ACT III SCENE 3
1. Where does the scene take place? Name the character who enter the scene. What are they probably doing before they meet Shylock?
A. This scene takes place in street in Venice. Shylock, Salarino, Antonio and the Gaoler (jailer) enter the scene.
The scene begins with a conversation already in progress. The jailer has probably been talking to
Shylock before the scene opens.
2. Whom does Shylock tell the jailer to look to? What three things about him does Shylock tell the jailer?
A. Shylock tells Antonio to look to Antonio.
He tells the jailer to guard Antonio closely and see that he does not escape. He tells him not to plead with him to show mercy to Antonio. Then he says that Antonio is the fool who gave loans without interest.
3. Why does Antonio say ‘Hear me yet’? Why does he call Shylock ‘good’?
A. Antonio says ‘hear me yet’ because he wants to beg Shylock to relent and to persuade him to call off the trial.
He calls Shylock ‘good’ to soften him and win him over so that he will change his mind.
4. What is Shylock’s reply?
A. Shylock says he must have the penalty mentioned in the bond. He is not willing to listen to even a word against it. He has taken an oath that he will obtain the penalty mentioned in the bond.
He recalls that Antonio would call him a ‘dog’ before shylock had given him any cause or occasion to do so. He tells Antonio that since he is a dog, Antonio should beware of his teeth for they can bite. He says that he will have the case judged by the Duke, who cannot allow the breaking of a signed agreement.
5. What does Shylock angrily tell the jailor? Why?
A. Shylock angrily tells the jailer that he is surprised greatly at his being so foolish as to yield to Antonio’s request and bring him out into the open.
He is angry at the sight of Antonio enjoying so much liberty. Therefore he criticizes the jailer for bringing him out.
6. How does Shylock reply when Antonio beseeches him a second time to listen to what he has to say?
A. When Antonio beseeches Shylock a second time to listen to what he has to say, Shylock says that he will not listen to him. All he wants is his bond. He tells Antonio it is useless attempting to talk him over. He insists on the agreement. He says he is not so stupid as to yield to persuasion, or be shaken in his determination by the pleadings of anyone, nor give up his point at the request of his Christian friends. He tells Antonio not to attempt to come after him. He will not argue with him. He again insists on his bond.
7. What does Salarino remark about Shylock after he leaves?
A. After Shylock leaves, Salarino remarks that he is surely the most hard-hearted, merciless dog that has ever lived with human creatures.
8. What reason does Antonio suggest for Shylock’s unrelenting (merciless) attitude?
A. Antonio declares that he will ask no more favours of Shylock since he knows that Shylock wants only his life.
Antonio says that Shylock is merciless because many a times Antonio had saved men upon whom Shylock was trying to impose the penalties of not fulfilling their bonds with him. When they came to see him in their distress, he had delivered them out of Shylock’s clutches. Therefore Shylock hates him.
9. How does Salarino try to bring hope to Antonio regarding the bond?
A. Salarino tries to bring hope to Antonio regarding the bond by saying that he is sure that the Duke will never permit the penalty of the bond to be enforced.
10. How does Antonio point out that his hope is in vain? Explain.
A. Antonio says that the Duke cannot change the course of the law. The foreigners enjoy certain rights and privileges in Venice. The law of the land will be called in question if the Duke denies the taking of the penalty and it will adversely affect the trade of the city since a number of foreigners and strangers have trade with them. So Antonio is certain that Shylock’s case is strong and that the Duke cannot change the law to favour Antonio.
11. What effect do Antonio’s anxieties have on his body? What remark does Antonio make about it?
A. Antonio’s body is reduced greatly because of his anxieties and troubles.
Antonio remarks that he will hardly have a pound of flesh left upon him by the day of the trial, to pay the forfeit to Shylock.
12. Explain: ‘ to see me pay his debt’
A. The only thing that Antonio wants now is to see Bassanio once more before he dies.
Antonio means that Bassanio should arrive in time to see Antonio pay with his life the debt that he contracted for the sake of his friend, Bassanio.
SCENE 4
1. Where does the scene take place? Name the character who enter the scene.
A. This scene takes place in a room in Portia’s house in Belmont. Portia, Nerissa, Lorenzo and Balthazar enter the scene.
2. What is Lorenzo telling Portia? What does he say in praise of Antonio?
A. Lorenzo says that Portia she has a noble and true idea of the divine quality of friendship. This idea is clear from the fact that she is thus bearing the absence of her husband, Bassanio. He says that though he says this in her presence, he does not mean to flatter her.
He tells Portia that if she knew the person to whom she has shown this honour and kindness, if only she knew how true a friend he was to Bassanio, then she would be more proud of her action in sending, Bassanio, than normal kindness can make her feel.
3. What does Portia say about her kind actions?
A. Portia says that she has never had cause to regret any kind action she may have done and she is certain that she will not need to regret this kind action just mentioned by Lorenzo.
4. How does Portia describe the likeness between her husband and Antonio?
A. Portia believes that when two friends associate, spent time together and feel an equal force of love, there must necessarily be a similarity of characteristics, of manners and of nature.
This makes her think that Antonio, who is the bosom friend of her lord, must necessarily be like her lord.
5. Explain: ‘ if it be so, how little is the cost I have …………. the state of hellish cruelty’
A. Portia says that if Antonio is like her husband, the expenditure of money is a very small sacrifice on her part to save Antonio from the clutches of the cruel Jew.
6. What instructions does Portia now give Lorenzo?
A. Portia gives Lorenzo the responsibility and management of her household till her husband returns. As far as she is concerned, she says that she has taken a secret pledge before God to spend the time in prayers and religious thinking with none but Nerissa as her companion, until the return of their husbands. Two miles from there is monastery where they will stay. She concludes by telling Lorenzo not to refuse to carry out this task which her love and present necessity makes her place upon him.
7. After Lorenzo and Jessica accept the task assigned to them and depart, what does Portia instruct Balthazar privately?
A. After Lorenzo and Jessica accept the task assigned to them and depart, Portia privately instructs Balthazar, her honest and trustworthy servant, to bear a letter from her to her cousin, the lawyer, Doctor Bellario of Padua. He has to hasten with all the speed he is capable of to Padua and deliver her letter into her cousin’s own hands. Then he has to obtain certain letters, notes and robes. He has to be careful to bring them as quickly as possible to the public ferry- boat which plies back and toward Venice. Portia tells him not to waste time in talking but to go speedily. She will be at the ferry before he gets there.
8. What hints about her plan does Portia give Nerissa after Balthazar’s departure? In what state will their husbands see them?
A. After Balthazar’s departure, Portia gives Nerissa a hint about her plan that they will see their husbands before they can so much as even dream of it.
Their husbands will certainly see them, but in such clothes that they will be completely deceived. They will think that they possess the ‘qualities of men’ which they do not really possess.
9. How does Portia plan to behave and speak, so as to be taken for a young man?
A. Portia says that when she is dressed like a young man,
Ø she will wear her dagger by her side in with a more gallant air,
Ø she will speak in a voice which is between a young boy’s and a man’s and it will be shrill.
Ø She shall take one manly stride in place of two short ones as women do.
Ø Speak of fights like boastful young boy
Ø She will tell fanciful lies about how respectable ladies have loved her and have died of a broken heart because she did not love them in return.
Ø She will say she could not help it and pretend she is sorry for them and that she wished they did not die for her sake as it was not her fault.
Ø She will go on with a score of other little inventions and lies until people will believe that she has left school more than a year already.
Ø Portia says that her mind is full of these thousands of school-boyish pranks such as these young, inexperienced and bragging youth employ, and she will try them all.
10. Where and when will Portia outline the rest of the plan to Nerissa? Why does Portia say they must not delay?
A. Portia will outline the rest of the plan to Nerissa in the coach which is already waiting for them at the park gate. She will let Nerissa hear it while they are travelling in it.
Portia says they must not delay for they have to travel twenty miles to Venice before nightfall.
SCENE 5
1. Where does the scene take place? Name the characters who enter the scene.
A. This scene takes place in a garden at Belmont. Launcelot and Jessica enter the scene.
2. What reason does Launcelot give for Jessica being damend?
A. Launcelot tells Jessica that the wicked deeds of the parents have evil consequences for the children. Launcelot means that Jessica will be damned because of her father’s sins, i.e. Shylock’s determination to take revenge. Moreover, Christians in those days believed that there was no salvation for the souls of Jews and non-Christians. So, since Jessica is the daughter of a Jew, she is sure to be damned.
3. What does Jessica mean by saying that she will be saved by her husband?
A. By saying that she will be saved by her husband, Jessica means that being converted to Christianity by her husband, she will be saved from damnation.
4. According to Launcelot why is Lorenzo to be blamed rather than praised for her conversion?
A. According to Launcelot, Lorenzo is to be blamed rather than praised for her conversion because he has added to the number of Christians of whom there were enough already.
This making of Christians will raise the price of pork because if all become eaters of pork they shall soon not get a slice of bacon left to cook over the fire.
5. Who enters the scene now? What does he say to Launcelot?
A. Lorenzo enters the scene now.
He tells Launcelot that he will begin to become jealous of him, if he sees him talking to his wife in quiet places like the garden.
6. How does Jessica assure Lorenzo that he need not be afraid of their friendship? What does she report about their conversation?
A. Jessica assures Lorenzo that he need not be afraid of their friendship as she and Launcelot have just quarreled.
She reports that Launcelot has just told her plainly that Heaven will show no mercy to her as she is the daughter of a Jew. She says he also finds fault with Lorenzo. He says that Lorenzo is not a good citizen and does injury to his fellow-citizens for he makes pork dearer by converting Jews to Christians, thus adding to the number of those who may eat it.
7. What does Lorenzo bid Launcelot to do? How does he pun on the words ‘prepare for dinner’?
A. Lorenzo bids Launcelot to go indoors, and tell the servant to get dinner ready and serve it. Launcelot willfully misunderstands his words and says that they will be ready and fully prepared for dinner as they have plenty of appetite.
8. What does Lorenzo say to Launcelot when he willfully misunderstands him? What is Launcelot’s reply?
A. Lorenzo calls him a ‘wit-snapper’ meaning that he is ever ready to snap up the words of Lorenzo and pun on them. Then he corrects himself and simply says ‘prepare dinner’.
When Lorenzo says ‘prepare dinner’, he means ‘get the dinner ready for serving’. Launcelot willfully makes it mean ‘get dinner cooked’. So he replies that it is cooked and ready. Only the table has to be laid (covered).
9. What does Lorenzo now tell Launcelot to do? In what sense does launcelot take the word ‘cover’? Explain the pun.
A. Lorenzo now asks Launcelot to ‘cover’ meaning to lay the cloth on the table, lay the table with plates and dishes.
Launcelot pretends to take the word ‘cover’ in the sense of wearing the hat.
He replies that he will not wear his hat in the presence of his superiors, Lorenzo and Jessica saying that he knows the duty as a servant.
Launcelot is punning on the word ‘cover’. One meaning is ‘to lay the table’ the other is ‘to put on one’s hat’.
10. What is Lorenzo’s reaction to his series of puns? What does he say?
A. Lorenzo is heartily tired of Lorenzo’s puns. He asks him if he is trying to show them all his cleverness in one moment. He begs him to try to take in the meaning of the simple words of a simple man. He tells Launcelot to go and tell his fellow-servants to lay the table and bring in the food. They will come to dinner.