are sailing on dangerous seas. Solanio predicts that he is in love.

 14. What mocking suggestion does Gratiano present Antonio?

A:- Gratiano tells Antonio don't be sad about worldly affairs.

 15. Describe the character Shylock?

A:- He was Jewish moneylender in Venice. He gives money to the people and demands great interest. He is cruel and greedy. He demands one pound flesh of Antonio if he is unable to pay back the dues. He is forced to convert into Christianity at the end of the play.

 16. What are the views on so-called wise people according to Gratiano?

A:- According to Gratiano, wise men are silent and stern. They're only considered wise because they don't say anything.

17. What do you know about Bassanio?

A:- He was the friend of Antonio who requested Antonio to borrow 3000 ducats so that he can make his appearance better and ask Portia to marry him. At start, he wanted to marry Portia for her money but eventually he loved her.

 18. What is Antonio actual Cause of Sadness?

A:- In Act I, Scene 1, we are told that even Antonio doesn't know why he's feeling sad. Everyone assumes he's worried about the safety of his ships, but he claims the ships are not the reason for his depression.

 19. What are the reasons for Portia sadness during selection?

A:- She was sad because of her father casket game. She didn't want to choose her husband in this way. She wanted liberty in choosing her life partner. She was also tired of constant arrivals of suitors.

 20. Who are tubal and Chus?

A:Tubal and Chus are Lorenzo's Jewish friends. and Tubal is one of Shylock's good friends and Chus is among his fellow Jews.

 21.. What is Gratiano's philosophy to overcome sadness?

A:- Gratiano told Antonio that life has a short period so he should be happy and have some fun.

 22. In the story Merchant of Venice, what was written in the letter that made Bassanio turn pale?

A:- Salerio hands Bassanio a letter from Antonio. Bassanio turns pale at the news that Antonio has lost his fortune and his ships, and he asks Salerio if it is true that all of Antonio's ventures have failed.

 23. Themes of the play 'Merchant of Venice'?

A:- There are many themes in the play but love, hatred, mercy, and prejudice are the vital themes.

 24. Illustrate the Caskets trial?

A:-The Prince of Morocco comes and first chooses gold and gets a death skull. After that Prince of Aragon gets the picture of an idiot. When Bassanio comes, he chooses lead casket and wins her hand.

 25. How does Shakespeare portray of Portia's generous nature?

A:-Portia has a good idea of what she is going to do before the trial of Shylock. She gives Shylock the chance to concede his bond on Antonio before disaster befalls him. She offers Shylock compensation for a loan but Shylock refuses.

26. What does Salarino think Antonio's sadness is about?

A:- Salarino thinks Antonio’s sadness is about “Worry over his ships”.

 27. What does Solanio think Antonio's sadness is about?

A:-Solanio thinks Antonio’s sadness is about Love.

28. How is Bassanio related to Antonio?

A:-Bassanio is his cousin. 

29. What does Antonio compare life on this earth to?

A:-Antonio compares his life with “A staged play”.

 30. Who is the lover of Jessica?

A:-Lorenzo is her lover and she is the daughter of Shylock. She hates her father. She eloped with Lorenzo and married to him.

 31. What do you know about Gratiano?

A:-He loves Nerissa who is the maid of Portia. He goes to Belmont with Bassanio.