English Summary

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The Merchant of Venice Act 4 Scene 2 Summary Workbook Answers

The Merchant of Venice Act 4 Scene 2 Summary

The scene opens in a street of Venice. Portia sends Nerissa to look for Shylock’s house so that the deed can be signed which gives Lorenzo and Jessica Shylock’s property. Gratiano then enters the scene presenting Bassanio’s ring to Portia. Nerissa also demands for Gratiano’s ring which he gives her thinking that the clerk deserves a gift as much as the lawyer (Portia). Now both the ladies have their husband’s rings. Portia then asks Gratiano to help Nerissa find Shylock’s house. The women plan to reach Belmont a day before their husbands can reach therefore they decline the dinner invitation.

The Merchant of Venice Act 4 Scene 2 Summary Word Meanings

1. this deed – the document in which he promises to make Lorenzo his heir
2. upon more advice – having thought more about the matter
3. thou may’st – you can
4. warrant – assure
5. old – a lot of
6. out them – put them to shame
7. tarry – wait.

The Merchant of Venice Act 4 Scene 2 Summary Questions and Answers

1. Portia :
Inquire the Jew’s house out, give him this deed,
And let him sign it We’ll away tonight,
And be a day before our husbands home :
This deed will be well welcome to Lorenzo.

Question 1.
Who are the two people in conversation? Who is the Jew? Why are they looking for his house?
Answer:
The two people in the conversation are Portia, dressed as a lawyer and Nerissa, dressed as her clerk. Both are in the garb of men. The Jew is the money lender, Shylock, who lends money on interest and is an unfeeling man. Since he has lost the case against Antonio he must sign a deed for which they are looking for his house.

Question 2.
What is in the deed? What brought about this deed?
Answer:
Shylock cannot cut a pound of flesh from Antonio’s body without shedding a drop of blood hence, he has no choice but to let go of his bond and accept the decision of the court. According to the law of Venice, half of Shylock’s property would go to the state of Venice and the other half would go to Antonio. Antonio in turn lets go of his half and makes Shylock sign a bond in which he must bequeath Antonio’s half to his daughter, Jessica and son-in-law, Lorenzo.

Question 3.
Who are the husbands? Why is the speaker so eager to reach home before the husbands? Where is the home?
Answer:
Gratiano, Nerissa’s husband and Bassanio, Portia’s husband are being spoken of here. Portia, the speaker along with Nerissa, her lady-in-waiting, are eager to reach home before their husbands because the husbands are unaware of their wives’ disguise and they still want to keep it a secret from their husbands. They are all bound for Belmont.

Question 4.
Who is Lorenzo and why will he be happy to see the deed?
Answer:
Lorenzo is Jessica’s husband, a Christian and Jessica, being Shylock’s daughter is a Jew. Being the owner of such a large property, which is least expected, would definitely make him happy.

Question 5.
Who enters the scene, hereafter? What transpires between this person and the speaker?
Answer:
Gratiano, Nerissa’s husband, enters the scene. Gratiano offers Bassanio’s ring to Portia and invites her to dinner. Portia accepts the ring, very happily but refuses the invitation for dinner, saying that she needs to reach Padua at the earliest. She then requests Gratiano to show Shylock’s house to Nerissa, her clerk.

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The Merchant of Venice Act 4 Scene 1 Summary Workbook Answers

The Merchant of Venice Act 4 Scene 1 Summary

The trial scene of ‘The Merchant of Venice’ is the most famous and powerful scene of the play in the whole of English dramas. This is the scene where Shylock is to take his forfeiture from Antonio. Antonio’s friends and even the Duke beg him to have mercy; Shylock says he will not grant mercy for the simple reason that he hates Antonio. He says Christians do what they wish with their slaves because they have bought them, and so it is with Antonio.

Bassanio offers Shylock six thousand ducats, double the actual amount, but Shylock refuses saying that even if he were offered six times the amount, he would still want the pound of flesh’.Nerissa, dressed as the lawyer’s clerk enters the court and gives a letter to the Duke, which states that since he is unwell he is sending Balthazar, a learned lawyer, to prosecute the case instead of him.

Portia then enters the scene dressed as a lawyer. Portia makes the very famous speech on mercy here. She makes a very moving appeal to Shylock, but he only wants his bond, he only wants justice. After examining the bond Portia declares authenticity of the bond and permits Shylock to cut a pound of flesh from Antonio. As Shylock is about to do so Portia orders him to keep a surgeon at hand, but Shylock refuses because the bond stipulates no such safeguard.

As Shylock is ready to cut into Antonio, Portia reminds him that the bond stipulates only a pound of flesh and not even a single drop of blood. Shylock is stunned and he is now ready to take three times the amount and let Antonio go. Portia refuses and tells Shylock that he will get either his bond or nothing, On the other hand, in cutting the pound of flesh if even one drop of Antonio’s blood spills, then all his lands and goods will be confiscated by the state of Venice, for harming a Venetian citizen. Portia then tells him that as per the law of Venice he is conspiring to kill a Venetian, therefore now his life depends on the mercy of the duke.

The same law now demands him to give half of his property to the person against whom he has conspired, i.e. Antonio, and the remaining half would be confiscated by the state of Venice. The duke shows mercy by sparing Shylock’s life and reduces his penalty to a fine rather than taking half of his property.

The other half, which was to go to Antonio, was kept in a trust to be given to Lorenzo and Jessica, after Shylock’s death. Shylock is also asked to convert to Christianity, and give everything in writing. Shylock feels completely defeated and leaves the court under the pretext of feeling sick.

Now, as a token of gratitude, Bassanio offers some money to the lawyer, which he (Portia) refuses. Portia demands for the ring that Bassanio is wearing but he refuses, calling the ring a trifle, saying that he wouldn’t like to dishonor the lawyer by giving him such a lowly gift. Instead, he offers to find him the most expensive gift in Venice. Portia is disheartened at Bassanio not giving her the ring and leaves.

Antonio requests Bassanio to give the ring to the lawyer, which Bassanio does; thus parting with the ring, which Portia had given him saying that if he would ever part with that ring, it would be the end of their love. For the sake of his friend Antonio, Bassanio gives the ring to the lawyer. Then they all (Bassanio, Gratiano, Antonio) make plans to leave for Belmont.

The Merchant of Venice Act 4 Scene 1 Summary Word Meanings

1. stony adversary – stone hearted rival
2. inhuman wretch – a person without feelings
3. Dram – a very small amount
4. qualify – reduce
5. stands obdurate – remains hard-hearted
6. arm’d – prepared
7. fashion of thy malice – mood of your cruelty
8. exact’st – insist on having
9. moiety of the principal – a part of the original sum
10. pluck commiseration of – take out pity from
11. brassy bosoms – hearts as hard as brass
12. train’d to offices of tender courtesy – taught to behave with gentleness
13. possess’d – informed
14. sabbath – the seventh day of the Jewish week which was the holiest day carrion – rotten
15. humour – mood, ban’d poisoned
16. a gaping pig – a roasted pig’s head with the mouth open
17. loathes – hates
18. abide – tolerate
19. lodg’d – deep-rooted
20. a loosing suit – a legal case where one must lose money
21. current – course
22. main flood – ocean tide
23. bate – reduce
24. use question with – ask
25. ewe – mother sheep
26. bleat – cry painfully
27. fretten – blown
28. beseech – beg
29. abject and in slavish parts – for lowiy and servile tasks
30. viands – food
31. meetest – fittest
32. whet – sharpen
33. inexorable – relentless
34. currish – like a cur
35. fell – cruel
36. unhallow’d – unsanctified
37. dam – mother
38. ravenous – hungry
39. rail – rebuke, offend’st – trouble
40. importunity – earnest request
41. impediment – hindrance
42. impugn you – accuse you
43. strain’d – forced,
44. place beneath – earth
45. ecomes – suits
46. temporal – worldly,
47. seasons – moderates
48. mitigate – reduce
49. bears down- overcomes.
50. wrest – twist
51. lay perjury upon – break a pledge
52. exposition – understanding of the case
53. hath full relation – entirely supports
54. still her use – usually her custom
55. lingering – slow passing
56. penance – suffering
57. commend – convey my compliments
58. entreat – request,
59. stock of barabas – a Jew
60. trifle – wasting time over trivialities
61. tarry – wait
62. no jot – not even a small quantity
63. upright – honest
64. urgest – demand
65. soft – wait
66. substance – weight, division – fraction
67. scruple – a weight unit
68. question – to argue,
69. value of a cord – price of a rope
70. state’s charge – expense of the state.

The Merchant of Venice Act 4 Scene 1 Summary Questions and Answers

1. Duke :
I am sorry for thee : thou art come to answer
A stony adversary, an inhuman wretch
Uncapable of pity, void and empty
From any dram of mercy.

Question 1.
Who is ‘thee’ in the first line? Where are they and why?
Answer:
The ‘thee’ in the first line refers to Antonio. They are right now in the court for the case between Antonio and Shylock. Antonio has forfeited the bond so Shylock is liable to take a pound of flesh from Antonio’s body.

Question 2.
Who is being spoken about? Why is this person being described in such a manner?
Answer:
The duke is talking about Shylock, the Jewish moneylender. As Shylock is an unfeeling and ruthless Jew and his hatred for Antonio is so strong that he has forgotten humanity, and in spite of the duke begging for mercy for Antonio he is not ready to give up his bond. His heart is filled with hatred with no place for mercy.

Question 3.
Who is the ‘adversary’ referred to here? What does the Duke mean by ‘stony adversary’ and ‘in human wretch’?
Ans.
The adversary referred to here is Shylock. By ‘stony adversary’ and ‘inhuman wretch’ the Duke means that Shylock is stone hearted and he does not possess the feelings of humanity.

Question 4.
Who are the other people present? Who enters the scene next? What are his demands and why?
Answer:
The other people present are Bassanio, Gratiano, Salerio and the officers of the court. Shylock enters the scene next. He only wants his bond and nothing else. He was offered twice the amount due, but he only wants a pound of Antonio’s flesh. His hatred for Antonio is so deep that nothing else can satisfy him but his life.

Question 5.
Whose arrival is awaited? Does this person turn up? Why?
Answer:
The duke is awaiting the arrival of a learned doctor, Bellario, from Padua whom he has called to determine the case. Since Doctor Bellario is unable to come he sends a letter stating that he is sending a learned lawyer in his place. Therefore instead of Bellario comes the learned lawyer.

Question 6.
Give details of the person who comes. How does this person change the present situation?
Answer:
The person who comes in place of Bellario is actually, Portia dressed as a lawyer. With her wit and intelligence, she turns the tables against Shylock. Antonio wins the case and he also gets half of Shylock’s property. As per the bond, Shylock can have a pound of flesh, nothing less and nothing more and while cutting this pound of flesh he has to make sure that he doesn’t shed even a single drop of blood. This, of course was not possible, therefore, Shylock has to accept what the state of Venice decides.

2. Antonio :
I am a tainted wether of the jlock,
Meetestjor death : the weakest kind offruit
Drops earliest to the ground; and so let me.

Question 1.
Under what circumstances does this dialogue take place?
Answer:
This dialogue takes place when Shylock’s case against Antonio seems to be going against Antonio. The Duke’s personal appeal to Shylock has produced no effect on Shylock; and Bassanio’s pleading with Shylock has also failed to serve any purpose.

Question 2.
The listener has been given a task by the speaker. What is it? Why does he say that?
Answer:
Antonio asks Bassanio to write his epitaph because that would be the most suitable task for him as he is his best friend and no one can understand him better than Bassanio.

Question 3.
Why is Antonio willing to die?
Answer:
Antonio thinks himself to be a useless man now when he was bankrupt, and has completely lost his flourishing business. He compares himself to a sheep, which gets infected with some disease, and his continued presence in the flock of sheep can prove to be dangerous to the other sheep as well. It would be better if the infected sheep dies. In the same way, Antonio would like to die instead of continuing to live and cause endless anxiety to his friends like Bassanio.

Question 4.
What feelings does this piece of dialogue arouse in your heart?
Answer:
This piece of dialogue provokes sympathy for Antonio and respect for Bassanio. A deep pity has been aroused at the fate, which Antonio is on the edge of meeting; and we certainly admire Bassanio for his sincerity towards his friend who is in profound dilemma.

Question 5.
Who enters the scene next? What news does this person bring?
Answer:
Nerissa, dressed as the lawyer’s clerk, enters the scene next. Nerissa has come with a letter from Bellario, a renowned Doctor of law. The letter states that since Bellario is unwell he is sending a learned lawyer by the name of Balthazar to handle the case.

3. Portia :
Therefore prepare thee to cut off the flesh.
Shed thou no blood; nor cut thou less, nor more,
But just a pound offlesh : if thou tak’st more,
Or less, than a just pound, be it but so much
As makes it light or heavy in the substance,
Or the division of the twentieth part
Of one poor scruple, nay, if the scale do turn
But in the estimation of a hair,
Thou diest, and all thy goods are confiscate.

Question 1.
Who are the two people in conversation? The speaker lays down a condition, what is it?
Answer:
The two people in the conversation are Portia, dressed as the lawyer and Shylock, the Jewish moneylender. As per the bond, Shylock can take only a pound of flesh. It does not permit him to take a single drop of blood. He must weigh a pound of flesh, accurately, without shedding even a ‘jot’ of blood.

Question 2.
Another person, present here, applauds the speaker for his judgment. Who is this person? Why does he react in this manner?
Answer:
Gratiano, a friend of Bassanio and Antonio, also present in the court, is very happy when Portia comes out with this condition. When Portia allows Shylock to cut a pound of flesh from Antonio’s body, nearest to his heart, Shylock is very happy and calls Portia a great judge, Daniel. But now seeing that the tables have turned against Shylock, he applauds and makes fun of Shylock and ridicules him.

Question 3.
What would be the penalty if the law is broken? Give details.
Answer:
If Shylock sheds a single drop of blood while taking his pound of flesh, as per the bond, then all his property would be confiscated, and he would have to face a death sentence. His life would be at the mercy of the Duke.

Finally, the duke spares Shylock’s life and half his property goes to the state of Venice and the other half, which was to go to Antonio, is given to Lorenzo and Jessica, on Antonio’s request. Shylock is made to sign a deed in which half his property is bequeathed to his daughter and son-in-law. Also, Shylock has to turn into a Christian. Therefore, he is left completely defeated and drained.

Question 4.
The tables have turned. How? Who is responsible for it?
Answer:
Portia’s wit and intelligence turn the tables against Shylock. Antonio has lost all hope and is sure that the Jew will take his revenge and Antonio will have to pay the penalty of breaking the bond with his life. Shylock is all ready to take his pound of flesh when he is stopped by Portia, stating that Shylock can only have a pound of flesh and without shedding a single drop of blood.

Shylock has no choice but to let go of his dearest enemy. In fact, he not only has to forget about getting his principal but also loses all his property and has to face the humiliation of turning into a Christian. All this happend because of Portia.

Question 5.
Characterize the speaker.
Answer:
The speaker, Portia, is a woman of substance. Her beauty matches her intelligence, clearly defying the phrase, ‘beauty without brains’. She is quick¬witted, beautiful and intelligent and comes as an antidote to Shylock’s malice. However, in the beginning of the play, we do not see her potential because she is engrossed in her father’s will. But here also we realize that she is an obedient daughter. She is fun-loving as we can see in the ‘ring episode’, but here also she is sensible enough to stop the fun before it goes too far.

4. Portia :
You press me far, and therefore I will yield.
Give me your gloves, I’ll wear them for your sake;
And (for your love) I’ll take this ring from you.
Do not draw back your hand; I’ll take no more,
And you in love shall not deny me this.

Question 1.
Who is pressing whom and why?
Answer:
Portia, in the garb of a lawyer, yields to the offer made by Bassanio, her husband. He insists that the lawyer (Portia) must accept a token of remem¬brance from them for saving his dearest friend Antonio, from the clutches of the unfeeling Jew, Shylock. Bassanio feels indebted to the lawyer, wants to show his gratitude, and thus makes this offer.

Question 2.
Whose gloves does the speaker wear and whose ring is demanded? What is the intention behind this?
Answer:
Portia, the speaker of the above lines agrees to wear Antonio’s gloves as a token of his remembrance and demands Bassanio’s ring, which has been gifted to him by his wife, Portia, which he had sworn never to part with. Portia, knowing that Bassanio cannot part with this ring, still demands for it just to have a little fun. Though towards the end of the play she reveals her real identity but plays around with Bassanio just to add to the humor of the play. It’s all for fun.

Question 3.
Who draws back his hand? Why is he so reluctant to part with the ring?
Answer:
Bassanio, Portia’s husband, draws back his hand, as he, under no circumstances, can part with this ring because when Portia had given this ring to him she had put down a condition that if ever Bassanio parts with this ring it would mean an end of their love and relationship.

Question 4.
Why is the speaker adamant to have the ring? What offer is made by the owner of the ring? How does he justify himself?
Answer:
Portia insists on having this very ring because she claims that she has a fancy for it and wouldn’t accept anything else. Actually, she is playing around with Bassanio, her husband, which of course, he is not aware of. Bassanio tries to convince Portia by saying that this ring is too trivial and that he would find the most expensive ring in Venice for the lawyer. Finally, Bassanio comes out with the truth that since this ring was a gift from his wife he couldn’t part with it. Also while giving it to him, she had made him vow that he should never sell, give or lose this ring. Therefore, he must be excused for this.

Question 5.
How does the scene ends?
Answer:
The scene ends with Portia succeeding in getting the ring from Bassanio on Antonio’s request. Antonio tells Bassanio that he should give more importance to his friend’s love and the lawyer’s ‘deserving’s’ than to his wife’s commandments. Finally, Gratiano runs behind Portia to give her the ring and invite her to dinner. Bassanio and Antonio finally make plans to leave for Belmont the next day.

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The Merchant of Venice Act 3 Scene 5 Summary Workbook Answers

The Merchant of Venice Act 3 Scene 5 Summary

This scene takes place in the garden of Portia’s house. The scene opens with a humorous dialogue of Launcelot for the amusement of the groundlings. Launcelot says that Jessica will be damned for her father’s sins. Jessica replies she will be saved because of the virtues of Lorenzo and also because she has converted into Christianity. Launcelot teases her by saying that the Christian community will accuse her of doing wrong to them and they would increase the price of pork.

At this time Lorenzo enters and says that he is getting jealous of Launcelot for talking so much to his wife by getting her ‘into corners’. He tells him to go inside and see that dinner is prepared.Lorenzo asks Jessica’s opinion about Portia. She praises Portia, stating that she has no one even equal to her on this earth. Lorenzo says that the same thing can be said about him. Jessica replies that they can talk about it over dinner. Lorenzo agrees that by talking about such romantic things they will be able to digest the dinner better.

The Merchant of Venice Act 3 Scene 5 Summary Word Meanings

1. laid upon – revenged upon
2. plain – honest
3. agitation – wrongly used for cogitation which means thought
4. damned – fated to go to Hell
5. enow – enough
6. rasher – slice of bacon
7. are out – quarreled
8. commonwealth – Christian community
9. wit-snapper – comedian
10. cover – using it to mean lay the table,
11. quarrelling with the occasion – disputing whether the word is suitable to the context
12. discretion – ability to distinguish words
13. army – a collection,
14. garnished – supplied with words
15. tricksy word – a word that allows a trick to be played (punning)
16. defy the matter – confuse with their meanings
17. past all expressing – beyond words
18. meet – necessary
19. upright – honorable
20. there must be something pawned – If one compares Portia with another human something should be added to the other balance to make the worth even
21. rude world – this earthly world
22. not her fellow – not her equal
23. set you forth – praise your qualities or put you in your place.

The Merchant of Venice Act 3 Scene 5 Summary Questions and Answers

1. Launcelot :
Yes, truly; for, look you, the sins of the father are to be laid upon the children; therefore I promise you, I fear you. I was always plain with you, and so now
I speak my agitation of the matter : therefore be o’ good cheer; for, truly, I think you are damned. There is but one hope in it that can do you any good, and that is but a kind of bastard hope neither.
Jessica : And what hope is that, I pray thee ?
Launcelot : Marry, you may partly hope that your father got you not, that you are not the Jew’s daughter.
Jessica : That were a kind of bastard hope, indeed : so the sins of my mother should be visited upon me.
Launcelot : Truly then I fear you are damned both by father and mother : thus when I shun Scylla (your father) I fall into Charybdis (your mother): well, you are gone both ways.
Jessica: I shall be saved by my husband; he hath made me a Christian.

Question 1.
Who, according to the speaker, is the father here? What sins is he referring to? Who is the child?
Answer:
According to the speaker, Shylock is the father here. He sins by lending money to people with heavy interest and shows no mercy on anyone, as he is greedy for money. Jessica, the daughter of Shylock, is the child who is being talked about in the above lines.

Question 2.
Who is damned and why? What is the only hope, according to the speaker?
Answer:
Launcelot believes that Jessica is damned because she is the daughter of the cunning Shylock. Being the daughter of such a sinner, she will have to pay for her father’s sins. Though Launcelot feels that there is only one hope for Jessica and that is to hope that her father had not begot her, which is a false hope.

Question 3.
How does the person, who is ‘damned’, reacts? How can this person be saved?
Answer:
If Jessica hopes that if she was not the Jew’s daughter then she will have to be punished for the sins of her mother which means that she is doomed from both the sides i.e., from her father’s as well as from her mother’s side. Jessica says that her husband, Lorenzo, who is a Christian and has made her a Christian, will save her.

Question 4. There are four complaints against the speaker. What are they? What does Jessica say in reply?
Answer:
Seeing, both Jessica and Launcelot are talking to each other, Lorenzo points out to Launcelot that he will grow jealous of him if he’ll find him whispering to his wife in the corners. Secondly, Jessica reports to Lorenzo that Launcelot very bluntly stated that she is damned and that Lorenzo is not a good member of his community.

Lorenzo also holds Launcelot responsible for impregnating a Moorish woman. Finally, Launcelot is accused of playing with words to his advantage, twisting and turning their meanings as he desires. Jessica replies that her husband needs no suspicion as she and Launcelot have fallen out as he has flatly said that she has no place in heaven as she isn’t a Christian.

Question 5.
What humorous remarks does Launcelot say about Christian community soon after this extract?
Answer:
Launcelot says that Lorenzo is to be blamed for adding to the Christian community by adding one more Christian. They have enough of Christians and this addition will create one more pig eater, thereby increasing the price of the pigs; ultimately, the demand will be too much that there will not be a decent slice of bacon to be cooked on their fire.

2. Lorenzo :
O dear discretion, how his words are suited !
The fool hath planted in his memory
An army of good words, and I do know
A many fools, that stand in better place,
Garnish’d like him, that for a tricksy word Defy the matter.
How cheer’st thou, Jessica ?
And now, good sweet, say thy opinion;
How dost thou like the Lord Bassanio’s wife ?

Question 1.
Who is the speaker talking about? What observation does he make about him?
Answer:
The speaker is Lorenzo. He is talking about Launcelot Gobbo, the fool. Lorenzo laughs at Launcelot’s ability to use words at his discretion and fit them for his purpose. Lorenzo also says that he knows of many fools better than Launcelot (perhaps professionally) but he outruns them all.

Question 2.
What is Jessica’s opinion of Bassanio’s wife?
Answer:
Jessica feels that Portia, Bassanio’s wife, is beyond any comparison. He is blessed to have such a lady as his wife and he should now, lead an honorable life. Having her as his wife, he’ll lead a heavenly life on earth. She always draws an example by saying that if there was a heavenly match between two gods and two earthly women were on the wager, one being Portia, something else would have to be gambled for the other as there was no other woman in the world to match Portia.

Question 3.
What humorous exchange of words takes place between husband and wife at the end of the scene?
Answer:
Lorenzo says that Jessica has a husband with all the qualities of an ideal husband just as Portia has for an ideal wife, Jessica replies that she should be allowed to decide that. When Lorenzo suggests that they should talk about it over dinner, Jessica says that she’d prefer to talk about his qualities when she has the inclination to do so. Then Lorenzo says that it’ll be better if they have such pleasant conversation while eating, as no matter what she says, he’ll be able to digest it along with the other things on the table.

Question 4.
How does the scene end? What impression do you get about the relationship between the couple?
Answer:
The scene ends on a very sweet note with a romantic conversation between Jessica and Lorenzo. He claims that the way Portia is the best wife, similarly Lorenzo has no match as a husband. Jessica insists on being given the opportunity of expressing her opinion on that. Thus, continuing their love prate, they move to the dinner table. From this, we understand that the couple shares a strong bond of love and are passionate about each other. They can spend hours together in each other’s company.

Question 5.
In what way is the scene important to the play?
Answer:
The scene is a light-hearted interlude that acts as dramatic relief before the commencement of the emotionally charged court scene. The interaction between the newly married Lorenzo and Jessica provides romance and sweetness to the play. It gives the time gap for Portia’s journey to Venice. Jessica’s superlative praises enhances Portia’s character. Launcelot’s clowning and punning is to entertain the common crowd. The comedy would heighten the effect of the court scene.

We have decided to create the most comprehensive English Summary that will help students with learning and understanding.

The Merchant of Venice Act 3 Scene 4 Summary Workbook Answers

The Merchant of Venice Act 3 Scene 4 Summary

The scene is taking place in Belmont. Bassanio and Gratiano have left for Venice. We see Portia in a new light. She makes a clever plan to save Antonio. She sends a letter to her cousin and a famous lawyer, Dr Bellario. She tells her servant Balthazar to get a reply from the doctor and a lawyer’s robe.

Portia and Nerissa leave for Venice under the pretext of spending time in a monastery. She plans to disguise as Bellario the lawyer and Nerissa will be dressed as a clerk. She bets that when they are dressed as men, she’ll be the prettier of the two.

Portia describes how bravely she’ll wear her dagger and brag of manly conquests so that she’ll be taken for a boy barely one year out of school. This whole plan will be disclosed to Nerissa during their ride in the coach bound for Venrtian ferry.The disguise theme, in which women disguised as men, add the comic element to the play. The theme of friendship gets a ‘godlike amity’.

The Merchant of Venice Act 3 Scene 4 Summary Word Meanings

1. habit – dress
2. accomplished – equipped with
3. wager – bet
4. braver grace – greater air of boldness, mincing steps lady like quick steps,
5. fray – fights
6. bragging – boastful
7. quaint – imaginative
8. puny – small
9. raw – boyish
10. bragging jacks – boastful fellows
11. device – plan
12. stays – waits
13. haste away – hurry up
14. measure – travel.

The Merchant of Venice Act 3 Scene 4 Summary Questions and Answers

1. Portia :
I never did repent for doing good,
Nor shall not now : for in companions
That do converse and waste the time together.
Whose souls do bear an equal yoke of love,
There must be needs a like proportion
Of lineaments, of manners, and of spirit;
Which makes me think that this Antonio,
Being the bosom lover of my lord,
Must needs be like my lord. If it be so,
How little is the cost I have bestow’d
n purchasing the semblance of my soul.

Question 1.
To whom is Portia replying in this manner? What has that person just said to Portia?
Answer:
Portia is talking to Lorenzo in this manner. Lorenzo has just praised Portia’s decision to send Bassanio to Antonio. He says she has a good understanding of spiritual friendship. That is why she willingly bears the absence of her husband; but if she knew the person whom she has shown this kindness and honor, how good a man and a good friend of her husband, she’ll feel proud of her action. In fact, this action is more valuable than her other generous actions so far.

Question 2.
Explain the meaning of ‘companions that do converse and waste the time together’. What is meant by ‘equal yokes of love’ and ‘lineaments’?
Answer:
‘Companions that do converse and waste the time together’ means friends who spend time talking to each other. ‘Equal yokes of love’ means bound to each other like a pair of oxen and ‘lineaments’ mean characteristics.

Question 3.
What makes Portia come to the conclusion that Antonio and Bassanio are similar?
Answer:
Portia feels when two friends spend their time together and interact with each other, bearing equal respect and love for each other in their souls, there is bound to be some similarity in face, manners and disposition.

Question 4.
What does Portia tell Lorenzo about her plans in the next few days, till Bassanio returns?
Answer:
Portia tells Lorenzo that she has made a solemn vow to live in prayer and meditation, with no other attendant but Nerissa, till their husbands return. They are going to live in a monastery two miles away.

2. Portia :
I thank you for your wish, and am well pleas’d
To wish it back on you : fare you well, Jessica.
[Exeunt Jessica and Lorenzo]
Now, Balthazar,
As I have ever found thee honest-true,
So let me find thee still. Take this same letter,
And use thou all th’ endeavour of a man
In speed to Padua : see thou render this
Into my cousin’s hand, Doctor Bellario;
And look what notes and garments he doth give thee,
Bring them, I pray thee, with imagin’d speed
Unto the traject, to the common ferry
Which trades to Venice. Waste no time in words,
But get thee gone : I shall be there before thee.

Question 1.
Who is Portia talking to? What had they wished her?
Answer:
Portia is talking to Lorenzo and Jessica. Lorenzo wished Portia pleasant thoughts and happy hours. Jessica wished her the fulfillment of all the desires of her heart.

Question 2.
Who is Balthazar? What is Portia’s estimation of him?
Answer:
Balthazar is Portia’s trusted servant. Portia has always found him honest and trustworthy and she is sure that he’ll continue to be so and will do the present assignment with utmost sincerity and responsibility.

Question 3.
What job has Balthazar been entrusted with?
Answer:
Portia entrusts Balthazar with the job of taking a letter to her lawyer cousin Bellario to Padua. He has to do this fast and bring the papers and dresses given by the lawyer and reach the landing place of the ferry bound for Venice.

Question 4.
Give the meaning of ‘imagined speed’ and traject’. What reply does Balthazar give to these instructions?
Answer:
‘Imagined speed’ means quickly, with the speed that imagination takes and ‘traject’ is the landing place for the ferry. Balthazar replies that he will fulfill all the instructions as fast as possible.

Question 5.
What does Portia tell Nerissa just after this?
Answer:
Portia tells Nerissa. she has work in hand which Nerissa need not know for the present. The only thing she should know now is that they will see their husbands sooner than they think.

3. Portia :
They shall, Nerissa; but in such a habit
That they shall think we are accomplished
With that we lack. I’ll hold thee any wager,
When we are both acoutered like young men,
I’ll prove the prettierfellow of the two,
And wear my dagger with the braver grace,
And speak between the change of man and boy
With a reed voice, and. turn two mincing steps
Into a manly stride, and speak of frays
Like a fine bragging youth

Question 1.
To what question of Nerissa, does Portia give this reply? Who are the ’they’ mentioned? Where are ‘they’?
Answer:
When Portia tells Nerissa that they will see their husbands before they get time to think of them, Nerissa asks her whether they’ll be able to see them, before time. To this question, Portia says, they will. ‘They’ mentioned here are Bassanio and Gratiano. They have gone to Belmont.

Question 2.
Explain ‘but in such a habit that they shall think we are accomplished with what we lack’.
Answer:
Portia says that their husbands will see them in such a dress that they will think they are equipped with qualities of men which they actually lack.

Question 3.
For what does the speaker laid a bet with Nerissa? How does the speaker intend to behave to justify their disguise?
Answer:
Portia bets that being dressed as a man, she would be the smarter of the two (Portia and Nerissa). She claims that she would wear her dagger more gracefully and would speak like a man. She would convert her lady like steps into manly strides. For her to brag and lie like a youth would be easy and she would claim to have caused many women to faint at the sight of this youth. She would very easily learn a thousand tricks of these boasting fellows.

Question 4.
What lies will Portia say to make people think that he is only twelve months out of his school? What else does she have in her mind?
Answer:
Portia will tell lies like how noble ladies sought his love but being rejected fell sick and died. Then she would wish she had not done that and  regret her behaviour. She has thousand raw plans in her mind, which brew in the minds of boastful school boys.

Question 5.
What question does Nerissa ask thereafter? What reply does she get?
Answer:
Nerissa is confused so she asks Portia whether they are going to dress as men? Portia pretends to think that Nerissa means ‘take men for lovers’ so she ridicules Nerissa for asking such a question. She further says that someone with a dirty mind would feel that they are ready to fall into the arms of men. She then assures Nerissa that she will disclose her entire plan to Nerissa on their way to Venice.

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The Merchant of Venice Act 3 Scene 3 Summary Workbook Answers

The Merchant of Venice Act 3 Scene 3 Summary

The audience is taken back to Venice. We come to know about Antonio’s miserable state, He has been allowed to leave jail for a short time. Shylock tells the jailor to guard Antonio closely. Antonio’s mercy pleas have been completely ignored by Shylock. The Jew is very keen to avenge all the wrongs done to him.

He repeatedly says, ‘I’ll have my bond!’ He says that earlier Antonio had called him a dog without reason. Since he is considered a dog, Antonio will now have to face his fangs. Shylock complains that Antonio is shown favoritism, as he is allowed to come out of the jail.

He is not ready to listen to Christian pleaders. Antonio decides not to plead further. Solanio hopes for some mercy from the Duke. But the duke is also duty bound to follow the strict rules of Venice. Venice depends on the prosperity from the International trade which, in turn, depends on impartial treatment towards all. If the laws are violated and justice is denied, Venice will lose its credibility. It will surely affect its trade.

Antonio says that the worries and griefs of the past few days have made him lose weight that he doubts whether there will be enough flesh to be cut off the next day. He only prays that Bassanio come to see him discharge his debt; he wishes for nothing else.

The Merchant of Venice Act 3 Scene 3 Summary Word Meanings

1. fangs – teeth
2. naughty – good for nothing
3. abroad – outside the prison
4. dull – eyed – stupid
5. relent – show pity
6. intercessors – pleaders
7. impenetrable cur – hard hearted dog
8. kept with – lived among
9. bootless – futile
10. delivers – rescued
11. forfeiture to hold – to be enforced
12. commodity – rights
13. strangers – foreigners
14. impeach – questioned or accused
15. bated – affected
16. bloody – blood thirsty.

The Merchant of Venice Act 3 Scene 3 Summary Questions and Answers

1. Shylock:
I’ll have my bond; speak not against my bond :
I have sworn an oath that I will have my bond.
Thou call’dst me dog before thou hadst a cause,
But, since I am a dog, beware my fangs :
The duke shall grant me justice. I do wonder,
Thou naughty gaoler, that thou art so fond
To come abroad with him at his request.

Antinio : I pray thee, hear me speak.
Shylock : I’ll have my bond; I will not hear thee speak :
I’ll have my bond, and therefore speak no more.
I’ll not be made a soft and dull-eyed fool,
To shake the head, relent, and sigh, and yield
To Christian intercessors. Follow not;
I’ll have no speaking; I will have my bond.

Question 1.
To whom are these words spoken? When? Who else is with the characters? Where are they?
Answer:
These words are being spoken to Antonio, when he requests Shylock to listen to him. Solanio and the jailor are with them. They are in a street in Venice.

Question 2.
In what state of mind is Shylock, now? What has he accused the jailer of, a little while earlier?
Answer:
Shylock is excited and very keen to take his revenge against Antonio. He keeps on repeating, ‘I’ll have the bond’. He has accused the jailor of showing partiality towards Antonio by allowing him to come out of the jail.

Question 3.
Explain ‘I’ll not be made a soft and dull-eyed fool, to shake the head, relent, and sigh, and yield to Christian intercessors’. Earlier he tells the listener to be beware of his fangs. Why?
Answer:
The line means that Shylock will not become a soft and stupid fool to shake his head and relent to forgive Christian pleaders. Earlier he says that Antonio had called him a dog and now he must suffer the dog’s bite.

Question 4.
Why and when does the listener say, ‘Let him alone’?
Answer:
When Solanio comments that the Jew is the most heartless dog, Antonio says that there is no use pleading in front of the blood-thirsty Shylock.

Question 5.
Why is Shylock after his life, according to the speaker?
Answer:
According to .Antonio, Shylock is after his life as he had rescued many people from the Jew’s clutches by helping with his money. So Shylock has been deprived of his forfeiture many a time: therefore, the Jew hates him and he is after his life to take revenge.

Question 6.
Why can’t the Duke save the speaker?
Answer:
The Duke can’t save the speaker, as he has to abide by the strict laws of Venice. If he goes against justice, Venice will lose its credibility among foreign traders and this will affect its trade and prosperity.

Question 7.
How does the scene end? Bring out the significance of the scene.
Answer:
The scene ends on a sad note with Antonio losing all hope for his life. His last wish is to meet Bassanio, his best friend. This is the preparation for the trial scene that follows. The audience is prepared for Antonio’s tragedy. This also gives a time gap for Bassanio to reach. The scene emphasizes the theme of friendship in which Antonio without any complaint submits to his fate.