The Merchant of Venice: A Detailed Question and Answer Exploration

This document provides a detailed question-and-answer analysis of Shakespeare's 'Merchant of Venice.' It covers the play act by act, delving into character motivations, plot developments, and thematic elements. Act 1 introduces Antonio's melancholy and Bassanio's need for funds to woo Portia, as well as the introduction of Shylock and his animosity towards Antonio. Act 2 expands on the plot with Bassanio's journey, Jessica's elopement, and the suitors for Portia. Acts 3 and 4 focus on the bond between Antonio and Shylock, Portia's disguise, and the trial scene where Portia's wit saves Antonio. Act 5 concludes with the resolution of the various relationships and the comedic elements. The document examines key scenes, character interactions, and the significance of various plot points, offering a complete guide to understanding the play. The provided text serves as a study guide for students looking to understand the play in detail.

RUNNING HEAD: MERCHANT OF VENICE
Title: Question and Answers of Merchant of Venice
Name of Student:
Name of University:
Author Note:

1MERCHENT OF VENICE
Act 1.
1. In the first act, Antonio tells his friends that of late, he had been feeling depressed and is
unaware of the reason for the same. From their conversation, it can b figured out that Antonio is
a Venetian merchant who has earned his fortune by trading in foreign lands. His ships, full of
commodities often go out in ventures. It is also learnt that, though being a successful merchant,
Antonio was quite aloof and thoughtful.
2. Bassanio was the close friend of Antonio, who had his reputation of spending money lavishly.
He used to spend his money mostly on his extravagant lifestyles and in his leisurely affairs. He
told Antonio, that though he had already owed much money from Antonio, still he requires some
money to marry his love interest, Portia.
3. Bassanio is interested in Portia because of her beauty and wealth. He chalked out that, by
marrying Portia, he would not only be able to win his love interest but also will be able to earn a
great fortune as Portia is the only heiress of her wealthy father’s property.
4. Portia’s father’s will stipulated that the suitors who came to marry Portia had to choose
between the three chests, one of gold, one of lead, and the other of silver, the one that will
contain her portrait. The suitor who would be able to guess the right chest will win her hand.
5. The suitors who came to marry Portia were a Napolitan Prince, a Palentine Court, an English
Baron, a French nobleman, a Scottish Lord, and the nephew to Duke of Saxony. According to
Portia, the suitors had various hilarious faults. The Neapolitan Prince was too obsessive about his
possessions of the vehicle; the Palentine court was very serious and gloomy. The Englishman
had no idea about other languages, and the German suitor was addictive to alcohol.

2MERCHENT OF VENICE
6. it is indicated in act 1 that Portia had previously met Bassanio. In her talks with Nerissa, she
confesses her admiration toward Bassanio and feels that he was the worth of all to be her suitor.
It was said that Bassanio and Portia had met once before.
7. Shylock was a typical Jew moneylender who detested the Roman Merchants. Moreover, he
did not like Antonio’s way of money lending in a lenient manner. Throughout the text, there are
pieces of evidence of shylock ventilating his wrath towards Antonio, particularly because
Antonio was a Christian. So he refused to have dinner with him.
8. Christians of the Shakespearean Era believed that interest should not be charged on monitory
loans as it will become usury, which is a sin in Christian terms.
9. shylock tells the story of Jacob and Laban in order to justify his taking of interest. In exchange
for his job, Laban promised Jacob his lambs however, it was nullified since the ewes rarely
produced blemished lambs.
Act 2.
1. Gobbo is the servant of shylock, who has been attributed to the characteristics of the clown in
the play. His trouble was that his master was a Jew. Gobbo amused the audience by playing
pranks on his father by giving him various directions and telling him that Gobbo is dead.
2. Bassanio burrowed money from Antonio, who, in turn, lent money from Shylock with a risky
agreement. However, we see Bassanio spend that money in merrymaking. As he met Gratiano,
they decided to mark their departure from the town by partying and celebrating.
3. Bassanio met Gratiano at the way who asked Bassanio to accompany him in the journey. He
said that he will tame his wild nature in the way and will not bother Bassanio.

3MERCHENT OF VENICE
Jessica gave Lancelot a letter to hand it over to Lorenzo, who was supposed to be the guest of
Bassanio that night. As a result of that errand, it was clear that Jessica planned to elope with
Lorenzo that night, and the letter was the confirmation of the same. As Lorenzo received the
letter, he tells Lancelot to inform her that they will execute the plan.
As Lorenzo called out for Jessica, the audience saw him dressed as a man. She dressed like that
to avoid chances of her being exposed for she was eloping with her beloved. He tricked his
father, Shylock, and other men in the street. Shylock became furious at this incident. However,
his main concern was her daughter eloping with a Christian and taking his money. The audience
gets to know Shylock's reaction through the description of Shylock’s reaction through the speech
of Salerio and Solanio.
6. Portia detested the Prince of Morocco’s boasting about his popularity among women. There is
also a slight hint in her aside that she did not like his dark complexion. She also did not prefer
the Prince of Aragon because of his arrogance and ignorance.
7. The three Sals were discussing the rumour that Antonio’s ship may have been wrecked. In the
meantime, the Jew, a friend of Antonio, came and reported that Jessica cannot be found and may
have eloped with Lorenzo.
8. Gold-“Who chooseth me shall gain what many men desire”
Silver- “Who chooseth me shall get as much as he deserves.”
Lead-“who chooseth me must give and hazard all he had”
9. Portia ensured that Bassanio would choose the right cascade by playing music where all the
rhymes rhymed with Lead. Thus, Bassanio got the hint and choose the lead cascade and thereby

4MERCHENT OF VENICE
finding Portia’s picture. Bassanio revealed his wit by speaking directly to the audience and
feigning his ignorance about the cascades.
10. Gratiano was in love with Portia’s maid Nerissa and wants to marry her. The suit between
Bassanio and Portia paved their way.
11. Portia handed her ring to Bassanio as a token of love and asked him always to wear it and
never to lose it.
12. Bassanio had to leave Portia to repay the money he had lent from Antonio so that the latter
do not face any harassment from Shylock. This reveals Bassanio to be a loyal friend.
13. Portia and Nerissa were worried about their husbands’ security and informed Lorenzo their
intention of staying at a local monastery to pray. Their actual plan was to camouflage themselves
as men and leave for Venice to help their husbands.
14. Portia called for her servant Balthasar and sent him to her cousin Doctor Bellario to bring
whatever Ballario would be able to supply her for their travel to Venice.
Act 4
1. With the opening of the act, the duke made Shylock an appeal to pardon Antonio and forgive
his debt. Bassanio, in the meantime, came up with the proposal of offering Shylock 6000 ducats
as a means of repaying the loan. Shylock did not agree to any of their appeals by saying that he
was told to be given 6 times more than 6000 and that he had sworn by his Sabbath. He will take
the flesh from Antonio.

5MERCHENT OF VENICE
2. Antonio reveals his hatred towards the Jews by telling Bassanio that his efforts are in vain
because a man like Shylock will never step down from his malicious intentions. Such behavior
is, however, obvious for Antonio in that situation.
3. Bellario was Portia’s cousin-doctor. His name has already taken in Act 3 of the play. The duke
summoned Dr. Bellario to decide on the matter of cutting flesh from Antonio.
4. While Salarino went to fetch Bellario and Bassanio was trying to encourage Antonio Shylock
was whetting his knife with the anticipation that the judgment will be in his favor.
5. Nerissa entered the courtroom dressed like a lawyer’s clerk, and Portia came into the court
dressed like a man pretending to be a doctor named Balthasar. Gratiano and Bassanio were
unable to recognize their wives because of their disguise as men.
6.In the argument between Portia and shylock, the main difference between Judaism and
Christianity that has been argued by various scholars. It is said that Jewishness is essentially an
internal condition, and Shylock is a Jew not because of his birth but because of the way he acts.
Antonio’s mistreatment towards Shylock thus violates the explanation of the Jewishness.
7. The choice of Bassanio of parting with the ring for Antonio's benefit made Portia infuriated,
and she chastizes Bassanio for loving his friend more than he loves Portia. This typical husband-
wife banter served as comic relief in the scene.
8. Portia skilfully turned the table by saying that the bond promises to take away Antonio's flesh
and not a drop of blood. According to the laws of Venice, if anybody sheds a Venetian’s blood,
the woods and lands of the person will be confiscated by the state. This stopped Shylock to gain
his “justice”.

6MERCHENT OF VENICE
10. Antonio accepted to ‘forgive” the confiscation of wealth from Shylock and asked the duke to
let shylock keep for himself half of his wealth.
11. Portia, in order to test his husband’s trustworthiness, asked for the gloves and the
engagement that she herself gave to Bassanio and ordered never to part with. Bassanio, however,
initially refused to give her that.
12. Bassanio initially refused to give a ring telling Portia whom he still knew to be Balthasar that
it was his engagement ring and is very precious to him. Ultimately, when Gratiano brought the
gift to Portia, Nerissa also wanted to check her husband’s trustworthiness and decided to ask for
the ring. She asked Gratiano to lead her to Shylock’s house.
13. The act ends with the defeat of Shylock and his total embarrassment as Shakespeare wanted
to show the fall of prejudiced and extreme toxic religion believers. The issue is relevant today as
the extremism in religious beliefs affected the relationship between people.
Act 5
1. The opening of the fifth act marks a stark difference between the gloomy atmosphere of the
ending of the fourth act. The comparison of Jessica and Lorenzo’s love affair with those of
famous love stories, which were doomed, make room for the comic element in the story.
2. Portia and Nerissa are seen in the act to remind their husbands of the value of marriage
constantly. Regarding the ring case, Portia reminded Bassanio that if he breaks the vows
regarding their ring, Portia has the full authority to violate the marriage contract.

7MERCHENT OF VENICE
3. Portia and Nerissa confronted their men regarding the ring and chided them for breaking up
with their vows for the sake of their friend. In her play with words, Portia casually told Bassanio
that she has the full authority to violate the marriage contract and can bed other men.
4. In the Shakespearean era, the marriage ring symbolized holiness and sanctity. It also
represents the holy promises of marriage.
5. The ending of the play showcases Shakespeare’s normal ending of the comedy by creating a
happy ending and involving the marriage of the unmarried characters. Shakespearean comedies
always focus mainly on the resolve of the Apollonian and Dionysian values and reunification.
Merchant of Venice pertains to these characteristics. However, the non-inclusion of Antonio in
the rich and merriment of Belmont marks a difference and shift from the natural comedy.
6. the three plots in the plays are
a. the love story of Bassanio and Portia
b. The love story of Lorenzo and Jessica
c. The rivalry between Antonio and Shylock.
7. The three Sals and Tubal the Jew were the stock characters in the play. They are the
bystanders in the play through whose eyes the audiences get to know about various incidents.
Had it been a novel, the readers could have read the details provided by the author. Since it is a
play, the audiences are made aware of the main characters.
8. Some of the famous lines from the play are:
“ In sooth I know not why I am so sad” 1.1.1

8MERCHENT OF VENICE
“God made him and therefore let him pass for a man” 1.2.59
“the Devil can site Scripture for his purpose” 1.3.99
“Young in limbs, in judgement old” 2.7.
Bassanio’s affection for Portia Gratiano’s affection for nerissa
1. Portia was beautiful Nerissa was also very beautiful
2. she was wealthy She being the chambermaid of Portia was also
witty
3. Portia has also shown interest in Bassanio Nerissa also loved Gratiano
4. Portia was the only heiress of her father’s wealth Nerissa was also witty and faithful
5.her humility and femininity She was loyal to her mistress and was graceful as
well

9MERCHENT OF VENICE
6. her compassionate nature She helped in Portia’s task skilfully.
Portia was an embodiment of beauty and wit. Her essential compassionate nature and her
wisdom at the same time, her ready wit, will attract any person.
Nerissa also is witty and graceful, and she is loyal to Portia and in her love as well. These
attributes also make Nerissa a beautiful character.
The penalty for the suitors who would choose the wrong casket was that he would never
be able to propose any woman for marriage.
Shylock as a Jew:
1. he is of the Jewish origin by birth
2. he visited Lincoln center, the Jewish Ghetto.
3. he was referred to as “ a kind of devil,” “the devil in the likeness of Jew etc.
4. throughout the play, he had been rarely referred by name. He is always known as “the Jew.”
5. the allusion of his intention of killing Antonio, the Christian refers to as the murder of Jesus in
the hand of the Jew
Match your Men:
1. Rese Witherspoon
2. Johnny Depp

10MERCHENT OF VENICE
3. Kirk Douglas.
4. justin Biber
5. shia La Beouf.
6. Beyonce
7. Janet Jackson.
Antonio as a friend:
1. he did not think twice before lending money to Bassanio.
2. he never asked for repayment even if he knew that Basannio spends those lavishly.
3. he did not hesitate to sign the obnoxious deed with Shylock.
4. He was only worried about the marriage of Bassanio.
5. he asked shylock to keep half of his wealth.
6. he helped Lorenzo and Jessica in their elopement.
7. he made secure the future of Lorenzo and Jessica by forcing shylock to give them their share
of the property.
Portia as a powerhouse;
1. she was beautiful and wealthy and gracious in nature.
2. she had a pearl of wisdom which saved Antonio.

11MERCHENT OF VENICE
3. Portia loved Bassanio without paying heed to his financial strength.
4. she was witty and articulate enough in defending Antonio.
5. she was diligent in her task and did thorough homework for her case.