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ImportantQuestions&AnswersinMerchantofVenicebyShakespeareExam18

ImportantQuestions&AnswersinMerchantofVenicebyShakespeare
Exam18
ICSEclass10studentsonceagaingetsMerchantofVeniceforEnglishLiterature.Herearesomeimportantquestionswithanswersthat
youmustcertainlyreadtounderstandtheplayinamuchbetterway.Feelfreetoaskanyquestionsincommentsbelow.

MerchantofVeniceQuestionswithAnswers
1.DiscussAntonioscharacterandhispartintheplay.
AstoAntonioscharacter,welearnasmuchfromwhatissaidabouthimasfromwhathesayshimself.Asisnaturalforoneofhisrankand
wealth,heissurroundedbyfriendsbut,inspiteoftheopinionofGervinus,Icanseenoreasonforregardinganyoneofthemasmerelya
fawningparasite.Theyneverspeakofhimexceptintermsofwarmestloveandesteem,aswhenSalaniosays,ThegoodAntonio,the
honestAntonio,OthatIhadatitlegoodenoughtokeephisnamecompany!Andwhenthenewsofthebadfortuneofhisventuresreaches
them,theyallexpressgenuinesorrowbutonhisaccount,nottheirown.Judgingbythelightgivenusintheplay,heseemstohavebeena
mansomewhatadvancedinyears,withnoimmediatefamily,butwithanaturecravingaffection.Inthispositionhehastakentohishearthis
youngkinsman,Bassanio,forwhomhecherishesaloveastenderaseverfatherboreforson,oranolderforayoungerbrother.
Intheopeningwordsoftheplayheconfessestoasadnessforwhichhewillgivenoreasonandonfurtherinquiry,theonlydiscoverable
causeliesinthefactthathewillhavetoresignhispositionasfirstinBassaniosaffections,sincethelatterisabouttocommencehissuitfor
thehandofsomeunknownfairone.Yetheshowshimselfthoroughlyunselfishinhisdevotion,andisevenwillingtoviolateallbusiness
principlesandborrowmoneyatinterest,inordertolendBassaniothemoneywherewithtopurchasehisoutfit.Antonioshowsnotalittle
prideandbeliefinhisownindependentstrengthinthecalmindifferencewithwhichhetreatsthedangerousconditioninsertedinthebond
bytheJewandhisimprudenceinthisparticular,combinedwithhisformerharshtreatmentofShylock,camenearresultinginhisutter
destruction.
Indeed,itishardtoreconcilehisharshnesstowardShylockwithhisgeneraldispositionanddeportment.Still,thereareextenuatingreasons
forhisfeelingsofhostility.Inthetimeinwhichhewassupposedtolive,theJewswerelookeduponuniversallywithabhorrenceand
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contemptthetakingofinterestwasregardedasbeingindirectoppositionwithallChristianprinciplesandtheindividualcharacterof
Shylockwassuchastoarouseaversionineventhemosttolerant.
Still,thetreatmenthereceivedfromAntoniowasunjustifiableandAntoniohadtosufferforit.Butinspiteofthisgraveblemish,the
merchant,withhisgravekindliness,constancy,andunselfishness,isonewhoexactsadmirationandesteemfromall.
Consideringtheplayasanorganizedwhole,Antoniooccupiesthecentralposition:hencethetitleoftheplay.Asanindividual,orasa
dramaticpersonage,heexcitesfarlessinterestthaneitherShylockorPortiabutitisneverthelesshewhofurnishesthegroundforthe
meetingandcontestofthesetwogreatforcesintheplay.IthaswellbeensaidthatShakespearehasmadethischaractervergeonthe
neutral,elsehisoverpoweringholduponoursympathieswouldhavepreventedusfromdulyappreciatingtheotherinfluencesatworkinthe
play.ButthoughheisthustheCentreoftheorganicstructure,hispresenceintheplayisnotduesolelytoadramaticnecessity.Throughhis
instrumentalityShakespeareteachesusoneofthegravestoflessonsthebeauty,durability,andpoweroftruefriendship.
2.WhatisthedevelopmentofcharacterinBassanio?
Bassanioisanexampleofatypeofyoungmanhoodtobefoundalmosteveryday.Handsome,clever,pleasureloving,andpleasure
seeking,butstillwithmanynobletraits,itisnotuntilsomesuddencrisisoccursinhislifethathediscovershisownlittleness,orthathis
friendsrealizehowmuchthereisinhimthatistrulymanlyandnoble.Hisfirstactintheplayistoborrowmoneynotforthefirsttimefrom
Antonioinordertopurchaseasuitableoutfitinwhichtowooaladyofgreatwealthwhomhebelievestobealreadyprepossessedinhis
favor.Heconfessestoafeelingofgreatadmirationforthelady,whichis,inoneofhistemperament,probablyhisleadingmotiveinseeking
her,thoughhedeclarestoAntonio,tosparethefeelingsofthecousinwhohaddonesomuchforhim,thathischiefobjectistogainmoney
withwhichtopayhisdebts.
ButshortlyafterhisarrivalatBelmont,hisfeelingsundergoasuddenandunexpectedrevulsion.Theuttertruthandcandorofthebeautiful
Portia,herimplicittrustinhisequallygoodfaith,andherunreservedsurrenderofherselfandallherfortuneintohiskeeping,striphimofall
hiscustomarypolitepleasantries,andleavehimbereftofallwordsbutbythelossoftheornamentalandselfadmiredflourishes,the
manhoodwithinhim,alreadyclearlydiscernedbythekeenereyesofAntonioandPortia,isrevealedtohimselfandtoothersmoreplainly
thaneverbefore.Herecognizesatoncehowutterlydespicablehadbeenallmercenarymotives,andralliesallhisinnatenobilitytoenable
himtocopewiththematchlesscreaturewhowould,withageneroussimplicitythatwasalmostsublime,entrusthimwithherallinall.
Withallhisnoblerenergiesthussuddenlyaroused,theknowledgethatAntonioslifeisendangeredthroughhisfault,andtheaction
incumbentuponhiminconsequence,arejusttheforcesneededtocontinueandconfirmthebeneficialchangealreadyproducedinhis
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character.Hisconductthroughoutthetrialscenetestifiestothedevelopmentgoingonwithinhim,andgainstheentireapprovaloftheever
watchfuleyesoftheyouthfuljudgesothatinthefifthact,whencompleteharmonyisatlastrestored,wefeelthatBassanio,purifiedand
elevatedbyherinfluence,thoughhemaynotbeherequal,isyetworthyofhisPortia.
3.HowwouldyoudescribeShylockintheearlyscenesoftheplay?
InthefirsttwoscenesinwhichShylockappears,heisashard,ascold,andaskeenasglitteringsteel.Throughouttheplaytheeffectsofhis
intenselyactiveintellectaretobeseenforeverywordheuttershitsthemarkwithasuddennessandanunerringprecisionthatisatonce
startlingandterrifying.Butintheseearlyscenes,beforehispassionsarerousedtoactivity,heisshownastheshrewdbusinessmanready
andwillingtosacrificeanythingforthesakeofhisidol,money.IneachoneofthesuddenmoveshemakesinI.iii.,inhisrapid,butsure
calculationoftherelativevalueofmercantileventures,inhisquickperceptionofhisadvantageovertheChristianwhowouldborrowofhim,
inhisshrewddefenceofhisuseoftheinterestsystem,inthewilyandplausiblewayinwhichhedrivestheproudmerchantintothesnare
hehassetforhim,theacutenessofintellectandpromptnessofactionwhichcamesonearmakinghimthevictoroverAntonioare
apparent.SoinI.v.,themeanlittlenessesintowhichavaricewillbetrayamanareclearlyshown.
4.DoesShylockalreadylookforwardtocompassingAntoniosdeathwhenheproposesthepoundoffleshforfeiture?Your
reasons.
Ithinknot.AsShylockhimselfstated,Antoniohadalreadyhinderedhimfromgaininghalfamillionand,promptedbybusinessmotives,his
greatobjectinexemptingAntoniofromthepaymentofinterestwastoplacehimunderanobligationandsogethiminhispower.The
conditionofapoundoffleshwas,Ithink,littlemorethanasuddenthought,promptedbyhisanimositytowardtheChristianasaffording
possibly,butnotprobably,achanceoffeedingfattheancientgrudgeheborehim.Itwasquitenaturalthatheshould,asJessicadeclared,
oftenexpresshisdesireforrevengeuponhisbusinessenemywithouthavingtheleastbeliefthathisopportunityforrevengewouldever
come.Asitseemstome,themostcogentnecessityforthepresenceofJessicaintheplayisthatherflightwithaChristianlovermay
arousethefiendwithinherfathertothepitchrequisitefortheprosecutionofAntonio.
5.Jessicascharacterandconduct,particularlywithreferencetoShylocksinfluenceandtrainingincontrastwithPortias
homeinfluence?
Jessicahadinheralltherudimentsofaverylovelywomanhoodbutadealofcultivationwasneededtodevelopthemtoanythinglike
perfection.ItishighlyimprobablethatShylockhadeverconsciouslygivenheranytrainingwhatever,savesuchasmightbeconveyedtoher
throughnumerousinjunctionstofastbindinorderthatshemightfastfind.Thoughhisevilinfluencehadfailedtoinjuretoareally
dangerousextentherinnatetruthandpurity,yetithadhadsuchaneffectuponhercharacterastomakeitperfectlyeasyandnaturaltoher
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todeceiveanddesertherunlovingfather,whomadeherhomeahell,andtoclinginpreferencetoherChristianlover.Truetotheprecepts
whichhadbeendingedinherearsthroughherwholelife,shedidnotmakeherescapewithoutafairsupplyoftheneedfulgold.Butthough
thisgeneralprinciplehasbeenimpartedtoherbyShylock,shehasfailedtolearnthelessonofthevalueofmoneyandshespendshis
hardearnedducatswithafreedomandrecklessnessthatispositivetorturetohergraspingfather.
Tome,oneofthemostpitifulevidencesofJessicaslackofproperhometrainingisthewayinwhichshespeaksofherfatherafterher
arrivalatBelmont.Thatsheshouldhavelostallrespectandloveforhim,andthatsheshouldhavevoluntarilydesertedhimwithout
apparentlyfeelingtheslightestcompunction,isperhapsnomorethannaturalbutwhenshelistensto,andevenjoinsin,theaccusationsof
wickednessandcrueltymadeagainsthim,wecannotbutdeploretheblemishwhichignoranceofthegoodandthebeautifulhasleftupon
hercharacter.HadshehadtherefininginfluencesthrownaroundherwhichPortiaenjoyedinherhomelife,thoughshemightneverhave
beentheforcewhichthelatterwas,shemighthavebeen,asshedoubtlessafterwardsbecame,astrue,beautiful,andloyalasherinstincts
woulddirect.
6.Isthefifthactnecessarydramaticallyornot,andwhatisitsrelationtotherestoftheplay?
Dramaticinterestreachesitshighestpitchinthetrialscene,butthefifthactisneverthelessadramaticnecessity.Ashasbeenoften
observed,topreservethenatureofacomedy,thetragicelementhadbeencarriedtoitsutmostextremeintheprecedingactandafterthe
pompandstirandexcitementofthetrialscene,thecalmmoonlightsceneinPortiasgarden,thelyricsweetnessoftheloversdialogue,and
thefinalrestorationofharmonyamongthehomecomers,areneededtoreducethemindtothestateofgentleinterestandpleasurewhich
itistheobjectofthecomedytoexcite.Then,too,withoutittheplotisleftwithnumerousunfinishedends.Thoseofuswhohavenotsucha
strongpredilectionforartisticeffectastowishthatShakespearehadstoppedshortwhenhecompletedthemasterlypicturecontainedinIV.
i.,thinkitonlynaturalandproperthatweshouldwitnessthereunionofBassanioandPortia,themeetingbetweenAntonioandBassanios
wife,andtheeffectproduceduponallpartiesbytheannouncementthatitwasPortiawhohadactedsosuccessfullythepartofjudge.
Itisnotwithoutpleasure,too,thatwehaveapartingglimpseofLorenzoandJessica,safelyharboredinthepeacefuldomainofBelmont,
andofGratianoandNerissa,withtheirhalfcomical,whollyseriousimitationoftheirlordandlady.Fewthingscouldbemoreexquisitethan
isthisfifthact,initswayandwithoutitoneofthegreatcharmsofTheMerchantofVenicewould,tome,belost.
7.Doesthefifthactshowtheworkingoutoftheprinciplesofgoodandevil?WhydoesAntonioappearinitandShylocknot?
Itistothefifthactthatwenaturallylookfortheharvest,bothofgoodandofevil,toresultfromthesowingdoneintheprecedingscenes.
WithregardtoJessica,Isupposeitmaybesaidthatjusticeisfinallydoneher,thoughthroughratheradoubtfulmedium,byplacingherina
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positionwherethebeneficialinfluencesofwhichshestandssosadlyinneedwillatlastbethrownaroundher.Lorenzo,too,meetswithhis
rewardafterafashion,inthefactthatthevirtueofhisdeedinremovingJessicafromabanefultoahealthfulatmosphereatleastservesto
cancelitsunlawfulness.Portiahasrestoredtoherherhusband,whohas,assheherselfcantestify,passedvictoriouslythroughthetrials
broughtuponhimbyhisyouthfulimprudence,andwho,largelythroughherownendeavors,returnstoher,purifiedandennobled.
Antonio,who,throughhisharshnessinonedirectionandhisunhesitatinggenerosityinallothers,hasunsuspectinglyjeopardizedhislife,
hasthatliferestoredtohim,andreceivesthenewsthathispropertyissafe,bythehandofPortia,who,ashehadbeforethought,had
deprivedhimofhisplaceintheaffectionsofhisdearestfriend,Bassanio.Antonio,asthepersonmostsinnedagainstinconsequenceofthe
leastsin,deservesaprominentplaceintheclosingact,andafairshareoftheblessingsheldintherighthandofJustice.ButShylock,
whosesinwaswovenintotheveryfibreofhisbeing,hadreceivedhisfittingreward,andhadvoluntarilytakenhisdeparture.Justicehad
alreadydoneherworkthere,andtherewasnoneedforthefurtherintroductionofthedisturbingelement.
8.HowdoesShakespearesetaboutdelineatinghischiefcharactersascomparedwithotherauthors?Importanceofhis
secondarypersonagesinthisparticular?
ThedistinguishingfeatureofShakespearesdelineationofcharacteristheutterabsenceofallformalanddeliberateefforttoassistusin
gaininganinsightintothemindsofhiscreatures.Littlebylittlethewholetissueoftheirmindsisrevealedtoacarefullyobservanteyebutit
isalldoneinthenaturalcourseofconversationandevents,andwithouttheslightestconsciousnessonthepartofthereaderofan
intentionaldiscussionofcharacterbyShakespeare.Withmostotherauthorsthecaseisdifferent.TakeGeorgeEliotforanexample.Her
characterportrayalsaremarvelouslypowerful,buthermethodistheexactoppositeofShakespeares.Aftereverytriflingincidentshe
dissectsandanalyzeseachsensationandemotionofhercharacterswithacarefulnessandminutenessofdetailduetoherveryexcessof
mentalgraspandsofarasthecharactersthemselvesareconcerned,sherequireslittlementalactiononthepartofherreaderssavethe
followingoutofherowntrainofthought.
Itiseasytosee,inpursuinghismethod,ofwhatgreatvalueShakespearessecondarycharacterswouldbetohim.Bymeansofcasual
remarksorinvoluntarydisplaysofemotiononthepartofchanceacquaintancesorofmoreintimatefriends,manyofthefinertouchesare
added,almostwithoutourbeingconsciousofit,totheimageswhichshapethemselvesinourmindsasweread,butwhichwouldhave
instantlyjarreduponushadtheycometousfromthelipsofthechiefcharactersthemselves.
Adaptedfromshakespeareonline.com

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