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The Merchant of Venice Act 1 Scene 1 Summary Workbook Answers

The Merchant of Venice Act 1 Scene 1 Summary

The play starts with Antonio, a rich merchant of Venice, complaining to his friends about a melancholy that he cannot find any reasons for, his friends feel that it could be because of the worry regarding the safety of his merchant ships that may be threatened by storms or sea pirates. Antonio denies this by saying that his merchandise is widely distributed and does not depends upon those ships only. Solanio says that it may be due to love, but Antony dissents this and states that, he hates falling in love. So his friends attribute the melancholy to his ‘strange’ nature.

After the departure of these two friends, Bassanio, Gratiano and Lorenzo arrives. Gratiano teases Antonio by suggesting that he is too much bothered about the opinion of the world or he wants to appear as a wise man. Antonio replies that he treats the world ‘but as the stage’, a stage every man has to do a role and his is a sad one. Gratiano immediately responds, and says that he is not the one willing to be sad, he wants to enjoy his youth before the age descends upon him. He departs by advicing Antonio to overcome his sadness and not to be its victim.

When he is left alone with Bassanio, he asks his friend about his visit to a lady. Bassanio then confesses that he is in love with a rich lady from Belmont, but without any money, because of his extravagant nature, he’ll not find a chance to woo the lady. He will be at a disadvantage as compared with the other rich suitors. He requested Antonio to lend him sufficient money, but Antonio does not have any ready cash as his ‘fortunes are at sea’ but offers to stand as a guarantee for a credit to raise the money.

The Merchant of Venice Act 1 Scene 1 Summary Word Meanings

1. in sooth – truly
2. want-wit – a dull fellow
3. argosies – merchant ships
4. signiors – gentlemen
5. portly – stately
6. burghers – citizens
7. pageants – decorated floats
8. overpeer – look over the heads of
9. petty traffickers – small commercial boats
10. reverence – respect
11. woven wings – canvas sails
12. broth – soupshallows and of
13. flats – shallow waters and sandbanks
14. Andrew – common name for big ships
15. dock’d – run ashore
16. bechanced – happened
17. Janus – a Roman God at doors who has two faces-one frowning and the other smiling
18. vinegar aspect – bitter nature
19. Nestor – an old and wise Greek General who would not laugh at silly jokes
20. marvelously – considerably
21. let my liver – a liver environed by wine will produce rich blood that will enliven one’s disposition
22. mortifying – miserable
23. alabaster – marble white stone used in making statues
24. jaundice – sickly and complaining
25. profound conceit – deep thought,
26. ope – open
27. gudgeon – a small foolish fish easily caught
28. exhortation – good advice
29. a neat’s tongue dried – an ox-tongue preserved and ready to be eaten
30. prodigal – extravagant
31. aged – in debt extremest
32. means – utmost capacity or resources
33. shaft – arrow,latter
34. hazard – second loan
35. fleece – wool
36. Jasons – adventurous sailors
37. presages – prophesies
38. thrift – profitable success
39. rack’d – stretched.

The Merchant of Venice Act 1 Scene 1 Summary Questions and Answers

1. Antonio :
In sooth, I know not why I’m so sad :
It wearies me; you say it wearies you;
But how I caught it, found it, or came by it,
What stuff ’tis made of, whereof it is born,
I am to learn;
And such a want-wit sadness makes of me.
That I have much ado to know myself.

Question 1.
To whom are these words addressed? Where are the characters?
Answer:
These words are addressed to Salerio and Solanio, friends of Antonio. The characters are on a street in Venice.

Question 2.
Explain : ‘And such a want-wit sadness makes of me,
That I have much ado to know myself.
Answer:
Antonio means that his sadness has made him act in a foolish manner. He finds it difficult to recognize himself in this present mood and claims given to the ignorant of the source of his woe.

Question 3.
Explain the meaning of the given extract.
Answer:
Antonio, the merchant feels sad but he doesn’t know the reason for his sadness. It makes him melancholic, but he doesn’t know from where he got it, what it consists of or of what origin it is! The sadness makes him such an idiot that he has trouble in recognizing himself.

Question 4.
What reasons does his friend give for Antonio’s state of mind?
Answer:
Antonio’s friends think that he is feeling depressed because he is worried about his ships laden with precious cargo floating in the sea. He is anxious about the safety of his ships.

Question 5.
What purpose does Shakespeare achieve by beginning the play in this manner?
Answer:
The merchant of Venice is a tragic comedy. It possesses many depressing incidents. The gloomy opening sets the stage for that. Antonio has a vague premonition of the misfortune that is about to overtake him. Shakespeare leaves the audience with vague forebodings of future calamity.

2. Salerio :
Your mind is tossing on the ocean,
There where your argosies with portly sail,
Like signiors and rich burghers on the flood.
Or, as it were, the pageants of the sea,
Do overpeer the petty traffickers,
That curtsy to them, do them reverence,
As they fly by them with their woven wings.

Question 1.
Who is being addressed? Apart from the two characters, who else is there with them?
Answer:
Salerio is addressing Antonio. Apart from these two characters, Solanio is also there.

Question 2.
To what remarks of the listener, does Salerio make these comments? To what are the ships compared? How do the shops move? What is meant by ‘petty traffickers’? What do they do when they see the argosies?
Answer:
Antonio talks about a vague sadness that troubles his mind. He says it makes him a dull-wit, making him difficult to understand himself. To this, Salerio replies that it may be due to his anxiety about the safety of his precious cargo in his ships tossed about by the unpredictable seas. The ships are comparable to gentlemen and rich citizens who walk in a stately manner overlooking the commoners.

Question 3.
Give the meanings of:
(a) Argosies of Portly sail
(b) Pageants of the sea
(c) Woven Wings
Answer:
(a) Argosies of Portly sail – the phrase means merchant ships loaded with rich cargos sailing majestically on the seas.
(b) Pageants of the sea – pageants are decorated floats moving in a procession.
(c) Woven wings – canvas sails.

Question 4.
How would have Solanio behaved if he had such Argosies on the sea? What would have made him sad?
Answer:
Solanio would have been so concerned about his business ventures on the sea that he will be holding-up a grass to know the direction of the wind, looking over the maps for ports and channels. He would be scared to look at any object that would remind him of the risks at sea.

Question 5.
Do you think these are the reasons which make Antonio sad? Give reasons.
Answer:
Antonio is not sad thinking about the safety of his cargo. In fact he is rather confident as his cargo is distributed in various ships. His fate is not dependent on the fate of a one ship or in one place.

Question 6.
Explain briefly as to what Salerio has tried to convey in the last five lines.
Answer:
Salerio presented a beautiful image of the richly-laden ships of Antonio. Those ships were referred as to the nobleman who tower above the smaller trading merchants, similarly large vessel ships would surpass the smaller merchant ship which would bow before them due to respect. Antonio’s ship would pass the small vessels at a high speed because their sails were like the wings which enable birds to fly through the air.

Question 7.
What idea does the reader gets about Antonio’s financial status? What is its significance in the play?
Answer:
From Salerio’s description, the reader gets to know that Antonio is one of the richest merchants in Italy. He has several merchant ships that are currently on sail. When his ships sail on the ocean, it seems a royal procession is on, and the other ships like common people, bow in front of royalty.

It is significant information, showing that Antony is the titular hero, who unfortunately suffers from some set- back, and fail to settle the bond with Shylock: this leads to the very famous Bond story, one of highlights of the play.

3. Salerio :
My wind, cooling my broth,
Whould blow me to an ague, when I thought
What harm a wind too great might do at sea.
I should not see the sandy hour-glass run
But I should think of shallows and of flats,
And see my wealthy Andrew dock’d in sand
Vailing her high-top lower than her ribs
To kiss her burial.

Question 1.
What would be the feelings of the speaker if he saw the wind cooling his broth?
Answer:
Salerio says that if his business ventures are in the sea, he would be anxious and his thoughts would travel to them at every point of time as if he is cooling the hot soup with his breath. He would be worried about the powerful wind that may make the ships lose direction and would make him tremble in the same way as he is suffering from high fever trembles.

Question 2.
What is meant by ‘sandy hour-glass’? How would the speaker feel if he saw the hour glass?
Answer:
In ancient days a glass full of sand was to indicate the passing of time. The sight of the sand in the hour glass would remind him of danger of hidden sand banks and shallow water. The danger of the ship getting stuck in the sand where the water is not sufficiently deep for a ship to sail over it smoothly.

Question 3.
Give the meanings of:
(a) Ague
(b) Shallows and flats
(c) Wealthy Andrew
Answer:
(a) Ague – fever that makes one tremble.
(b) Shallows and flats – shallow waters and sand banks.
(c) Wealthy Andrew – richly laden ship.

Question 4.
What is referred to as ‘Wealthy Andrew’? Why is it so?
Answer:
Wealthy Andrew means ship carrying expensive cargo. The richly laden ship might get stuck in sand. The ship might over turn with its top-sails plunging low into the water and getting buried in the sand.

Question 5.
How does Antonio reply to his speech?
Answer:
Antonio says he is not worried about losing his money as his fortune does not depend on one ship; he has many ships going in different directions
and even if something happens to one ship other ships are there to compensate for the loss.

4. Salerio :
Should I go to church
And see the holy edifice of stone,
And not bethink me straight of dangerous rocks,
Which touching but my gentle vessel’s side
Would scatter all her spices on the stream,
Enrobe the roaring waters with my silks;
And, in a word, but even now worth this,
And now worth nothing?

Question 1.
How would Salerio feel if he goes to a church?
Answer:
Salerio says that if he goes to church seeing the stone building, he would be reminded of the rocks in the sea which might touch the sides of his gentle ships and make holes in them, and then all his rich spices, silks and other valueable material would be scattered in the ocean.

Question 2.
Bring out the context of the extract.
Answer:
In the opening scene, we see Antonio in a sad state of mind. His friends Salerio and Solanio ask him for the reasons behind his sadness. Antonio is unable to figure out his sadness. So the friends feel it may be because of the anxiety for his precious cargo tossing on the ocean.

Salerio says that if he had been in Antonio’s place, he would start getting frightened if he saw the church building. The stone edifice would remind him of the rocks in the sea that might harm his ships making the entire cargo float in the sea. It is like owning so much in one minute and losing everything in the next moment.

Question 3.
What is the ‘holy edifice’? What will it signify to him ? What is the symbolic meaning of the comparison drawn?
Answer:
The holy edifice is the stone building of the church. It would remind him of the dangerous rocks in the sea, which might cause immense damage to his imaginary ship. The symbolic meaning is that life is so unpredictable. We build-up expectations but what happens the next minute is nobodys prediction. “There is many a slip between the cup and the lip”.

Question 4.
Explain the following: ‘but even now worth this and now worth nothing’.
Answer:
Just before an imaginary disaster Salerio’s imaginary ship ‘Andrew’ would be worth a fortune, but after its wreckage, it would worth nothing. All its rich merchandise would be washed away by the waves of the sea.

Question 5.
What would be the feelings of Solanio, if his argosies had been out in the sea?
Answer:
Solanio says that if his cargo is in the sea, then he will be every time anxious about its safety. He will be holding the grass to determine the direction of the wind and looking over the maps to study sea ports and channels and every object that might suggest misfortune to his business schemes will depress him.

Question 6.
Give meanings of:
(a) My gentle vessel’s side
(b) Enrobe the roaring waters
Answer:
(a) My gentle vessel’s side-gentle vessel is Antonio’s precious ship. The speaker says Antonio is worried thinking whether the rugged rocks in the sea, will strike against the sleek sides of the ship.

(b) Enrobe the roaring waters-cover the sea with the rich cargo of costly spices and silks.

5. Salerio :
Now, by two-headed Janus,
Nature hath fram’d strange fellows in her time :
Some that will evermore peep through their eyes,
And laugh like parrots at a bag-piper;
And other of such vinegar aspect
That they’ll not show their teeth in way of smile,
Though Nestor swear the jest be laughable.

Question 1.
Explain the comparison drawn out with Janus?
Answer:
When Antonio says that the cause of his sadness is not the anxiety about his ships, nor love, Salerio swears by the Roman God, the two headed Janus, who sports a smiling face and a sad face. It implies that there are two opposite kinds of men.

Some always look out through half closed eyes as they are always laughing without any reason, even at the sound of the bagpipers. Others have a sour expression that they will not open their lips to smile even at a very pleasing joke or an amusing joke.

Question 2.
Who is Nestor? Why is he mentioned here?
Answer:
Nestor was an old and the wise Greek General who fought in the Trojan War. A joke had to be extremely funny to make him laugh. Here he is mentioned to show that there are such people with sour disposition that they will not laugh at any point of time.

Question 3.
Explain :
(a) Laugh like parrots at a bag piper
(b) Vinegar aspect
Answer:
(a) Laugh like parrots at a bag piper – the music of a bagpiper was considered woeful which should bring on tears not laughter. The parrot is a bird believed to be foolish and laughs at everything even in a mournful tune.

(b) Vinegar aspect – sour expression. There are human beings who have such a gloomy aspect that they would not show their teeth by smiling at a joke.

Question 4.
What conclusion does Salerio come with the sadness of Antonio?
Answer:
Salerio says that Antonio is unhappy as he is not happy; certain people are of such disposition that they are unhappy without any reason.

Question 5.
Comment on the parting remark of Salerio.
Answer:
Salerio says that he would have stayed longer with Antonio till he forgot his sadness and felt merry if worthier friends like Bassanio had not come to visit him at that time. He is sure that they are better company and Antonio will enjoy with them. He and Solanio will meet Antonio at leisure when time permits, after their business is over.

6. Gratiano :
Let me play the fool:
With mirth and laughter let old wrinkles come,
And let my liver rather heat with wine
Than my heart cool with mortifying groans.
Why should a man, whose blood is warm within,
Sit like his grandsire cut in alabaster,
Sleep when he wakes, and creep into the jaundice
By being peevish ?

Question 1.
What observation had Gratiano earlier made regarding Antonio? Is he correct in his observation?
Answer:
Gratiano had remarked that Antonio didn’t seem well. He felt that Antonio was too concerned with the worldly affairs. He advises him that people lose everything when they worry over their business. According to him, Antonio has changed a lot. He is not correct as far as the reason for Antonio’s sadness is concerned. Antonio is buffering from a melancholy but not because of anxiety over his business.

Question 2.
To what comment made by Antonio does Gratiano give this reply? Who else are there with Gratiano at this moment?
Answer:
Antonio replied to Gratiano’s words by saying that he gives as much importance to worldly affairs as required. According to him, the world is a stage where every man has to play a role. His role is a sad one. It is to this comment Gratiano makes this reply. Bassanio and Lorenzo are with him.

Question 3.
What does the speaker prefer to do? What does it depicts about his character?
Answer:
The speaker prefers to have wrinkles made with laughter on his face. He wants to be merry and play the fool rather is a victim of sadness. This shows that Gratiano has a positive approach to life. He sees the brighter side of things and does not worry too much about worldly affairs.

Question 4.
Give the meaning of: And let my liver groans.
Answer:
Gratiano says that he would not mind to drink wine heavily even if his liver gets damaged. He doesn’t want to starve his heart with fun and feel worried about death. In other words, he believes in enjoying life rather than wallow in trivial matters.

Question 5.
Explain : ‘grandsire cut in alabaster’ and ‘creep into the jaundice by being peevish’.
Answer:
Gratiano believes that a man with warm blood flowing through him should not sit like an expressionless and motionless statue of his grandfather’s tomb. He should not weaken his heart by groaning; Neither he should be sleepy during waking hours and behave in an irritated manner as though he is suffer¬ing from jaundice.

Question 6.
What’s the Elizabethan belief about jaundice?
Answer:
Elizabethan believed that the jaundice was caused because of anxiety, jealousy and bad temper. They believed there’s a close connection between the mind and the body.

7. Gratiano :
There are a sort of men whose visages
Do cream and mantle like a standing pond,
And do a wilful stillness entertain.
With purpose to be dress’d in an opinion
Of wisdom, gravity, profound conceit,
As who should say, ‘I am Sir Oracle,
And when I ope my lips, let no dog bark !’

Question 1.
According to Gratiano why is he speaking in such a stem manner? To whom are these words being addressed to?
Answer:
Gratiano’s love for Antonio makes him speak in this manner. He doesn’t want his friend becoming a victim of melancholy. These words are being addres¬sed to Antonio.

Question 2.
What sorts of men are described here? How do they look?
Answer:
Men who refuse to smile, who sport an expressionless face are descri¬bed here. Their faces look like the motionless waters of the lakes whose surface is covered with scum.

Question 3.
Explain- “Do cream and mantle like a standing pool”.
Answer:
Still waters in a pool or lake are covered with scum preventing any movement. In the same way some people wear an artificial layer of expression of seriousness to earn a reputation of wisdom.

Question 4.
According to the speaker why do some men put on an air of solem¬nity?
Answer:
According to Gratiano, some people put on an air of solemnity to show that they are wise and mature. They put on an air of ‘Sir Oracle’ who speaks only wisdom. Actually, it is to escape from being branded fools.

Question 5.
Later on he refers to gudgeon. In what context is he referred to? What opinion do you get of Gratiano from this scene? What does Lorenzo say later about him?
Answer:
Gudgeon is a small unworthy fish easily caught. Gratiano asks Antonio not to throw the melancholic bait to catch the cheap fish called popularity. We feel Gratiano speaks a lot but whatever he says has a lot of meaning.

He is philosophical and gives good advice to Antonio. Moreover, he loves Antonio and wants to cheer him with his witty talk. Later on, Lorenzo says that when Gratiano speaks, he never gets a chance to speak.

Question 6.
How does Gratiano prefer to have wrinkles? Why? Give another instance where he reveals his preference for enjoying life. What does he say about grandfather cut in alabaster?
Answer:
Gratiano prefers to have wrinkles with mirth and laughter. He is basically a jolly good fellow who wants to spread cheer among his friends. He also says that he would rather heat his liver with wine than cool his heart with miserable groans. Alabaster is a kind of clay or stone of which statues are made up.

Gratiano wonders why anybody with warm blood in him sits like the statue of his grandfather cut in marble, and appear sleeping in the morning hours when he has to be active and cheerful.

Question 7.
Explain:
(a) ‘I am Sir Oracle’
(b) Let no dog bark
Answer:
(a) ‘I am Sir Oracle’- Sir Oracle is the wisest and most respected person, who can prophesy the future. A person, in fear of revealing his ignorance, can behave like sir Oracle and keep silent and pretend like a wise man. Sir Oracle seems to say that when he speaks in all his wisdom, other common people should remain quiet.

(b) Let no dog bark- They are the dogs that should stop barking.

Question 8.
What was Gratiano’s advice to Antonio in the end of his speech? Brief it.
Answer:
Gratiano advise Antonio to give up his serious and melancholic expression. He should not behave like some fake people, who pretend wise to cover up their ignorance. He should be more communicative and share his feelings with his friends. He asks him to cheer up and not tot go around looking so glum.

8. Bassanio :
Tis not unknown to you, Antonio,
How much I have disabled mine estate.
By something showing a more swelling port
Than my faint means would grant continuance :
Nor do I now make moan to be abridg’d
From such a noble rate.

Question 1.
To what inquiry of Antonio does the speaker make this reply? What details do you get about the lady later in this scene?
Answer:
Antonio inquires about the lady to whom Bassanio has decided to pay a visit secretly. Later in the scene, Bassanio informs that there is a rich lady from Belmont who is fairer than the word beautiful. She has great virtues. Her name is Portia and is as worthy as Cato’s daughter and Brutus’ wife. The whole world is aware of her worth. Many suitors are on their way to win her hand, but since she has given him silent messages through her lovely eyes, Bassanio is hopeful of wooing her.

Question 2.
What does Bassanio mean by ‘disabled mine estate’? Why does he say this?
Answer:
By ‘disabled mine estate’, Bassanio means that he has wasted his fortune. He says this because he had been living in a way more lavish manner than his means permits.

Question 3.
What do you understand by the term ‘to be abridged’? Why is Bassanio forced ‘to be abridged’? Does he feel sorry for it? What does this show of his character? What is his chief care now?
Answer:
‘To be abridged’ means ‘to be curtailed’. Bassanio was forced to be abridged because he could not maintain his high standard of living with his present insufficient monetary resources.

He does not feel sorry for it. This shows that Bassanio is aware of his shortcomings and is ready to take the blame on himself. His immediate priority now is to honorably clear off his debt and have enough money to visit Belmont.

Question 4.
How much does Bassanio rate Antonio in his affection and res¬pect?
Answer:
Bassanio considers Antonio as his true friend. He has confidence in Antonio that he can share with him all his thoughts and worries. He can reveal all his plans to him. He is sure Antonio will help him out as always with his money and affection.

Question 5.
What opinions have you formed about the speaker’s character ?
Answer:
Bassanio initially comes across as a spoilt brat who has squandered away all his money in living a lavish lifestyle. He shamelessly asks Antonio’s help to enable him to woo a rich lady with a promising fortune. But later on, we find that he is not such an irresponsible and uncaring person.

He was reassuring Antonio that he would be returning the money once his mission is accomplished. He is frank in confessing about his shortcomings. Also the scene reveals that he has an optimistic enthusiasm which motivates him to search for a fortune rather than waiting for the fortune to come to him.

9. Bassanio :
In my school-days, when I had lost one shaft,
I shot his fellow of the self-same flight
The self-same way with more advised watch,
To find the other forth; and by adventuring both,
I oft found both.

Question 1.
In what context does Bassanio speak these words?
Answer:
Bassanio speaks these words to Antonio in order to reveal his depleted circumstances. He confesses that his wayward living has made him lose his fortune. But he has a plan to make his life better. For whlchhe requires Antonio’s help.

Question 2.
Bring out the meaning of the extract. What does he want to establish with this childhood example?
Answer:
In the above extract, Bassanio talks about his school days when he sometimes shot an arrow from his bow and then could not find it. So, in order to locate that arrow, he used to shoot another one having same size, weight and capacity to travel through the air in the same direction. This time he used to maintain a greater alertness as to the point at which it was likely to fall.

Then he used to search for both the arrows and often find both of them. With this childhood example, he wants to convince Antonio for lending him a second loan so that he may be able to recover even the money which was lent earlier to him by Antonio.

Question 3.
What aspect of the speaker’s personality is revealed here?
Answer:
The speaker’s words shows his boyish belief. He is pinning his hope on a childhood example but the very determination in his voice proves that he is not ready to cry over the losses but is ready to make an attempt and try to compensate his losses.

Question 4.
What assurance does the speaker give here?
Answer:
The speaker assures Antonio that he need not worry about the loan; he’ll definitely get enough money to pay.

Question 5.
How does Antonio respond to these words?
Answer:
Antonio says that he doesn’t have to waste his time by confessing his love. In fact, he wrongs him by doubting his readiness to help him with money. He just has to tell him what he wants and he will be obliged to do it.

10. Bassanio :
Nor is the wide world ignorant of her worth,
For the four winds blow in from every coast
Renowned suitors; and her sunny locks
Hang on her temples like a golden fleece;
Which makes her seat of Belmont Colchis’ strand,
And many Jasons come in quest of her.
O my Antonio, had I but the means
To hold a rival place with one of them,
I have a mind presages me such thrift
That I should questionless be fortunate.

Question 1.
Who is the lady being talked about? Why is the speaker talking about her at this time?
Answer:
The lady being talked about here is Portia, a rich and a beautiful lady, whom Bassanio met at Belmont. Bassanio is talking about her at this time because he wants to woo her and win her hand but as he has no money, he asks Antonio to lend him some more money which he promises to repay after his marriage.

Question 2.
Explain the meaning of ‘Nor is the wide world ignorant of her worth, For the four winds blow in from every coast Renowned suitors’. To whom this lady has been compared in the extract and in what way?
Answer:
Bassanio says that the whole world knows about the worth of Portia and famous suitors from every coast are sailing towards Belmont with the desire of marrying her. This lady has been compared to a golden fleece in the extract as her golden locks of hair hang on both sides of her face.

Question 3.
Bring out the significance of ‘golden fleece’, ‘Colchos strand’ and ‘Jason’.
Answer:
Here Portia’s golden soft hair is compared to the golden fleece of ram mentioned in Greek mythology. Jason was a Greek hero who led a party to Colchos in Asia, near the Black Sea to get the fleece. It was a difficult journey but he succeeded with the help of Medea, who was in love with him.

Question 4.
What does Bassanio request his friend to do? How will the friend benefit from his action?
Answer:
Bassanio requests his friend Antonio to help him financially, so that he can go to Belmont and marry the worthy lady. From this action he assures his friend Antonio that he will return the first and the second loan after becoming rich with his wife’s money.

Question 5.
How does his friend respond to this request?
Answer:
Antonio says that all his money is invested in his ships which are still at sea. They should see what his credit can do in Venice. He will stretch his resources to the maximum so that Bassanio has enough money to go to Belmont. The money can be mobilized either on his credit or personal surety.

Question 6.
How is this request of Bassanio going to affect Antonio’s future?
Answer:
Antonio takes credit on a personal surety to arrange money for his friend. He comes under the clutches of Shylock, the usurer who hates Christians and wants to take revenge for all the insults they have showered upon him because he is a Jew. He approaches the court of law for justice and even demands a pound of flesh from Antonio as recompense. Thus, Antonio has to undergo a lot of mental strain and imprisonment due to this request.

 

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Summary Of Merchant Of Venice By William Shakespeare

Summary of Merchant of Venice by William Shakespeare

The Merchant of Venice Summary Introduction to the Play

The Merchant of Venice is a very popular play written by William Shakespeare in the sixteenth century. It ranks along with Hamlet as Shakespeare’s one of the most frequently performed dramas. The play is perhaps, most remembered for its dramatic scenes, and is best known for Shylock and his famous ‘Hath riot a Jew eyes’ speech. Equally notable is Portia’s speech about the ‘quality of mercy’. The pound of flesh theme never fails to appeal the audiences.

This play is classified as a Tragic Comedy, as it depicts the misfortune falling upon the characters and thereby, depicting the elements of tragedy, as the play continues, it eventually concludes on a blissful note with justice prevailing in the end.

One school of critics believes that the drama is fundamentally allegorical, addressing the themes like the triumph of mercy over justice, New Testament forgiveness over Old Testament law, and love over material wealth moralizes the play. Another group of commentators, observing several ambiguities in the play’s apparent endorsement of Christian values, contends that Shakespeare actually censures Antonio’s and the Venetian’s Audacity against Shylock.

The title character is the merchant Antonio but the central figure of the play, in the eyes of modern readers and spectators, is of course Shylock. There can be no doubt that he appeared to Shakespeare’s contemporaries on a comic personage. Since he makes his final exit before the last act, by no means he can be referred as the protagonist. To the Elizabethan audiences he seems to be an old man, with rapacity, miserliness, his usury, and his eagerness to dig for another the pit into which he himself falls, seemed ludicrous. Towards the end of the play, we find him as a half-pathetic creation, a scapegoat, a victim and in this sense, he cannot be categorized as a villain.

This play owes its popularity to its characters and the complexities woven around them. It has been crafted and exhibited in such an organized manner that it absolutely adheres its audiences.

The Merchant of Venice Summary Characters in the Play

• Antonio—A wealthy Venetian merchant.
• Bassanio—Antonio’s friend, who is in love with Portia; suitor likewise to her.
• Gratiano, Solanio, Salerio—Friends of Antonio and Bassanio.
• Lorenzo—A friend of Antonio and Bassanio, who is in love with Jessica.
• Portia—A rich heiress of Belmont.
• Nerissa—Portia’s waiting maid, who is in love with Gratiano.
  Balthazar—Portia’s servant.
• Stephano—Nerissa’s disguise as Balthazar’s law clerk.
• Shylock—A rich Jew, moneylender, Of Venice and Jessica’s father.
• Tubal—A Jew; Shylock’s friend.
• Jessica— Shylock’s daughter, who is in love with Lorenzo.
• Launcelot Gobbo—A foolish man in the service of Shylock.
• Old Gobbo—Father of Launcelot.
  Leonardo—Bassino’s servant.
• Duke of Venice—The Venetian authority who presides over Shylock-Antonio case.
• Prince of Morocco—Suitor to Portia.
• Prince of Arragon—Suitor to Portia.

Magnificoes of Venice, officers of the Court of Justice, Gaoler, Servants to Portia, and other attendants.

The Merchant of Venice Summary

Bassanio, a young Venetian of noble rank, wishes to woo the beautiful and wealthy heiress Portia, of Belmont. Having squandered his estate, Bassanio approaches his friend Antonio, a wealthy merchant of Venice, kind, generous person, who has regularly bailed him out, for three thousand ducats needed to subsidise his expenditures as a suitor. Antonio agrees, but since he has inadequate cash because his ships and merchandise are engaged at the sea. He promises to cover a bond if Bassanio can find a lender, so Bassanio turns to the Jewish moneylender Shylock and names Antonio as the loan guarantor.

Shylock, who hates Antonio because of his Anti-Judaism campaign and his customary refusals to borrow or lend money with interest, is initially reluctant, citing the abuse he has suffered at Antonio’s hand, but he eventually agrees to lend Antonio the sum without interest upon the condition that if Antonio is unable to repay it at the specified date, he may take a pound of Antonio’s flesh. Bassanio does not approves of Antonio accepting such a risky bond; Antonio is surprised by what he sees as the moneylender’s generosity (no “usance” — interest—is asked for), and he signs the contract. With money at hand, Bassanio leaves for Belmont with his friend Gratiano, who has asked to accompany him. Gratiano is a likeable young man, but is often flippant, overly talkative, and tactless. Bassanio warns his companion to exercise self-control, and the two leave for Belmont.

Meanwhile in Belmont, Portia is awash with suitors. Her father left a will stipulating that each of her suitors must choose correctly from one of three caskets—one each of gold, silver and lead. If the suitor chooses the right casket, then he gets Portia. The first suitor, the luxurious Prince of Morocco, chooses the gold casket, interpreting its slogan “Who choose’th me shall gain what many men desire” as referring to Portia.

The second suitor, the conceited Prince of Arragon, chooses the silver casket, which proclaims “Who choose’th me shall get as much as he deserves”, imagining himself to be full of merit. Both suitors leave empty-handed, having rejected the lead casket because of the baseness of its material and the uninviting nature of its slogan: “Who choose’th me must give and hazard all he hath.”

The last suitor is Bassanio, whom Portia wishes to succeed, having met him before. As Bassanio ponders his choice, members of Portia’s household sing a song which says that “fancy” (not true love) is “engend’red in the eyes, with gazing fed”, prompting Bassanio to disregard “outward shows” and “ornament” and chooses the lead casket, winning Portia’s hand.

In Venice, Antonio’s ships are reported lost at sea. This leaves him unable to satisfy the bond. Shylock is even more determined to exact revenge from Christians after his daughter Jessica had fled away from home and eloped with a Christian, Lorenzo, taking a substantial amount of Shylock1 s wealth with her, and a turquoise ring which was a gift to Shylock from his late wife, Leah. Shylock has brought Antonio before the court of the Venetian Duke.

At Belmont, Bassanio receives a letter stating that Antonio has been unable to return the loan taken from Shylock. Portia and Bassanio marry, as do Gratiano and Portia’s handmaid Nerissa. Bassanio and Gratiano then leaves for Venice, with money from Portia, to save Antonio’s life by offering the money to Shylock. Unknown to Bassanio and Gratiano, Portia has sent her servant, Balthazar, to seek the counsel of Portia’s cousin, Bellario, a lawyer, at Padua.

The climax of the play comes in the court of the Duke of Venice. Shylock refuses Bassanio’s offer of 6,000 ducats, twice the amount of the loan. He demands his pound of flesh from Antonio. The Duke, wishing to save Antonio but was unable to nullify a contract, refers the case to a visitor who introduces himself as Balthazar, a young male “doctor of the law”, bearing a letter of recommendation to the Duke from the learned lawyer Bellario.

The doctor is actually Portia in disguise, and the law clerk who accompanies her is actually Nerissa, also in disguise. As Balthazar, Portia repeatedly ask Shylock to show mercy in a famous speech, advising him that mercy is twice blest: “It blesseth him that gives and him that takes.” However, Shylock adamantly refuses any compensation and insists on the pound of flesh.

As the court grants Shylock his bond and Antonio prepares for Shylock’s knife, Portia points out that the contract only allows Shylock to remove the flesh, not the “blood”, of Antonio. Further damning Shylock’s case, she tells him that he needs to precisely cut only one pound of flesh, no more, no less; she advises him, “if the scale do turn, but in the estimation of a hair, “Thou diest and all thy goods are confiscate.” Thus, if Shylock were to shed any drop of Antonio’s blood, his “lands and goods” would be forfeited under the Venetian laws.

Shylock, clearly unable to comply with this law, asks instead that he be given the six thousand ducats, Portia refuses his request, explaining that she has already ruled according to the contract and that it must be carried out. Shylock wishes the court to completely drop his case and forgive Antonio the entire three thousand ducats. Portia again refuses his request, on the ground that he has already refused it “in the open court”.

Portia also finds that Shylock is guilty of conspiring to kill Antonio, and explains that the law in Venice states that if any foreigner conspires against the life of a Venetian, then he should forfeit all his wealth, half is taken as a fine by the state, and half of his wealth is to be given to the man against whom he conspired. In addition, the Duke is granted the power of life and death over him.

When Shylock is pardoned by the Duke, he informs the court that he would prefer death rather than lose everything he owns. Antonio gives Shylock’s property back to him with the understanding that he will bequeath his entire estate to Lorenzo and Jessica and he must also convert to Christianity.

Bassanio does not recognizes his disguised wife, and offers to reward the supposed lawyer. Initially, she denies, but after his continuous persuasion for a token of gratitude, Portia requests him for his ring and Antonio’s gloves. Antonio parts with his gloves without a second thought, but Bassanio gives the ring only after much persuasion from Antonio, as earlier in the play he promised his wife never to lose, sell or give away his bond of love. Nerissa, as the lawyer’s clerk, also succeeds in likewise retrieving her ring from Gratiano, who is also unable to recognize her disguise.

At Belmont, Portia and Nerissa taunt, and pretend to accuse their husbands before revealing their disguise as the lawyer and his clerk in disguise. After all the other characters make amends, Antonio learns from Portia that three of his ships were not stranded and have safely returned from the sea.

The Merchant of Venice Act Wise Summary

• The Merchant of Venice Act 1 Scene 1 Summary
• The Merchant of Venice Act 1 Scene 2 Summary
• The Merchant of Venice Act 1 Scene 3 Summary
• The Merchant of Venice Act 2 Scene 1 Summary
• The Merchant of Venice Act 2 Scene 2 Summary
• The Merchant of Venice Act 2 Scene 3 Summary
• The Merchant of Venice Act 2 Scene 4 Summary
• The Merchant of Venice Act 2 Scene 5 Summary
• The Merchant of Venice Act 2 Scene 6 Summary
• The Merchant of Venice Act 2 Scene 7 Summary
• The Merchant of Venice Act 2 Scene 8 Summary
• The Merchant of Venice Act 2 Scene 9 Summary
• The Merchant of Venice Act 3 Scene 1 Summary
• The Merchant of Venice Act 3 Scene 2 Summary
• The Merchant of Venice Act 3 Scene 3 Summary
• The Merchant of Venice Act 3 Scene 4 Summary
• The Merchant of Venice Act 3 Scene 5 Summary
• The Merchant of Venice Act 4 Scene 1 Summary
• The Merchant of Venice Act 4 Scene 2 Summary
• The Merchant of Venice Act 5 Scene 1 Summary

The Merchant of Venice Act 1 Scene 1 Summary

Venue  – Venice
Characters  – Antonio, Salerio, Solanio, Bassanio, Lorenzo, Gratiano

Antonio, a Merchant of Venice, talks of his sadness with his friends Salerio and Solanio, who believe that his heavy investments at sea must cause him worry. When he says that it doesn’t bother him, since his wealth isn’t invested in just one ship, they claim he must be in love. Antonio shrugs this off as well.

When Bassanio enters, he tells Antonio of Portia, a rich and beautiful woman he has fallen in love with, and, although he has borrowed money from Antonio before and hasn’t paid it back, asks to borrow money again so that he may court her, and thus, have enough money to pay Antonio back completely. Even though Antonio’s money is tied up in the ships, he allows Bassanio to see what kind of loan he can secure with Antonio’s credit.

Word Meanings

• Owe – Commitment to pay or repay in return
• Wearies – Fatigue
• Argosies – Large merchant ships
• Broth – Soup
• Shallows – Not very deep
• Edifice – Building
• Vinegar aspect – Sour look, negative attitude
• Kinsman – Relative
• Leisure – Free time
• Mortifying – Humiliating
• Exhortation – Communication urging someone to do something
• Moan – Complaint
• Quest – Search

The Merchant of Venice Act 1 Scene 2 Summary

Venue — Belmont
Characters — Portia, Nerissa

In Belmont, Portia complains to her servant Nerissa that she cannot choose her own husband; her dead father has stipulated in his will that Portia’s suitors must pass a test in which they must choose among three caskets one lead, one silver, and one gold, to find which one contains her portrait. The one who chooses correctly will become Portia’s husband and inherit her fortune, but if the suitors fail, they may never marry. Portia and Nerissa discuss the faults of suitors who have come and gone, and remembered Bassanio as one who might be worthy to be her husband.

Word Meanings

• Aught – Anything
• Surfeit – In excess
• Decree – Law
• Colt Wild – young horse
• Afeard – Afraid
• Requite – Return love
• Acquainted-  Familiar
• Imposition – Condition
• Thy – Your
• Seek – Wish to meet
• Shrive – Give spiritual consolation

The Merchant of Venice Act 1 Scene 3 Summary

Venue – Venice
Characters – Bassanio, Shylock, Antonio

Shylock agrees to lend Bassanio three thousand ducats for three months based on Antonio’s credit but is skeptical, since all of Antonio’s assets are tied up at sea. He confesses in an aside that he hates Antonio, because he is a Christian who lends money without interest, which makes Shylock’s profession as a moneylender difficult. Shylock has also been offended by Antonio’s public, physical and verbal assaults against him for usury, which is considered a sin by Christians. When Shylock points out Antonio’s hypocrisy, Antonio points out he makes the exception for Bassanio, not for himself.

Word Meanings

• Stead – Help
• Argosy – Merchant ship
• Peril – Risk, hazard
• Bethink – Think seriously
• Fawning – Submissive
• Publican – Tax collector
• Wrought – Planned
• Inserted – Mentioned
• Doit – A copper coin
• Merry sport – A joke
• Dismay – Fear
• Before the day – Before the expiry of the bond

The Merchant of Venice Act 2 Scene 1 Summary

Venue — Belmont
Characters — Portia, the Prince of Morocco

Prince of Morocco has come to take the casket challenge to win Portia’s hand, but she tells him that if he fails, he may never marry.

Word Meanings

• Mislike – Misunderstand
• Livery – Uniform(skin)
• Thaws – Melts
• Incision – Blood-letting
• Hedged – Confined
• Scimitar – Sword
• Outstare – Look more defiant
• Hazard – Tough choice

The Merchant of Venice Act 2 Scene 2 Summary

Venue – Venice
Characters – Launcelot, the Old Gobbo, Bassanio, Lorenzo, Gratiano

Launcelot Gobbo, Shylock’s servant, ponders running away from Shylock to serve another master. He encounters his father, Old Gobbo, who is nearly blind and doesn’t recognize his son. Launcelot plays a trick on his father, misdirecting him and pretending that Launcelot is dead, but soon reveals himself and asks for his father’s blessings. During their reunion, Launcelot begs Bassanio to have him as a servant.

Bassanio then sees Gratiano, who asks to go to Belmont with Bassanio. Bassanio allows Gratiano to accompany him, making clear, however, that Gratiano needs to be at his best behaviour, since he has a reputation for being a wild man. Gratiano agrees, but asks that his behaviour not be judged on the basis of partying they plan to do that night.

Word Meanings

• Heed – Care
• Budge – Move
• Sand-blind – Half blind
• Beseech – Request
• Cudgel – Staff/stick
• Alack – Alas
• Liveries – Uniforms
• Anon – Soon
• Frutify – Certify
• Preferment – Promotion
• Trifle – Line
• Wench – Lady
• Misconstrued – Misunderstood
• Gauge – Judge

The Merchant of Venice Act 2 Scene 3 Summary

Venue –  Venice
Characters  – Jessica, Launcelot
Jessica tells Launcelot that she too, plans to run away from her father’s house with Bassanio’s friend Lorenzo.

Word Meanings

• Merry : Amusing
• Rob : Take away
• Taste of : A little
• Heinous : Deadly

The Merchant of Venice Act 2 Scene 4 Summary

Venue  –  Venice
Characters –  Lorenzo, Gratiano, Salerio, Solario, Launcelot

Lorenzo, Gratiano, Salerio and Salanio make plans for the masquerade, a Shrove Tuesday (Mardi Gras) celebration, discussing whether or not they should arrange for torchbearers. Launcelot, on his way to invite Shylock to dine with Bassanio, arrives with Jessica’s letter detailing her plans for escape, which includes taking her father’s gold and jewels. Lorenzo tells Gratiano that Jessica will be disguised as a page and will serve as a torchbearer during the night’s festivities.

Word Meanings

• Quiwidy – Prethiy
• Break – Break the seal
• ProvIded – Provided with
• Direted – Asked
• Pemur – Read
• Faithless – Non-beliver

The Merchant of Venice Act 2 Scene 5 Summary

Venue – Venice
Characters – Shylock, Jessica, Launcelot

Shylock reacts angrily to Launcelot’s leaving him, but accepts the invitation to eat with Bassanio despite some nagging premonitions. Launcelot hints to Shylock that there will be a Shrove Tuesday masquerade that night, and Shylock orders Jessica to lock up the house so as to avoid getting robbed by the revellers. Launcelot tells Jessica that Lorenzo will go through with their plans.

Word Meanings

• Pen-house – Shelter
• Holds – Applies
• Untread – Retrace
• Baggard – Mad poor
• Abode – Wait
• Beshrew – Curse
• Presently – Soon

The Merchant of Venice Act 2 Scene 6 Summary

Venue – Venice
Characters – Gratiano, Salerio, Lorenzo, Jessica

Gratiano and Salerio meet Lorenzo outside Shylock’s house, in order to help Jessica, now dressed as a young man, escape with a casket of Shylock’s gold and jewels. As Gratiano is about to leave for the revelries, Antonio catches him, saying that Bassanio’s ship is about to depart, so he’d better skip the festivities.

Word Meanings

• Yonker – Smart boy
• Scarfed –  With flags
• Strumpet – Harlot
• Cupid  – God of love
• Garnish – Dress
• Beshrew – Curse
• Fie – Shame

The Merchant of Venice Act 2 Scene 7 Summary

Venue – Belmont
Characters – Portia, the Prince of Morocco

In Belmont, Morocco enters the lottery to win Portia’s hand in marriage. He reads the inscriptions on each of the casket and selects the gold one, whose inscription reads, “Who chooseth me shall gain what many men desire”. Since the gold casket is made of such a valuable material, he reasons, it is the only one fit to contain Portia’s image. When he opens the casket, he finds a skull with a scroll in the eye socket. When he leaves, Portia declares that she hopes that all “men of his complexion” choose the same way.

Word Meanings

• Discover – Reveal
• Blunt – Plain
• Withal – With that
• Graved – Engraved
• Cerecloth – A type of shroud
• Insulp’d – Stemped
• Frost – Cold disappointment

The Merchant of Venice Act 2 Scene 8 Summary

Venue – Venice
Characters – Salerio, Solanio
In one of the most racially charged scenes in the play, Solanio, recounts for Salerio, Shylock’s reaction to Jessica’s

Word Meanings

• Outcries – Cries
• Amorous – Loving
• Outrageous – Shocking
• Reason’d – Discussed
• Fraught – Loaded
• Slubber – Spoil

The Merchant of Venice Act 2 Scene 9 Summary

Venue – Belmont
Characters – Portia, The Prince of Arragon

Arragon undergoes the casket test and selects the silver casket, which reveals a portrait of a “blinking idiot.” As soon as Arragon leaves, word comes that Bassanio has arrived to try the test.

Word Meanings

• Injunctions – Conditions
• Multitude – Majority
• Martlet – A bird
• Chaff – Rubbish
• Blinking – Winking
• Amiss – Wrong
• Wroth – Anger
• Heresy – Rumour

The Merchant of Venice Act 3 Scene 1 Summary

Venue – Venice
Characters – Salerio, Solanio, Shylock, Salerio

Tubal Solanio and Salerio have heard reports that confirm that Antonio’s ships have indeed wrecked, and they are concerned about his bond with Shylock. Shylock, still reeling from his daughter’s escape, hears from Salerio about Antonio’s bad fortune, and his grief turns to anger. Salerio questions whether Shylock will really take his pound of flesh from Antonio, and Shylock responds that he will take it in revenge, just as a Christian would (“Hath not a Jew” speech, 11.50-69).

Tubal, another Jew, confirms Antonio’s shipwrecks and tells Shylock that he hasn’t found Jessica, but has heard that she has spent 80 ducats in one night and has traded her mother’s ring for a monkey. Enraged, Shylock gets an officer to arrest Antonio in order to collect his bond.

Word Meanings

• Rialto – Stock exchange
• Knapped – Nibbled
• Betimes – In good times
• Jet and Ivory – Black and White
• Rhenish – White wine
• Thwarted – Obstructed
• Hearsed – Put in coffin
• Argosy – Merchant ship

The Merchant of Venice Act 3 Scene 2 Summary

Venue – Belmont
Characters – Portia, Bassanio, Nerissa, Gratiano.

Bassanio arrives in Belmont to vie for Portia’s hand, and she tries to delay his choice so as to spend more time with him in case he chooses incorrectly. She wishes she could teach him how to choose, and in fact gives him clues in her song, but will not defy the letter of the law of her father’s will. When Bassanio chooses correctly, Gratiano reveals that he is in love with Nerissa, completing the third romantic couple of the play.

Lorenzo, Jessica, Salerio, and a messenger arrive from Venice, and Bassanio receives the news that Antonio has been arrested. Portia offers to repay the debt even twenty times over, and Bassanio makes plans to return to Venice to try to rescue his friend.

Word Meanings

• Tarry – Wait
• Besnrew – Curse
• Peize – Retard
• Deliverance – Liberation
• Flourish – Notes of triumph
• Alcides – Heracles, a great Greek warrior
• Visages – Faces
• Excrement – Appearance
• Counterfeit – Likeness
• Mansion – Big building
• Solemnize – Celebrate
• Fleece – Golden Fleece
• Despatch – Expedite
• Twain – Two

The Merchant of Venice Act 3 Scene 3 Summary

Venue – Venice
Characters – Shylock, Antonio, Solanio

Shylock takes Antonio to jail, with Antonio pleading for mercy in vain. Solanio and Antonio discuss whether the Duke will dismiss the case, but Antonio believes the law will hold.

Word Meanings

• Look to him – Keep a watch on him
• Fangs – Teeth
• Impenetrable – Which cannot be satisfied
• Forfeitures – Penalties
• Impeach – Deny

The Merchant of Venice Act 3 Scene 4 Summary

Venue – Belmont
Characters – Portia, Lorenzo, Nerissa

Portia leaves her estate in the hands of Lorenzo while pretending to stay at a monastery a few miles away during their husbands’ absence. Instead, she gets documents and legal clothing from her lawyer cousin so she and Nerissa may go to Venice. Portia promises that she will divulge her plan on the way to Venice.

Word Meanings

• Conceit – Idea
• Amity – Friendship
• Semblance – Likeness
• Imposition – Task
• Traject – Ferry
• Mincing – Short, quick

The Merchant of Venice Act 3 Scene 5 Summary

Venue – Belmont
Characters – Launcelot, Jessica, Lorenzo

In a scriptural debate, Launcelot tells Jessica that he believes that she is damned for her father’s sins, but she asserts that because of her husband, she will not be. Launcelot complains about the conversion of the Jews, which, since they will not be forbidden to eat pork, will raise the price of bacon. Lorenzo enters and berates Launcelot for getting a Moorish servant pregnant.

He suddenly turns to Jessica then and asks her, “How dost thou like the Lord Bassanio’s wife?” Jessica praises Portia as being without equal on earth. Lorenzo jokingly responds, “Even such a husband / Hast thou of me as she is for a wife.” Jessica is ready to comment on his teasing when he urges her to save her comments “for table-talk.” So with loving jests, they go into dinner.

Word Meanings

• Agitation – Thought
• Rasber – Piece of bacon
• Flatly – Plainly
• Wit-snapper – A witty person
• Trickry – Tricky
• Pawnd – Pledged

The Merchant of Venice Act 4 Scene 1 Summary

Venue – Venice
Characters -Shylock, The Duke, Portia, Nerissa, Antonio, Bassanio, Gratiano

Shylock refuses to dismiss the bond, even for repayment of twice the original loan. The Duke tries to reason with Shylock, asking him to have mercy in order to gain mercy, but Shylock argues that, since he has purchased his pound of flesh, it is his to do with as he likes.Portia and Nerissa show up disguised, respectively as a young lawyer and a clerk, just as the Duke is ready to allow Shylock to claim his bond. Portia acknowledges the bond, but appeals to Shylock with her “quality of mercy is not strained” speech. When he refuses, Portia says the law must be upheld, but asks him to reconsider mercy. Still, he demands his bond.

As Shylock prepares his knife and the scales on which to weigh the flesh, Antonio bids a passion-filled farewell to Bassanio, who declares that he would give up his wife to keep Antonio alive, to Portia and Nerissa’s chagrin.As the sentence comes down, Portia reveals the loopholes in the law: not a drop of blood may be spilled with the taking of the pound of flesh; and precisely a pound of flesh may be taken, no more or less. Otherwise, all his possessions will be confiscated by the state of Venice. When Shylock backpedals, trying to take the payment rather than the bond, Portia shows no mercy.

Furthermore, since Shylock has essentially plotted murder, his property will be split between Antonio and the State, and he is subject to the death penalty. The Duke allows him to live but requires that not only should Shylock’s property be willed to Lorenzo and Jessica, but that Shylock become a Christian as well. Shylock assents, saying, “I am not well”. Antonio and Bassanio offer to pay the disguised Portia and Nerissa for their help. They refuse, but Portia agrees to take Antonio’s gloves, asking Bassanio for his wedding ring. Bassanio initially refuses, but recants, sending Gratiano to deliver the ring.

The Merchant of Venice Act 4 Scene 1 Summary Word Meaning

• Stony – Cruel
• Obdurate – Obstinate
• Moiety – Part
• Commiseration – Pity
• Gaping – With open mouth
• Loathes – Hates
• Abject – Degrading
• Viands – Rich food
• Importunity – Request
• Impugn – Attack

The Merchant of Venice Act 4 Scene 2 Summary

Venue – Venice
Characters – Portia, Nerissa, Gratiano

Portia and Nerissa deliver the deed for Shylock to sign. Gratiano catches up to deliver Bassanio’s ring to them.Nerissa decides to get Gratiano to give up his ring, and both plot to make the men sorry for what they ever did.

Word Meanings

• Deed – Document
• Swear – Promise
• Warrant – Assure
• Old – Hard
• Tarry – Wait

The Merchant of Venice Act 5 Scene 1 Summary

Venue – Belmont
Characters – Portia, Lorenzo, Jessica, Nerissa, Antonio, Bassanio, Gratiano

In Portia’s garden, Lorenzo and Jessica compare themselves to famous romantic couples of myth and literature. When servants inform them of their masters’ arrivals, Lorenzo asks for music with which to greet Portia, noting its power to charm.

Portia and Nerissa arrive, warning the servants not to mention their absence. Upon his return, Bassanio introduces the women to Antonio. Portia and Nerissa quarrel with Bassanio and Gratiano respectively, about their missing rings, withholding their husbands’ marital privileges until they have their rings back. In fact, both women confess they slept with the lawyer and his clerk to retrieve their rings.

Before the men are too shocked at their wives’ “unfaithfulness,” Portia shows them a letter from her lawyer cousin explaining their roles in saving Antonio’s life. In true romantic form, Antonio’s ships miraculously return, Lorenzo and Jessica learn they will inherit Shylock’s fortune, and everyone retires tct bed as morning comes.

Word Meanings

• Soul – Signs of love
• Unthrift – Thriftless
• Hark – Listen
• Hermit – Priest
• Orb – Star
• Feign – Imagine
• Speed – Prosper
• Bound – Obliged
• Scant – Cease to express
• Riveted – Fastened
• Void – Empty
• Mending – Repairing
• Starved – Hungry
• Sore – Acutely

The Merchant of Venice Summary Questions and Answers

Question 1.
Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow:
Morocco :
Mislike me not for my complexion,
The shadowed livery of the burnished sun,
To whom I am a neighbour and near bred.
Bring me the fairest creature northward born,
Where Phoebus’fire scare thaws the icicles.
And let us make incision for your love
To prove whose blood is reddest, his or mine.
I tell thee, lady, this aspect of mine
Hath feared the valiant. By my love I swear
The best-regarded virgins of our clime
Have loved it too. I would not change this hue
Except to steal your thoughts, my gentle queen.

Portia :
In terms of choice I am not solely led
By nice direction of a maiden’s eyes.
Besides, the lottery of my destiny
Bars me the right of voluntary choosing.

(i) Where is this scene set? Account for Morocco’s presence in this place.
(ii) What can you assess of Morocco’s appearance and character based on the given extract ?
(iii) Mention any three actions that Morocco says he would be happy to perform in order to win Portia.
(iv) What does Morocco have to swear before he makes his ‘hazard’
(v) Portia speaks of ‘the lottery of my destiny’. What exactly is she referring to? What in your opinion are Portia’s feelings regarding this matter ?
Answer:
(i) The scene is set in a room in Portia’s house at Belmont. The prince of Morocco is here to try his luck in choosing the correct casket amongst the lead, silver and gold, which the suitors are suppose to choose in order to marry the beautiful heiress, Portia.

(ii) Morocco seems to pass a flamboyant and overbearing nature. He is absolutely not embarrassed about his dark skin and proudly proclaims his peerage.

He comes across as a self-assured and boastful person when he declares that inspite of his skin tone, the most courageous fear him and he has impressed many of the most beautiful virgins in his country. He displays flattery when he tells Portia that he will not change his skin tone but for her. He is a self-conceited person. He brags about his conquests in battles.

(iii) The three actions that Morocco says he would be happy to perform in order to win Portia are :

• “Outbrave the heart most ctering on the earth” i.e., he would act braver than the bravest man on earth
• “Pluck the young suckling cubs from the she bear” i.e., he would grab bear cubs from a ferocious mother- ‘ bear, “mock the lion when the roars for prey” i.e., he could tease a hungry lion when it roars.

(iv) As per the condition of the caskets, Portia reminds Morocco that he may either take his chance or not choose at all. And if he does choose, he will have to swear before hand that, incase of incorrect choice, he will never talk about marriage to any woman again.

(v) Portia’s father in his will, set the requirements for the suitors who wish to marry her. They must choose between three caskets of Gold, Silver and Lead, whoever chooses correctly, would win the right to marry Portia. The whole exercise is in simple terms a Tottery which would determine Portia’s destiny’. Her father wanted to ensure that after his death, his daughter and his wealth would be in the hands of a wise man.

For Portia, the lottery system is a symbol of a dead father’s control over his daughter’s right to choose her husband. Thus, Portia is a little depressed and feels overburdened with this condition, because she cannot marry a man of her choosing.

Question 2.
Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow :
Shylock: Shall I not receive my principal ?
Portia : Thou shalt have nothing but the forfeiture,
To be taken at thy peril, few.

(i) Explain what Portia means by the above words.
(ii) How does Shylock respond to her words?
(iii) What more does Portia tell Shylock about the Laws of Venice as applicable to an ‘alien’ (foreigner) ?
(iv) What does Antonio propose to do with his share of Shylock’s goods ?
(v) What role does Portia play in this scene ? What does this reveal of her character ?
Answer:
(i) During the trial scene when Shylock realises that he is defeated, he quickly backpedals. He asks only for the principal of the debt, the 3000 ducats, hoping for the whole affair to just be over with. Though Bassanio is ready to pay it, but Portia cuts him off. She says that as he has already refused the offer earlier in the court and he will receive only the law, just as he asked for. Portia insists that Shylock no longer has any right to anything but the forfeiture of Antonio’s flesh, which he can take at his own risk.

(ii) ‘Shylock, realising that he has lost the case and the forfeiture, says he wants to stick around to hear some more of the case. He says
“Why, then, the devil give him good of it!
I’ll stay no longer question.”
And he begins to exit.

(iii) Portia further brings up another law of Venice which says that, if a foreigner has sought the life of a Venetian, either directly or indirectly, then the would be victim gets half of his property and the other half goes to the State, while the fate of the would be murderer rests in the hands of the Duke.

(iv) As per the law, as stated by Portia, half of Shylock’s property would now belong to Antonio. But Antonio, being a generous man, says that he would like half of the money to go to Lorenzo and Jessica, as long as Shylock does 2 things. Firstly, convert to Christianity and secondly, draw up a will leaving the rest of his wealth to Lorenzo and Jessica upon his death.

(v) Portia disguised as a lawyer, presented herself as Balthazar, to defend Antonio, she beseeched Shylock to be merciful and accept thrice more than the original loan amount, which he refused. She, is then referred to the very particular conditions of Venetian law which put Shylock in an extremely difficult position as he could not cut off more or less than an ounce of Antonio’s flesh, nor could he spill any of the Merchant’s blood. Shylock realised that he was in a tight spot and he decided to accept the terms. But Portia pointed out that any foreigner who deliberately intended to harm a Venetian, would forfeit his property to the victim and the State and would be under the mercy of the Duke.

Thus, Portia’s intelligent intervention surely saved Antonio’s life and guaranteed a life of misery for the vengeful Shylock.Portia’s appeal of mercy to Shylock comes from her own habitual goodness. The words come from her heart honestly, openly and naturally. This proves Portia’s wisdom and her wit. She displays her intelligence and just personality by presenting.

A Coherent argument saves Antonio’s life and punishes Shylock for his vindictive personality. Thus, she emerges as the true heroine of the play.

Question 3.
Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow:
Antonio: But little; I am arm’d and well prepared.
Give me your hand,

Bassanio : fare you well!
Grieve not that I am fallen to this for you;
For herein Fortune shows herself more kind
Than is her custom : it is still her use
wretched man outlive his wealth,
To view with hollow eye and wrinkled brow
An age of poverty; from which lingering penance
Of such misery doth she cut me off.

(i) Where is this scene set ? To whom are these words addressed ? To what question does Antonio respond with the words,”But little;”?
(ii) What does Antonio mean when he says, “Grieve not that I have fallen to his for you”?
(iii) What does Antonio instruct Bassanio to do immediately after speaking these lines ?
(iv) What is Bassanio’s response to this speech ?
(v) On what note does Antonio conclude his speech ? What does this reveal of Antonio’s attitude to life and death ?
Answer:
(i) Antonio : “But little cut me off.”
This scene is set in a court of Justice in Venice. These words are addressed to Bassanio. During the trial, when Portia asks Antonio if he has anything to say, “You; Merchant, have you anything to say ?”, then Antonio replies that he has nothing much to say or argue.

(ii) As Antonio has to go into this total condition due to the money he borrowed for Bassanio, and Bassanio is very tensed and helpless to see his dear friend in this condition, he tells Bassanio not to feel guilty and sorrowful that he is going to die because of him, because fortune is being very kind to him as she has spared him from a prolong suffering of old age and a life of poverty. Antonio does not wish to live as a poor man after his wealth is lost. Thus, he tells Bassanio to be cheerful on his death.

(iii) Immediately after this Antanio tells Bassanio to convey Antonio’s greeting to Portia his (Bassanio’s) wife, and tell her how Antonio died and how much he loved her husband. He tells Bassanio to speak well of him after his death and after the talk is done, ask her to judge whether Bassanio had a true friend in Antonio or not. He also tells Bassanio to be sad only at the fact that he’s losing his friend and not because, Antonio paid his debt.

(iv) Bassanio tells Antonio, that he is married to a woman who is as dear to him as life itself. But life itself, his wife and the whole world aren’t more valuable to him than Antonio’s life. He would gladly give it all up and sacrifice them all to the devil i.e., Shylock, in order to save Antonio.

(v) Antonio says that Bassanio must regret the loss of a friend; for he had no regrets in paying his debt and if the Jew cuts deep enough, he would immediately pay the debt with all his heart.Thus, Antonio proves to be a courageous and patient person, even when faced with death.

According to him, old age and poverty are not the things one should opt for in life if abandoned by money. In his pre-occupation to take care of his friends, he puts his life at stake without a second thought.

Question 4.
Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow :
Portia :
Go draw aside the curtains, and discover
The several caskets to this noble prince
Now make your choice.

Morocco :
The first, of gold, who this inscription bears,
“Who chooseth me shall gain what many men desire.”

(i) Who is Morocco? How did he introduce himself to Portia when they first met in an earlier scene?
(ii) How would Morocco know that he had made the right choice? What would his award be?
(iii) Which casket did Morocco finally choose? What reasons did he give for rejecting the casket made of lead?
(iv) What two objects does Morocco find in the casket of the choice? What reason does he give to Portia for
leaving in haste?
(v) How does Portia respond to Morocco’s parting words? What does this reveal of her nature?
Answer:
(i) Morocco is a Moorish prince who has come to Belmont as a suitor to take Portia’s hand.In an earlier scene when he introduces himself to Portia, we find him as a boastful warrior. He says that,though he is aware that his dark coloured skin may not please Portia, but he considers it a gift conferred upon him by the sun which shines brightly on his land.

He says he is skilled in the use of sword and had slain the king of Persia and the Persian Prince with his sword, the very Persian Prince who had defeated the Sultan of Turkey in three battles.

He says he can compete the most handsome person of the North in the show of love for Portia. According to him, his appearance had terrified many courageous men and the most estimable maidens of his country had loved him for what he is.

(ii) As per the casket system laid down by Portia’s father for her marriage, the suitor had to choose one casket from amongst the three, i.e., the gold, the silver and the lead, all the three bearing an inscription.

On being asked by Morocco that how would he know that he had made the right choice, Portia tells him that one of the three caskets contained her picture and the one who chose that, would have Portia as his wife. This would be his award.

(iii) Morocco finally chooses the golden casket, because it promised the chooser what many men desire and according to him many men desired Portia, as suitors came from all comers of the world to woo her.

He rejected the lead casket on the following grounds .The inscription on the lead casket read “Who chooseth me must give and hazard all he hath”. But the Prince of Morocco finds it utterly useless to risk everything for a base metal like lead, because according to him, if people stake their all, they do so with the hope of a rich reward. Later, he dismisses it for its dull look as unworthy of holding the portrait of an angel.

(iv) In the golden casket which he chooses, Morocco finds a fleshless skull and a scroll in the eyeless socket of the skull.When he reads what is written on the scroll, he is crestfallen. But he takes his rejection with dignity and he tells Portia that his heart being full of grief, could not bid a ceremonious farewell and as per the condition of the casket, the loser was suppose to leave immediately.

(v) Portia is relieved and happy at Morocco’s departure. She appreciates his gentle behaviour but cannot hide her relief at the thought that she will not have to marry him. She wishes that all suitors of dark complexion like that of Morocco, may depart in the same manner, especially when she does not love him. She says “Let all of his complexion choose me so.”

This episode shows that, though Portia seems to be least interested in the suitors that are coming to attempt the casket test, yet being an obedient daughter, she sticks to this system for choosing her husband.

Question 5.
Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow :
Bassanio : Were you the doctor, and I knew you not?
Gratiano :  Were you the clerk?

Antonio : Sweet lady, you have given me life and living.
For here I read for certain that my ships
Are safely come to road.

Portia : How now, Lorenzo!
My clerk hath some good comforts too for you.

(i) Where does this scene take place? What had Portia directed Antonio to give to Bassanio just moments before the above words were spoken?
(ii) Portia had just given Antonio, Bassanio and Gratiano a letter to read. Who had written this letter? What does Bassanio learn about Portia from this letter?
(iii) What good news does Portia have for Antonio? How does he respond to it?
(iv) To whom does Portia refer as ‘My clerk’? What ‘good comforts’ does the ‘clerk’ have for Lorenzo?
(v) How was Bassanio persuaded to give away the ring that Portia had given him at the time of their marriage? What does this reveal of Bassanio’s relationship with Antonio?
Answer:
(i) The scene takes place at an avenue outside Portia’s house. Just moments before Portia gives a ‘ring’ to Antonio to give it to Bassanio and ask him to keep it more carefully than the first one. It is of course the original ring which she had given to Bassanio when he had chosen the right casket, but as a disguised lawyer, she had taken it back and was now questioning him for his sincerity for having lost the ring. Both, Antonio and Bassanio, are shocked to see the same ring.

(ii) The letter which Portia had just given to Antonio was written by Portia’s lawyer cousin Dr. Bellario from Padua. From the letter Bassanio gets to know that, it was Portia who was disguised as the ‘Lawyer Balthazar’ at Antonio’s trial in Venice. It was she, along with her companion Nerissa, disguised as a clerk, who had saved Antonio’s life from the clutches of Shylock’s fatal bond.

(iii) Portia hands over a letter to Antonio containing the good news that three of his ships, richly laden with cargoes, had come back quite unexpectedly.Antonio is ecstatic on hearing this. He says, “Sweet lady you have given me life and living”, which meant that she had not only saved his life but also restored his means of livelihood.

(iv) It’s Nerissa, Portia’s lady in waiting, to whom Portia refers as ‘My clerk’. During the trial scene of Antonio, Nerissa had assisted Portia as her clerk. Nerissa presents Shylock’s deed to Lorenzo and Jessica, bequeathing them all of his possessions. As per the final deed signed by Shylock on losing the trial, everything belonging to the rich Jew would be transferred to his daughter and son-in-law, after his death. These were the ‘good comforts’ that Nerissa bestows upon them.

(v) After Antonio wins the trial, the Duke asks him to reward the lawyer. Bassanio tries to pay them the ducats that they had but the lawyer (Portia) rejects the offer. However, they ask the two to take something with them. Portia then asks for Antonio’s gloves and Bassanio’s wedding ring. Bassanio is reluctant to give away the ring and says that, it is a ‘trifle’ and not a worthy gift. But Portia insists that she will settle for nothing else but the ring. She acts as if offended and leaves. On Antonio’s persuasion Bassanio at last sends. Gratiano with his ring to be given to Portia.

This episode clearly reveals that Bassanio and Antonio share an extremely profound and sincere relationship. They could go to any extent for each other. On Antonio’s request, Bassanio gave away the ring which was given to him by his deaf wife under an oath. Antonio too had put his life at stake for Bassanio and later again he is ready to stand in guarantee for his friend when Portia rebukes him for being unfaithful. This shows that both shared a strong relationship of love and faith.

Question 6.
Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow :
Salarino : O! ten times faster Venus’ pigeons fly
To seal love’s bonds new-made, than they are wont
To keep obliged faith unforfeited!
Gratiano : That ever holds: who risethfrom a feast
With that keen appetite that he sits down?
Where is the horse that doth untread again
His tedious measures with the unbated fire
That he did pace them first? All things that are,
Are with more spirit chased than enjoy’d.

(i) Where does this scene take place? Who has out-dwelt his hour? Normally, what do the lovers do as far as
the appointed time is concerned?
(ii) Who is Venus? How do the Venus’s pigeons behave as far as love is concerned ?
(iii) “All things that are, Are with more spirit chased than enjoy’d”. How far is this statement brought out by
giving the example of a ship in latter lines?
(iv) How does Gratiano explain in the extract the state of people in love?
(v) What will be Jessica’s role in the masquerade? What does she have to say regarding this role? What is
your opinion’of Jessica?
Answer:
(i) The scene is set in front of Shylock’s house. Salarino and Gratiano are in time to help Lorenzo steal away Jessica from her father’s house. However, Lorenzo is late and it is surprising because lovers are overeager and arrive even before the appointed time.

(ii) Salarino calls new lovers, Venus’s pigeons, and says that, for new lovers, time passes ten times faster than for couples who’ve been married forever.

(iii) Gratiano says that no one gets up from a meal with the same appetite he had when he sat down. Can any horse retrace his footsteps with the same energy he had when he walked them the first time? We chase everything in life more excitedly than we actually enjoy it when we get it. It’s like when a ship sails out of the harbour with all its flags waving, gently pushed by the wind. When that ship returns, her timber is all weather-beaten and her sails are ragged. That same wind makes the ship thin and poor.

(iv) Gratiano explains on the theory that love is at its best when the lover chases the object of his affection, and that once the lover captures his |^dy and consummates the relationship, he tends to tire and lose interest.

(v) Jessica will be dressed as a boy, as she will pretend to be Lorenzo’s torch-bearer in the masquerade. She is ashamed to be seen dressed as a boy. Jessica hates living in her father’s house, and in this scene, she escapes with his gold and jewels. Therefore, she comes across as heartless towards her father, but also as a young woman deeply in love who risks all to be with the man she loves.

Question 7.
Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow:
Why, look you, how you storm!
I would befriends with you and have your love,
Forget the shames that you have stain’d me with,
Supply your present wants, and take no do it
Of usance for my moneys, and you ‘ll not hear me: This is kind I offer,

(i) Where does this scene take place? Who is the speaker? To whom is he talking?
(ii) What are the ‘shames’ which the speaker says have stained him?
(iii) What are the ‘present wants’? Who is in need of the ‘present wants’? Why ?
(iv) Explain “This is kind I offer.” What does the speaker propose to do immediately after this?
(v) What do you think of Antonio and Shylock with regard to the signing of the bond?
Answer:
(i) This scene takes place us Venice. The speaker of the above lines is Shylock. Ile says these words to Antonio.

(ii) Shylock is reterfing to the insults hurled at him by Antonio such as, speaking abusively of him and his money-lending, spitting on hi long Jewish robe, kicking him, calling him a dog and ridiculing the Jews in general

(iii) “The present wants” roter to the inedited need of Antonio-three thousand ducats to provide for Bassanio’s trip to Belmont to woo Ekrtla. The speaker is ready to supply the wants provided Antonio signs a bond, according to which, if Antonio is unable toy him the money on the specified date, the penalty to be paid will be an exact pound of flesh from any part of Antonio’s body.

(iv) ‘This is kind I offer you” means, ‘this is the kindness that I offer you’. This refers to Shytock lending money to Antonio without charging any interest on it.

(v) Shylock insists on a pound of Antonio’s flesh to take revenge on him and to put him completely at his mercy. Shylock’s hatred for Antonio and Chirstians Is shown in his absurd demand. Taking advantage of the situation, he wants to take revenge on Antonio and all Christians, who persecuted him and his race. He
comes across as cunning, cautious, and crafty

Antonio is confident that there is no danger in signing the bond because, he is confident that one month before the date of payment, his ships will have brought nine times the amount they arc borrowing and they will not have to pay the penalty. This incident shows Antonio’s overconfidence and generosity towards Bassanio. Thus, Antonio cornes across as easy-going, trusting, slightly melancholy, romantic and naive in this scene.

Question 8.
Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow :
Portia :
To these injunctions everyone doth swear
That comes to hazard for my worthless self.

Arragon :
And so have address’d me. Fortune now
To my heart’s hope! -Gold, silver and lead base.

(i) Who had tried his luck in trying to choose the correct casket before the Prince of Arragon? Which casket had that suitor chosen? What did he find inside the casket? 3
(ii) What are the three things Arragon was obliged by oath to obey?
(iii) What was the inscription on the golden casket? How do the actions of the mart let illustrate this inscription?
(iv) Which casket does Arragon finally choose? Whose portrait does he find inside? Which casket actually contains Portia’s portrait?
(v) Who enters soon after? What does he say about the young Venetian who has just arrived? What gifts has
the Venetian brought with him?
Answer:
(i) The Prince of Morocco tried his luck in choosing the correct casket before Arragon. He reasoned that a portrait of Portia, a “mortal, breathing saint,” a woman whom “all the world desires”, could be only within the golden casket. He, therefore, chose the golden casket, hoping to find “an angel in a golden bed.

“When he unlocks the casket and looks inside, he discovers only a skull (“carrion Death”) and a scroll rolled up and inserted within the skull’s “empty eye.” He takes it out and reads the message: “All that glitters is not gold;… Gilded tombs do worms infold.” Defeated and grieving, he made a hasty exit with his entourage.

(ii) Prince of Arragon has arrived to try his luck at choosing the correct casket to win Portia’s hand in marriage, and before he decides on one, he promises Portia that he will abide by her father’s rules. First, if he fails to choose the casket containing her portrait, he will never reveal which casket he chose; second, he promises never to court another woman; and last, he will leave Belmont immediately.

(iii) The inscription on the golden casket read, “Who chooseth me shall gain what many men desire.” What many men want could mean that, most people are fools and make their choice on the basis of whatever glitters and is attractive. They don’t go beyond what their eyes see.

They don’t bother to find out what’s on the inside. Just like the birds called martlets, who build their nests on the outside of walls, people pay too much attention to what’s on the outside.Therefore, Arragon rejects the gold casket because “what many men desire” may place him on the same level With “the barbarous multitudes.”

(iv) The Prince of Arragon finally chooses the silver casket, which bears the inscription, “Who chooseth me shall get as much as he deserves/’Arragon reviews his worth and decides that he “will assume desert” that is, he feels that he rightfully deserves Portia. When he opens the silver casket, he finds within “the portrait of a blinking idiot” a picture of a fool’s head.

He protests the contents; he chose according to what he felt that he deserved: “Did I deserve no more than a fool’s head?” Portia reminds him that no man is permitted to judge his own cause. The scroll in the silver casket reads, “There be fools alive, I wish [know] / Silver’d o’er; and so was this.”Arragon departs then with his followers, promising to keep his oath

(v) A servant enters the scene soon after and announces the arrival of a Venetian ambassador from another suitor and adds that he brings gifts. In fact, in the messenger’s estimation, the man who accompanies this latest suitor is “so likely an ambassador of love” that “a day in April never came so sweet.” Portia is neither impressed nor optimistic, yet she urges Nerissa to bring the man to her so that she can see for herself this “Quick Cupid’s post that comes so mannerly.” Nerissa sighs and hope that this suitor may turn out to be Bassanio.

Question 9.
Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow:
Antonio : Grieve not that I am fall’n to this for you,
For herein Fortune shows herself more kind
Than is her custom. It is still her use
To let the wretched man outlive his wealth,
To view with hollow eye and wrinkled brow
An age of poverty—from which lingering penance
Of such misery doth she cut me off.
Commend me to your honorable wife.
Tell her the process of Antonio’s end.
Say how I loved you. Speak me fair in death.
And when the tale is told, bid her be judge
Whether Bassanio had not once a love.

(i) When and to whom does Antonio speak these lines? What is meant by “Grieve not that I am fall’n to this for you”?
(ii) How has “Fortune” been represented in this line? Why does Antonio feel that fortune is kind to him?
(iii) What is meant by “lingering penance”? What is it that Bassanio must not regret and what is it that Antonio does not repent?
(iv) What offer does Bassanio make after this extract to save Antonio? What is Portia’s response?
(v) Throw some light on the bond of friendship between Bassanio and Antonio, giving various instances from the scene.
Answer:
(i) Antonio says these lines to Bassanio. Antonio tells him not to grieve that he has been reduced to his current situation, because he borrowed money from Shylock so that Bassanio could go to Belmont, to win Portia’s hand in marriage.

(ii) Antonio believes that Fortune has been kinder to him than is her usual custom or habit. Usually, she makes the unhappy man live on after he loses his wealth, to spend his old age in poverty. But in his case she’s letting him avoid that misery by offering death.

(iii) Antonio talks about the lingering penance of having to live in misery and wretched poverty after losing one’s fortune, he says, ” let the wretched man outlive his wealth, to view with hollow eye and wrinkled brow an age of poverty… “, he is glad to be spared this fate.

(iv) Bassanio tells Antonio, that he is married to a woman who is as dear to him as life itself. But life itself, his wife, and the whole world, isn’t more valuable to him than Antonio’s life. He would gladly give it all up and sacrifice them all to the devil i.e., Shylock, in order to save Antonio. Portia is miffed at Bassanio’s words and while still disguised, as a lawyer warns him that his wife would not be pleased if she were to hear his words.

(v) “To you, Antonio, /1 owe the most, in money and in love” This is what Bassanio says as he prepares to leave for Belmont to court his future wife. Like the Two Gentlemen of Verona, The Merchant of Venice is interested in the dynamics of male friendship, a bond that’s often valued above all other relationships, especially romance and marriage. Antonio loves Bassanio enough to give his life for him, indeed it seems that Bassanio’s pursuit of a wife is the cause of Antonio’s deep melancholy, which may suggest that his affection for his friend is romantic in nature. Nonetheless, we can say that Antonio and Bassanio share a deep and strong bond of friendship.

Question 10.
Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow:
Portia : As from her lord, her governor, her king.
Myself and what is mine to you and yours
Is now converted: but now I was the lord
Of this fair mansion, master of my servants,
Queen o’er myself; and even now, but now,
This house, these servants, and this same myself,
Are yours, my lord:

(i) Where are Portia and Bassanio? What has just taken place which makes Portia to speak these words? What was the inscription given in the lead casket?
(ii) What does Bassanio say in praise of Portia’s portrait?
(iii) What news saddens Bassanio on this happy occasion? What does Portia ask him to do?
(iv) Who is Balthazar? What was the work assigned to him by Portia?
(v) Where does Portia really plan to go? What similarity do we find between Portia and Antonio? What does this scene reveal about the character of Portia? Give a reason to justify your answer.
Answer:
(i) Portia and Bassanio are at Belmont in a room in Portia’s house or estate. Bassanio has just chosen the correct casket and won Portia’s hand in marriage. The inscription on the lead casket states, “Who chooseth me must give and hazard all he hath.”

(ii) Bassanio opens the lead casket and finds Portia’s portrait inside it. The picture is so, life-like that it seems that only a demi-god could have painted it. The eyes look real and seem to be moving. The lips are parted with sugar breadth. The hair show the skill of the painter who has worked as a spider making a golden mesh to catch the hearts of men. The eyes are so enchanting that after painting one, the artist should have gone blind. He waxes on about how beautiful the picture is, but then reprimands himself for praising the picture, which is only a shadow of the real woman’s beauty.

(iii) Bassanio receives a letter from Antonio with the news that none of Antonio’s ships have returned and that Shylock is demanding his pound of flesh. This sad and troubling news saddens Bassanio. Portia tells Bassanio, to hasten back to Venice and pay back Shylock to cancel the bond. She assures him that he will have enough gold to pay Shylock 20 times over.

(iv) Balthazar is Portia’s servant. She gives him a letter and tells him to hand it over to her cousin, Doctor Bellario, who lives in Padua. She tells him to collect the notes and garments given by Doctor Bellario and bring them to the common ferry which trades to Venice.

(v) Portia plans to go to Venice to rescue Antonio. Both Portia and Antonio exhibit the virtues of selfless generosity and share a deep love for Bassanio. This scene serves to highlight Portia’s wit, intelligence and generosity of spirit.

Question 11.
Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow :
But mercy is above this sceptred sway;
It is enthroned in the hearts of kings,
It is an attribute to God himself;
And earthly power doth then show likest
God’s When mercy seasons justice.

(i) Name the speaker. Why did the speaker appeal to the Jew for mercy? Earlier, who else in the play appealed for mercy?
(ii) What are the three qualities of mercy which the speaker has stated just before the extract?
(iii) Give the meaning of ‘But mercy is above this sceptred sway. How does Shylock turn down Portia’s plea
for mercy? What does he insist on?
(iv) What is Bassanio ready to do for Antonio in the court? Why is Bassanio snubbed immediately by the disguised Portia?
(v) Mention two prominent character traits of Shylock as highlighted through the scene from which the extract has been taken. Substantiate your answer with examples from the text.
Answer:
(i) The speaker is Portia, disguised as a learned Doctor of Law. The speaker appeals to the Jew, Shylock for mercy to save Antonio’s life. Earlier, the Duke of Venice had appealed to Shylock asking him to show some mercy on Antonio.

(ii) The quality of mercy is not strained: it drops on to the world as the gentle rain does from heaven. It’s doubly blessed. It blesses both the giver and the receiver. It’s most powerful when granted by those who hold power over others. It’s more important to a monarch than his crown.

(iii) A king’s sceptre shows the level of his temporal power – the symbol of awe and majesty, in which lies the source of the dread and fear that kings command. But mercy is above that sceptred power. It’s enthroned in the hearts of kings. It is an attribute of God himself. And earthly power most closely resembles God’s power when justice is guided by mercy. However, Shylock rejects mercy and demands fulfilment of the terms of the bond.

(iv) Bassanio is ready to give twice the sum owed to Shylock or even 10 times over the sum, is ready to forfeit his hands, head and heart to save Antonio. When Bassanio said that his life itself; his wife and all the world are not with him esteemed above Antonio’s life, Portia is a little hurt and irritated and consequently snubs Bassanio.

(v) Shylock comes across as a cruel, hateful, merciless and pitiless man. He rejects multiple offers of money and demands his pound of flesh as he wishes to see Antonio suffer.

Question 12.
Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow :
Portia : But this reasoning is not in the fashion to choose me a husband.
O me, the word “choose”! I may neither choose whom
I would, nor refuse whom I dislike;
so is the will of a living daughter curbed by the will of a dead father.
Is it not hard, Nerissa, that I cannot choose one, nor refuse none?

(i) What test had Portia’s father devised for her suitors? What oath did the suitors have to take before making their choice?
(ii) Who is Nerissa? What does she say to cheer up Portia?
(iii) Why does Portia disapprove of Count Palatine? Whom would she rather marry?
(iv) How, according to Portia, can the Duke of Saxony’s nephew be made to choose the wrong casket? What do these suitors ultimately decide? Why?
(v) Whom does Portia ultimately marry? Who were the two other suitors who took the test? Why, in your opinion, is the person whom she marries worthy of her?
Answer:
(i) Portia’s father had devised a lottery to give her away in marriage after his death. She would have to marry the suitor who chose correctly from three caskets, made of gold, silver and lead. The suitors had to take an oath not to marry anyone else if they chose the wrong casket, before they made their choice.

(ii) Nerissa is Portia’s maid or lady-in-waiting. She tries to cheer up Portia by saying that her father was a virtuous man and that holy men often have divine guidance on their deathbeds. That is why, he came up with the lottery of the three caskets. She reassures Portia by saying that the right casket will no doubt be chosen by the one whom Portia will love.

(iii) Portia says of Count Palatine that he does nothing but frown, as if he wants to say, “If you don’t want me, I don’t care.” He doesn’t even smile when he hears funny stories. If he’s so sad and solemn when he’s young; she says that he will become a weeping philosopher when he grows old, as he is so full of unmannerly sadness in his youth. Portia would rather be married to a skull with a bone in its mouth than her current suitors.

(iv) The Duke of Saxony’s nephew was rumoured to be wicked when sober, and terrible when drunk. Even when he was sober, he was a beast, and hence, Portia disapproved of him and wanted him to choose the wrong casket. So, she asked Nerissa to place a glass of wine on the wrong casket. The Duke’s nephew would be tempted by the wine, and would open the wrong casket. The suitors decide not to choose a casket, because if they choose the wrong one, they would not be able to marry anyone else.

(v) The two suitors who took the test are the Prince of Morocco and the Prince of Arragon. Portia marries Bassanio because he doesn’t appear to be full of self-importance like the other two suitors. In addition, Portia is also shown to be interested in him. However, Portia’s wealth appears to be one of the reasons why Bassanio wants to get married to Portia. Hence, one can say that he was not fully worthy of Portia.

Question 13.
Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow:
Duke: What, is Antonio here?
Antonio: Ready, so please your grace.
Duke: I am sorry for thee:
thou art come to answer
A stony adversary, an inhuman wretch
lIncapable of pity, void and empty
From any dram of mercy.

(i) What are the terms of the bond that Antonio has signed?
(ii) Why does the Duke call Shylock ‘inhuman1? What does the Duke expect Shylock to do?
(iii) What reason does Shylock give for choosing rotten flesh over money? What are the things hated by some people?
(iv) State three examples Antonio gives to illustrate Shylock’s stubborn attitude.
(v) How is Shylock’s property distributed at the end by Antonio? Do you think Shylock deserves the punishment given to him? Give a reason to justify your answer.
Answer:
(i) Antonio signed a bond with Shylock which required him to repay Shylock 3,000 ducats in three months. Shylock didn’t charge an interest on the loan. However, he said that if Antonio failed to repay the money on time, he would give a pound of his Christian flesh to the Jewish moneylender.

(ii) The Duke expressed great sympathy for Antonio. He tries to persuade Shylock to show’ mercy to Antonio. The Duke further tries to pressurise Shylock to waive off the penalty of a pound of flesh, and even forgive some of the loan principal. However, Shylock refused to show mercy to Antonio since he hated him. Hence, the Duke calls him inhuman.

(iii) Shylock doesn’t give a clear reason as to why he chose flesh over money and says that he just felt like doing so. He also says that some things are hated by people based on their likes and dislikes i.e., some people do not like a gaping pig or go mad when they see a cat, or cannot tolerate the shrill notes of a bagpipe.

In reality, he has chosen a pound of flesh over money because he hates Antonio as a Christian, also because Antonio lent money free of interest, thereby harming his business, and finally, because Antonio had spoken out against Shylock’s business practices many times in public.

(iv) Antonio was of the opinion that it was pointless arguing with Shylock. He says that it is possible to do the impossible rather than try to soften his Jewish heart. Antonio further illustrates Shylock’s stubborn attitude by using the following examples: It is easier to stand on the beach and ask the ocean to get smaller. It is possible to question why the wolf killed the lamb and made its mother cry. It is even easy to tell the pine trees on the mountain to stop waving their treetops when the storms blow through them.

(v) Antonio asks the court to pardon Shylock of his debt to the State. Half of Shylock’s wealth which was to go to Antonio would be passed on to L,orenzo at Shylocks death. The Jew must also Leave all his possessions in his will to Lorenzo and Jessica. Antonios final condition was that Shvlock must become a Christian.

One feels sympathetic towards Shyiodc when he is asked to convert to Christianity It only elevates his hatred for Christians. However, Shylock has aLso shown open disregard for Antonio only because he is a Christian. Therefore, ills difficult to comment on the fairnessof the punishmentmeted out to bhylock for his ruthlessness towards Antonio.

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Summary of Gulliver’s Travels Part 4 Chapter 12

Summary of Gulliver’s Travels Part 4 Chapter 12

The narrator explains his aim in publishing this book. He criticizes travellers who swerve from the truth. The narrator clears himself from any sinister aims in writing. The method of planting colonies is described. His native country is commended. The right of the crown to the countries described by the narrator is justified. The narrator takes his last leave of the reader, proposes his manner of living for the future, gives good advice, and concludes.

Gulliver claimed that absolutely everything he had written was absolutely true. In fact, he thought it was a disgrace that so many travellers embroidered or exaggerated their published accounts of their trips around the world. Gulliver’s motto was: ‘Though Fortune has made Sinon wretched, she has not made him untrue and a liar.’ In other words, though Gulliver was dejected about having left the land of the Houyhnhnms, he still refused to lie about any of his experiences. The purpose of writing his memoirs was not to gain fame, but to share the superior example of the Houyhnhnms with the world.

Gulliver was told that it was his duty, as a subject of England, to give an account of his voyages to the Secretary of State of England, upon his return. This would enable England to conquer the lands. But Gulliver feared that the conquest of the countries he had visited would not be easy or profitable. The Lilliputians were too small to be worth it, the Brobdingnagians, too large and dangerous, and the Laputians, literally out of reach. While the Houyhnhnms were totally inexperienced with war, the English shouldn’t invade them.

The Houyhnhnms were smart, strong, and loved their country. So they would figure out how to defend it quickly enough. In fact, Gulliver wished that the Houyhnhnms would come over and teach all of their virtues to the European Yahoos. A further reason why Gulliver didn’t want the Europeans to conquer the lands he had seen was that they didn’t seem to want to be conquered. Taking their lands against their will would be cruel.

At the end of his tale, Gulliver was sitting in his garden thinking; he was instructing his family as best he could. He was applying the lessons of the Houyhnhnms to instruct the Yahoos of his own family. He even forced himself to look in a mirror every day to get used to his human face and those of the people around him. He mourned the treatment of the Houyhnhnms in England. After five years at home, Gulliver was able to let his wife sit at dinner with him—at the far end of the table, though he still kept his nostrils stuffed with lavender or tobacco so as to not be bothered by the smell.

What he really hated was, not the bad qualities that Yahoos couldn’t seem to escape, but the pride they felt in themselves even though they were so disgusting, diseased, and detestable. The Houyhnhnms, who possessed good natures, were not proud, because they were born as good fellows and could not help but be good. They didn’t need to congratulate themselves. The only way that Gulliver would ever be able to sit in the company of an English Yahoo again was if they avoided at least this one sin: the sin of pride.

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Summary of Gulliver’s Travels Part 4 Chapter 11

Summary of Gulliver’s Travels Part 4 Chapter 11

The narrator’s dangerous voyage is described. He arrives at New Holland, hoping to settle there, but is wounded with an arrow by one of the natives. He is seized and carried by force into a Portuguese ship. The narrator arrives in England.

It was 15 February 1714. Gulliver’s Master and his family watched Gulliver from the shore until he floated out of sight. The sorrel nag called out to Gulliver to take care of himself. Gulliver hoped to find the island uninhabited, but still with enough resources to support him as he really didn’t want to return to the Yahoos. On the fourth day, he saw people—naked and sitting around a fire. He jumped into his canoe and rowed away. He was struck by a poisoned arrow in his knee, which left a scar.

Gulliver tried to escape the natives’ darts by paddling out to sea. Having nowhere else to go, he returned to another part of that same island. He saw a sail in the distance and thought of going toward it, but then decided he would rather live with the barbarians than the European Yahoos, so he hid from the ship. Coincidentally, the Portuguese ship sent a long boat to the island for water.

The seamen discovered him after landing near his hiding place. They questioned him, and Gulliver trembled in fear but spoke to the sailors in their own language. He told them that he was a ‘poor Yahoo banished from the Houyhnhnms’. The sailors realized he was a European but did not understand what he meant by the terms Yahoos and Houyhnhnms. He spoke with neighing intonations which made the sailors laugh. They could not understand his desire to escape from their ship. He was horrified to be a prisoner of the Yahoos.

Gulliver told the sailors that he was from England. Since the English and the Portuguese were not at war, he hoped they would not be mean to him. The sailors brought Gulliver aboard their ship, which was heading for Lisbon in Portugal. Gulliver met the captain, Don Pedro de Mendez, who wanted to know where Gulliver was from. He was so distressed to be back among the Yahoos that he would not tell the captain—in fact, he tried to throw himself into the sea to swim away, but he was caught before he could. Don Pedro thought Gulliver was lying at first, as he started talking about Houyhnhnm land. Gulliver was confused as it had been many years since he had heard a lie. Don Pedro made Gulliver promise that he would not try to kill himself on the way home. Gulliver promised, and he also tried not to talk endlessly about how much he hated people now.

Yet, the captain of the ship, Pedro de Mendez, was kind. He treated Gulliver hospitably, offering him food, drink, and clothes. They arrived at Lisbon where Pedro de Mendez did all that he could to make Gulliver comfortable. He insisted that Gulliver stay at his own house and borrow some clothes. After ten days in Portugal, Don Pedro told Gulliver that it was his responsibility to go back home to his family. It would be impossible for Gulliver to find a solitary island to maroon himself on, but in his own home, he could be as much of a hermit as he wants to be. Gulliver grudgingly agreed, and headed back to his home.

Gulliver was happily received by his family, for they had given him up for dead. But the reunion was a disaster for Gulliver. He was filled with disgust and contempt for them. He could not bear the sight or smell of his Yahoo-like wife and children. It was only after some time that he could bear to eat with them.

In fact, it had been five years since he got back to England, and he could still barely stand to be in their presence. To restore his mind, he bought two horses and conversed with them for four hours each day.

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Summary of Gulliver’s Travels Part 4 Chapter 10

Summary of Gulliver’s Travels Part 4 Chapter 10

The narrator’s economy and happy life, among the Houyhnhnms, his great improvement in virtue by conversing with them and their conversations are described. The narrator is given notice by his master that he must depart from the country. He falls into a swoon from grief; but submits. He contrives and finishes a canoe with the help of a fellow-servant, and puts it to sea.

Gulliver was absolutely content living in the Land of the Houyhnhnms. A room had been made for Gulliver, and he had furnished it well. He also made new clothes for himself and settled into life with the Houyhnhnms quite easily. Gulliver had several friends among the Houyhnhnms. At times, his master allowed him to remain when his friends came. At others, he was taken along when his master went visiting. He began to think of his friends and family back home as Yahoos.

Gulliver’s admiration of the Houyhnhnms led him to imitate their gait and gesture, which had now grown into a habit. In fact, he was proud that the Houyhnhnms sometimes said that he trotted like a horse.

However, one morning, he was called by his master and told that others had taken offense at his being kept in the house as a Houyhnhnm. They had voted that Gulliver must go away. They were worried that such a smart Yahoo might encourage the other Yahoos to rise in rebellion and kill the Houyhnhnm’s cattle. Gulliver’s master had no choice but to ask Gulliver to leave. Gulliver was heartbroken to hear that he was to be banished, so much so, that he actual fainted.

However, he accepted his fate and built a canoe with the help of the sorrel nag. Gulliver explored the coast with his telescope and found a small island, about three and a half miles away, which he could reach in his boat. Finally, when the day came for Gulliver to leave, Gulliver’s master and his whole family came to see him off. Gulliver cried and kissed the hoof of his master and departed from the island.

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Summary of Gulliver’s Travels Part 4 Chapter 9

Summary of Gulliver’s Travels Part 4 Chapter 9

A grand debate, held at the general assembly of the Houyhnhnms and its resolution are chronicled. The learning of the Houyhnhnms, their buildings, their manner of burials, the defectiveness of their language is described.

The Houyhnhnms held one of their four-year grand assemblies about three months before Gulliver left the land of the Houyhnhnms. His master attended the Grand Assembly, where the horses went back to an old debate: whether or not to extinguish the Yahoos from the face of the earth. It was argued that they were the filthiest, noisiest and the most deformed animals which nature ever produced and they had to be watched constantly to keep them from mischief.

Also, Yahoos were not native to the land. A man and a woman had arrived one day, washed up on the shores of the island. Their numbers had increased to such an extent that the Houyhnhnms, to get rid of this evil, had hunted them down and killed the elders and tamed their children. Their evil nature had made all other animals hate them. They had not been exterminated because they were made to work for the Houyhnhnms. It was suggested that Yahoos be replaced by asses as work force.

Gulliver’s master spoke up and agreed with the speaker that the two original Yahoos came from over the-sea, because he had found one (Gulliver) who was a much better specimen of the Yahoo kind. Gulliver’s Master told his fellow horses that, in Gulliver’s land, Houyhnhnms were the servants and Yahoos were the rational animals.

He also informed them about the human practice of castrating horses to make them less aggressive. He suggested that the Houyhnhnms tried that method on young Yahoos of their own country. This way, the Houyhnhnms could make the Yahoos more docile, which meant they wouldn’t need to kill them all. In time, this would put an end to the whole species, without destroying life and, in the meantime, Houyhnhnms must breed asses, which, as they are in all respects more useful animals.

This was what Gulliver’s master told him of what passed in the Grand Assembly. He hid one fact which related personally to Gulliver and which resulted in misfortune in his life.

Gulliver then described further aspects of the Houyhnhnms’ society. The Houyhnhnms didn’t write anything down; they relied on oral records for their history. They also didn’t have much in the way of astronomy, except measures of months and years. They created excellent poetry about friendship and in praise of their athletes.

They had a sound knowledge of medicinal herbs, built simple houses and, usually, lived about seventy or seventy-five years, dying of old age, unless they had some kind of accident. They felt no sorrow about death, accepting it as a routine element of life. They had no writing system and no word to express anything evil. All of their words for something bad were connected to the Yahoos. So, a poorly built house was ‘ynholmhmrohlnw Yahoo’ and a stone that cut their feet, ‘ynlhmndwihlma Yahoo’.

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Summary of Gulliver’s Travels Part 4 Chapter 8

Summary of Gulliver’s Travels Part 4 Chapter 8

The narrator relates several particulars of the Yahoos, the great virtues of the Houyhnhnms, the education and exercise of their youth and their general assembly.

Gulliver wanted to observe the similarities between Yahoos and humans for himself, so he asked his master for permission to observe the Yahoos, which the master gave as long as Gulliver was always accompanied by a Houyhnhnm guard—the sorrel nag. The Yahoo children were agile, but they smelt bad. The Yahoos were strong but cowardly, stubborn, lying and deceitful.

By now, Gulliver had spent three years in the land of the Houyhnhnms and was ready to tell the readers a bit more about them. The Houyhnhnms did not understand the word ‘opinion’ truly, because they were totally devoted to reason and one could only have an opinion about something one did not know absolutely. It didn’t make sense to argue over something one couldn’t know.

The Houyhnhnms believed that one should respect other people’s ideas without trying to dominate with one’s own. They were equally good to their neighbours and strangers as they valued friendship above all else. They controlled the birth of foals to keep the land from becoming overpopulated. The Houyhnhnms did not believe in mixing races. So a Houyhnhnm would only marry another Houyhnhnm of the same colour.

The Houyhnhnms applied their rules of reason even to marriage, which was always arranged for a couple by their parents. Houyhnhnm couples were always faithful to each other. The Houyhnhnms believe in equality of education for the sexes, since it was not rational to leave half the species knowing nothing. Children were strictly disciplined, with a restricted grass diet and lots and lots of exercise. The Houyhnhnms had assemblies, representing the whole nation, every four years, where they checked in to make sure everyone had all the supplies they needed.

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Summary of Gulliver’s Travels Part 4 Chapter 7

Summary of Gulliver’s Travels Part 4 Chapter 7

The narrator’s great love of his native country is expressed. His master’s observations upon the constitution and administration of England, as described by the narrator, with parallel cases and comparisons. His master’s observations upon human nature are chronicled.

Impressed by the virtues of the Houyhnhnms, Gulliver decided to tell, freely and truthfully, as much as he could, about human beings. Gulliver had started to hate the Yahoos and had come to venerate the Houyhnhnms. He hoped to be able to stay among them for the rest of his life. Convinced by ‘a person of so acute a judgment’ as his master, who daily convinced Gulliver of a thousand faults in him that he had not perceived earlier, Gulliver sees in himself flaws that he had never considered infirmities. His master told him that he had considered all of Gulliver’s claims about his home country and had come to the conclusion that Gulliver’s people were not as different from the Yahoos as they might at first have seemed.

Gulliver’s Master reached the conclusion that the European Yahoos had only enough intelligence to make their natural corruption worse and to acquire new ones, which nature had not given them. By clipping their nails, cutting their hair, and generally growing soft, they had also deprived themselves of the natural protection the Yahoos of the Houyhnhnm Land had. Even though there were outward differences between Gulliver and the Yahoos in the land of the Houyhnhnms, their essential natures were the same: they hated each other more than other animals did and fought without a cause. The Yahoos of the land of the Houyhnhnms also loved shiny rocks, which none of the Houyhnhnms understood, but which seemed to be a trait common to the whole human species.

Yahoos were the only animals in Houyhnhnm land who fell sick. Gulliver’s Master did admit that European Yahoos had a lot more art than their local Yahoos. Still, their natures seemed essentially identical: for example, Yahoos of the land of the Houyhnhnm also liked to choose a leader, usually the weakest and the ugliest of the group. He also noted that Yahoos were unique in having both males and females fighting equally violently with one another. Gulliver’s Master continued that Yahoos loved filth more than most animals. Also, Yahoos sometimes fell into bad moods or thought they were sick for no reason; the only cure for this hypochondria was hard work.

He described all the flaws of the Yahoos, principally detailing their greed and selfishness. He admitted that Gulliver’s humans had different systems of learning, law, government and art but said that their natures were not different from those of the Yahoos.

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Summary of Gulliver’s Travels Part 4 Chapter 6

Summary of Gulliver’s Travels Part 4 Chapter 6

A continuation of the state of England under Queen Anne is given. The character of a first minister of state in European courts is described.

The discussion then turned to money and gold. The Houyhnhnm was unable to understand why human beings lied or injured fellow beings. Gulliver tried to explain the concept of greed and exploitation to his Master. He told him that when a human being had got a great store of money, he was able to purchase whatever he had a mind to; the finest clothing, the most luxurious houses, great tracts of land, and the best food. For this, the rich man enjoyed the fruit of the poor man’s labour, and the latter were a thousand to one in proportion to the former; that the bulk of people were forced to live miserably, by labouring every day for small wages, to make a few live plentifully.

He talked of the absurdities of importing and exporting, sending away necessities such as agricultural products and bringing in luxuries. He claimed that England grew enough food to support its population comfortably, but because they wanted luxury, they had to export what they grew in exchange for things that they didn’t need. A female Yahoo couldn’t get her breakfast without someone having circled the world three times for the tea she drank and the china cup she drank it from. This luxury of rich food led the English to diseases, the likes of which the Houyhnhnms had never seen. Another group of people had arisen to treat these diseases—to profit off them—using fake potions to make people cleanse their insides. This group of people, the doctors, made so much profit on disease that they encouraged people to think that they were sick even when they weren’t.

While discussing political thought, Gulliver accidentally mentioned a minister of state. At that Gulliver’s master wanted to know what a ‘Minister of State’ was. Gulliver told him that the First Minister of State was someone totally without any emotion besides ambition for money, power and titles. The chief qualifications for the First Minister of State were: to know how to get rid of an inconvenient relative; to undermine his predecessor; to shout endlessly against corruption at court.

Gulliver felt a wise prince was one who had corrupt ministers because they were given to flattery and bowed to the will and desire of their master. These ministers kept themselves in power, by bribing the majority of a senate or great council. They made laws to save themselves from being called to account on retiring. And they retired from office rich with the loot they had plundered from the nation. Chief Ministers of State bribed and intimidated others to follow their orders.

Gulliver’s tirade continued. He told his master that the nobility in his country were educated to be lazy and ignorant and that there was frequent mixing of classes that damaged noble blood lines. Despite their total uselessness, they still had authority over all lower-born people in the country.

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Summary of Gulliver’s Travels Part 4 Chapter 5

Summary of Gulliver’s Travels Part 4 Chapter 5

The narrator, at his master’s command, informs him of the state of England and the causes of war among the princes of Europe. The narrator begins to explain the English constitution.

Over the course of two years, Gulliver described the state of affairs in Europe. Gulliver spoke to his Houyhnhnm master about the English Revolution and the war with France, in which, probably, about a million Yahoos were killed, approximately a hundred or more cities taken, and five times as many ships burnt or sunk.

Gulliver was asked to explain the causes of war, and he did his best to provide reasons for war. He spoke about the ambition of princes who wanted more land or people to rule over. Sometimes, corrupt ministers led the country into a war, in order to draw attention away from their evil administration. Gulliver talked at length about the bloody wars fought for ‘religious reasons’. Likewise, he spoke about the wars fought over reasons as trivial as what is the best colour or length for a coat. He told the Houyhnhnm about colonization and wars over colonies.

Sometimes, a prince declared war for fear of an attack. Wars were fought to dominate a weak neighbour; to subdue a strong one; to plunder a country that had been all but ruined by famine or a natural disaster; to take over a country in order to have its natural riches. The trade of a soldier, maintained Gulliver, was held to be highly prestigious. He talked of mercenary soldiers who fought for money. At times people murdered each other, out of jealousy, for a government post. An invading prince, Gulliver said, would conquer a country, kill half the population, and enslave the rest, all in the holy name of civilization.

Gulliver’s master then told Gulliver that, with all of this warlike nature, it was lucky that humans couldn’t do too much damage to each other because their mouths weren’t designed for easy biting. Gulliver explained the weapons of war and the damage that humans could do to each other. He started describing the horrors of the battlefield when his Master commanded him to silence. He commented that, although his Yahoos were abominable, English Yahoos were far worse because they used their intelligence to magnify, yet excuse, their vices.

The Houyhnhnm then asked Gulliver about England’s legal system. He wondered how laws could be bad or ruin men, when they were designed to save them. Gulliver then explained the legal system in some detail, criticizing lawyers severely in the process. He explained how some lawyers were trained from babyhood to defend the wrong side. So, they had no sense of justice. What was more, judges often preferred to agree with what appeared obviously untrue. So, people with right on their side might only win if they pretended that right was wrong.

Gulliver talked about precedent: anything that had been done before may legally be done again. Lawyers liked to split hairs and talked about irrelevant details to distract from the simple facts of all their cases. They had their own private way of speaking, which excluded ordinary people from either understanding of making laws. People in power could decide to convict others accused of crimes against the state because they had influence over the judges. Gulliver’s master commented that it was a shame that they spent so much time training lawyers to be lawyers and not teaching them to be knowledgeable and wise.

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Summary of Gulliver’s Travels Part 3 Chapter 9

Summary of Gulliver’s Travels Part 3 Chapter 9

The narrator returns to Maldonada. He sails to the kingdom of Luggnagg. The narrator is confined. He is sent to the court. The manner of his admittance and the king’s great levity to his subjects are described.

Gulliver finally left Glubbdubdrib and headed for Luggnagg. He arrived in Luggnagg on 21 April 1708. Gulliver started speaking to a customs officer in Luggnagg, where he pretended to be Dutch, since Gulliver’s eventual destination was Japan and the Japanese would only allow Dutch traders access to their harbours.

Gulliver was detained in Luggnagg by red tape, so he hired an interpreter who spoke both Luggnagg and Balnibarbi and answered frequent questions about his travels and the countries he had seen.

Eventually, Gulliver was granted audience with the King of Luggnagg and was given lodging and an allowance. He learned that subjects were expected to lick the floor as they approached the king and that the king sometimes got rid of opponents in the court by coating the floor with poison.

Gulliver exchanged ritual greetings with the king and then spoke to him through his interpreter. The king really liked Gulliver: he gave him some money and let him stay at the palace. Gulliver lived in Luggnagg for three months, but decided that, overall, it would be safer to go home to his wife and children.