Merchant of Venice Workbook Answers
Act IV Scene 1
Extract 1
(i) This scene takes place in a court of justice in Venice. Before this extract, the Duke has described the hard-hearted adversary as an inhuman wretch without pity, totally lacking in mercy.
(ii) The rigorous course referred to in the extract is the demand for the pound of flesh from Antonio's body by Shylock, as the penalty for the forfeiture of the bond. Since Shylock remains obstinate, Antonio says that no lawful means can save him from his enemy.'
(iii)
(a) I shall suffer his cruelty and anger with patience.
(b) I am prepared to face his cruelty and anger with a calm spirit.
(iv) The extract shows the Duke's annoyance with Shylock. He tells Shylock that it is everyone's opinion that Shylock intends to keep up the show of severity and hatred until the last stage of the case. Then he will relent and not only show kindness and pity but will agree to abandon his claim and forego a portion of the original sum borrowed by Antonio.
(v) At this juncture, Shylock is defiant and insistent on the penalty for the forfeiture of the bond, i.e., a pound of Antonio's flesh. Antonio the denial of the bond, i.e., a pound of Antonio's flesh. On the other hand, Antonio is resigned to his fate and is ready to face the consequences of the forfeiture calmly. He believes that no lawful means can save him from Shylock's sinister intentions.
Extract 2
(i) The Duke expects Shylock to mitigate his stand towards forfeiture after considering Antonio's heavy losses that have come so thick and fast. The Duke expects that Shylock will be moved by human tenderness and sympathy.
(ii) 'A moiety of the principal' means a part of the principal. The Duke requests to have mercy on Antonio since his losses have been so heavy and have come so thick and fast upon him lately that they have been enough to ruin a noble merchant. They are enough to draw pity and sympathy for his condition from anyone.
(iii)
(a) So accumulated on him. It refers to the many losses that be fell on Antonio so thick and fast.
(b) Who have never been taught the feelings
of human kindness. The Duke says that Antonio's losses are enough to draw pity and sympathy for his condition, from hearts as hard as brass and as rough as stones and from uncultured Turks and Tartars, who have never been taught the feelings of human kindness.
(iv) Turks are the people of Turkey and Tartars are the people of Tartary. They were considered uncultured and having no feelings of human kindness. They were considered to be stubborn. The Duke says that even the Turks and Tartars, who have never been schooled in acts of kindness and love, will feel pity and sympathy for Antonio's plight.
(v)Shylock refuses to have mercy on Antonio because he wants to take revenge on him. He tells the Duke that he has already explained to the Duke his intentions. Moreover, he has taken an oath by his holy Sabbath, to see that the terms of the forfeit are carried out.
Extract 3
(i) Shylock is answering the Duke's suggestion that he expects a gentle answer from him. Shylock says that he will not give an exact reason. He goes on to state that he has undivided whims like other men. If his house is infested with rats, he may spend ten thousand ducats to have them poisoned. There are people who cannot tolerate the sight of an open-mouthed roasted pig, sight of a cat or the stream of a bag-pipe. In all these there is no definite reason for hating these things. It is determined by a strong whim or mood, which can overpower any reason.
(ii)
(a) This means offending others, after being offended. Shylock speak of people behaving according to their whims. These people stoop low by offending others and expressing their dislike.
(b) This means a deep-rooted hatred. This refers to Shylock's deep and definite dislike and hatred of Antonio.
(iii) Bassanio reacts to what Shylock says by calling him a hard-hearted creature. He further says that his answer is no excuse for his merciless actions.
(iv) If Antonio is shown mercy by the Duke against the wishes of Shylock, it will expose the justice system of the state that allows right and privileges of trade for foreigners. Besides, foreigners will lose their confidence in the just and impartial administration of law in Venice and this will adversely affect its trade and prosperity.
(v) This scene known as the Trial Scene is the central scene or the climax of the play. The scene becomes tense when Shylock insists on his legal right though the Duke and Bassanio try to reason with him to show mercy and compassion. The stage is set for a legal battle between Shylock and the rest.
Extract 4
(i) Just before the given extract an argument takes place between Bassanio and Shylock. Bassanio asks Shylock whether a man is obliged to seek the death of everything he dislikes. In reply, Shylock wants to know when a man hates a thing intensely, why should he not kill it willingly. Bassanio further argues that a first offence does not arouse so fierce a hatred. Shylock argues again with another question. He asks Bassanio whether he would give a serpent a second chance to sting him.
(ii) In the extract Antonio tells Bassanio that it is useless to plead with the Jew to show mercy. He tells him if he is hoping to soften his heart, he might as well stand on the sea-shore and ask the tide not to rise so high as usual. Secondly, he may ask the wolf why he made the mother sheep mourn for the lamb he has devoured.
(iii)
(a) It means reduce its mutual height, meaning to ask the ocean tides not to rise.
(b) It means to sway their high top. It refers to the swaying of the high tops of the pine trees on the mountains.
(iv) Shylock does not give a definite reason for his hatred for Antonio. He goes on to state that he has individual whims like other men.He says that these people have no well-grounded reason to offer as to why they dislike various objects, like a gaping pig, a harmless domestic cat and a bagpipe. Shylock says that he bears just such a deep-rooted hatred and a definite dislike for Antonio.
(v) Shylock tells Bassanio that if he were to double it and double it again three times over, he would still refuse to accept thirty six thousand ducats. He wants only the penalty to be paid.
Extract 5
(i) In the first line of the extract 'They' refers to the slaves of the Christians. The beds of the slaves are referred here.
(ii) This means to give the enslaved people rich food to eat. This refers to Shylock's complaint that Christians don't provide their slaves the rich food complaint that Christians don't offer their slaves the rich food they themselves take and treat them as they please since they are their property.
(iii) Shylock says that the pound of flesh which he claims from Antonio has been bought by him at a high price. As per the bond agreement, at the forfeiture, Shylock is entitled to only a pound of Antonio's flesh. He will lose his three thousand ducats he had given.
(iv) Shylock thinks that since he has bought the pound of flesh at a high price, it is his and therefore, insists on having it. He demands justice from the Duke as per the bond agreement.
(v) Decrees of Venice guarantee equal rights and privileges to the citizens and foreigners. If Shylock were refused justice, the justice system of Venice would be exposed to disrepute and adversely affect Venice's trade and prosperity.
Extract 6
(i) Bassanio tells Antonio not to lose hope and have courage. He is ready to give his own flesh to greedy Shylock and his whole body too, before he will allow him to lose one drop of Antonio's blood on his behalf.
(ii) Antonio says that he is like a sick sheep in the herd only fit to be taken out from the herd for slaughter. He says that he is the most fit or suitable person to die.
(iii) Epitaph is an inscription written on a dead man's tomb. Antonio talks about the epitaph now since he is sure that he has to die as the Jew was determined to have his bond.
(iv) To save Antonio, Bassanio offers to pay Shylock six thousand ducats, double the amount of money borrowed from Shylock.
(v) Nerissa, dressed as a lawyers' clerk came to the scene immediately after Antonio's speech. She came to deliver a letter to the Duke from Dr. Bellario of Padua.
Extract 7
(i) When Shylock insists that he wants only his bond and is sharpening his knife to cut the flesh from the man, who has failed to pay the debt, Gratiano reacts violently to his remarks. He says that Shylock is not sharpening his knife on the sole of his shoe, but on his soul and no metal, not even the axe of a hangman can have half the sharpness of his envy.
(ii) Pythagoras was a Greek philosopher and mathematician (BC 540-510). He taught the doctrine of the transmigration of souls. According to this theory, the souls of some human beings pass, after death, into animals and those of animals into some men.
(iii)
(a) It means to lose faith in my own religion (Christianity). It means that he tends to believe Pythagoras' Theory of Transmigration.
(b) It means that when he was hanged for man-laughter the soul of a wolf entered his body at birth.
(iv) The spirit of the wicked wolf entered into Shylock's body when he was in his mother's womb. The wolf was killed for man's slaughter.
(v) It can be concluded that Shylock has the spirit of the wolf because all his inclinations are wolf-like — he is greedy, bloodthirsty and rapacious. Certainly the spirit dwelling in his breast must have formerly been that of a wolf when its former body was slain, it took up its abode in Shylock's body.
Shylock laughs at Gratiano's outburst. He says that he is injured his lungs. He says it is a mere waste of breath unless, curses can make his bond illegal. He sarcastically tells Gratiano to try to getmore wisdom or his understanding will soon be beyond the hope, of any
improvement.
Extract 8
(i) The word 'strained' means forced. Portia tells that the very characteristic of mercy is that there can be no compulsion in its exercise. It drops as freely as the gentle rain from heaven on the earth below. It is beyond the power of man and the law to compel a man to be merciful. Mercy is a free voluntary action.
(ii) Portia says that mercy carries with it a two-fold power and a double blessing. It benefits both the giver and the receiver. It is not a attribute of weakness. She says its effect is the greatest and noblest . When exercised by the great and the powerful, though the law gives them absolute power to enforce justice.
(iii) Sceptre is a rod which a king holds in his hand, symbolising his royal power. The king's sceptre is the outward symbol of his earthly power. It gives him awful majesty and fills his subjects with dread and fear of him.
(iv)
(a) Portia says that mercy sheds upon a royal king a brighter lusture than the crown he wears.
(b) Portia says that mercy is far above the earthly power of a king symbolised by his sceptre.
(v) Portia says that if strict justice were to be meted out to all, no one could enter heaven. We all pray to God for mercy. We pray to God to forgive us our trespasses that we may forgive those who trespass against us. Hence Portia requests Shylock not to press for bare justice in the case but to forego his legal rights and to reason justice with mercy.
Extract 9
(i) 'This bond is forfeit' means that the agreement has been broken and the penalty must be paid. Now the bond is forfeit since Antonio has failed to pay back the three thousand ducats he had borrowed from
Shylock.
(ii) It means when it is paid according to the terms of the bond. It refers to Portia's suggestion to accept three times the money and tear the agreement. Shylock says that the bond can be torn only when its terms are carried out.
(iii) Shylock flatters Portia by calling her a worthy judge. He says that her learned explanation and just decision shows that her knowledge of learned explanation and just decision shows that her understanding of law is very sound. Earlier, Shylock compared her to Daniel, a wise Jewish prophet. He was a wise judge like Solomon. Daniel saved a
beautiful woman Susannah from wicked elders by cross-examining them separately. In this way, he made justice to triumph and saved Susannah. So, Shylock is comparing Portia for her wisdom, with Daniel the prophet, for she refuses to break the law on the ground that bad precedents will be created in the future.
(iv) When Portia offered him thrice the due amount for the first time, Shylock told her that he has sworn an oath before God to have nothing but the bond. He cannot commit a sin of breaking an oath and not even for the whole wealth of Venice will he break his oath.
(v) Shylock was confident that no one could take away his right to forfeiture since the strict exposition of the law of Venice permits it. Portia, the lawyer, has already stated that the law cannot be altered to save Antonio as it would set forth bad precedents in the administration of justice. Shylock's deep-rooted hatred for Antonio and his determination to have his bond as per the agreement are shown in this extract. This is because he declares "There is no power in the tongue of man to alter me: I stay here on my bond."
Extract 10
(i) Antonio is speaking these words to Bassanio. 'Grieve not that I am fallen to this for you -- in these words, Antonio asks Bassanio not to worry that this fate has befallen on him for Bassanio's sake.
(ii) The normal custom of the Fortune is to allow a man in misfortune to live to see with his hollow eyes and wrinkled face, the ruin which has come upon him and to endure an old age of hardships and sufferings. 'Lingering penance' refers to prolonged suffering of witnessing one's own ruin and experiencing misery.
(iii) Antonio thinks that 'Fortune' is kind to him by mercifully letting him escape a prolonged suffering of his misfortune by an early death.
(iv) Antonio requests Bassanio to convey his greetings to his noble wife and to tell her the manner of Antonio's death. He also tells Bassanio to tell her of his true and faithful friendship for him and to speak well of him after his death.
(v) Bassanio must not regret that Antonio has to face misfortune because of him. Antonio will not regret that he is making the sacrifice for Bassanio's sake. He is willing to pay the penalty freely and with all his heart.
He is ready to give up his wife and everything else on earth, all if by so doing, he can persuade Shylock to spare Antonio's life. Bassanio is ready to sacrifice everything he has to save Antonio from the evil designs of Shylock. This offer reflects Bassanio's deep love and friendship for Antonio.
Extract 11
(i) Just before the given extract, Portia interprets the law to Shylock. She tells him that in the bond there is no mention of even the smallest drop of blood. The words clearly say 'a pound of flesh. She tells Shylock to take the forfeit in this agreement which is just a pound of flesh. However, in the process of cutting if he sheds a drop of blood of a citizen, all his wealth and possessions will be forfeited to the government, according to the law.
(ii) Portia tells Shylock that he will get justice as he pleads so insistently for it. But it may be that the justice will be stricter than he will wish for.
(iii) Gratiano is happy as the tide has changed. He is taunting Shylock and throws back at Shylock his words in praise of Portia's wisdom. He calls Portia a most honourable judge. Gratiano tells Shylock to notice that Portia is the most wise judge.
(iv) Portia stops Bassanio from giving the money to Shylock. She states that Shylock shall have the justice he has asked for to the fullest extent. She asks Bassanio not to be in such a hurry. Shylock can have nothing now, but the bond.
(v) After the given extract, Portia highlights another loophole in the bond. She tells Shylock to be careful to cut neither more or less than an exact pound of flesh. If he fails in cutting that amount precisely and if he cuts more or less than an exact pound, if it weighs lighter or heavier by even a twentieth part of a small grain, or if the beam of scales inclines to one side only by the breadth of a hair, he will suffer the penalty of death and all his possessions will be confiscated.
Extract 12
(i) 'Pardon' referred to here is the Duke's granting Shylock his life. The pardon is granted under the condition that half of his riches will now belong to Antonio, the merchant he plotted against. The other half would go to the state, but if he repents and humbly begs for mercy, the state may just impose a fine instead of taking the full amount. The Duke decrees that Shylock must abide by the conditions put forward by Antonio; otherwise he will withdraw the forgiveness he has extended to him.
(ii) The two conditions Antonio imposed on Shylock are: first, he draws up a will leaving half of his wealth, to Lorenzo and Jessica after his death. Second, that he becomes a Christian.
(iii) The Duke appears in this scene as a just and kind administrator of justice. Initially, he persuades Shylock to have pity on Antonio for his heavy business losses. When Shylock insists on the penalty for the forfeiture of the bond, the Duke follows the course of justice.
When Portia points out the penalty for conspiring against a citizen of Venice, he pardons Shylock and grants him his life.
(iv) If Gratiano were the judge, he would have constituted a jury of twelve people, who would sentence Shylock to death and will have him hanged on the gallows. Gratiano here creates some comic effects with his sharp-witted statements. He says that when Shylock is baptised, he will have two godfathers. Further, he says that instead of the baptismal font, he would have reached him to the gallows.
(v) Shylock is a frustrated man at this stage. All his hopes of taking revenge on Antonio have failed. He begs to be allowed to go home since he is not well. We feel pity for Shylock as he makes a sad exit with the crowd ridiculing him at the door of the court. At the same time, we feel happy that his evil designs did not succeed.
Extract 13
(i) Portia says that one who is well pleased with one's work is sufficiently rewarded. She is well-pleased that she has saved them from the clutches of Shylock and considers this as a sufficient reward. Bassanio insists that Portia should take something as a gift or a token of their gratitude. He tells her to grant him two favours, first not to refuse his request and second to forgive his persistence.
(ii) Portia asks Bassanio the ring he is wearing as a token of gratitude.
(iii) Bassanio is unwilling to part with the ring; He says it is a shame to give the ring as it is far from valuable. He cannot really think of allowing her to accept such a paltry gift.
(iv) Bassanio was hesitant to comply to Portia's request to give her the ring he was wearing because it was a present from his wife. Further, his wife had made him swear never to part with the ring. He offers to give Portia the most valuable ring available in Venice.
(v) Portia remarks that many men who do not wish to give a present, give such a reason. She adds that if his wife is a sensible person and understands what Portia has done to earn the ring, she will soon relent and will not be angry for long with him.
Antonio tells Bassanio that he should let Portia have the ring. He tells him that the promise he made to his wife should be outweighed on him that the promise he made to his wife should be outweighed on this occasion by Portia's merits and the love he bears for Antonio.Hence he changes his mind and parts with the ring.