The Quality of Mercy
from The Merchant of Venice
by William Shakespeare
Comprehension
Read and answer
1. Match the following names with the description of the characters.
=
|
Characters |
Traits |
|---|---|
|
a. Portia |
i. a rich merchant of Venice. [b] |
|
b. Antonio |
ii. a moneylender. [c] |
|
c. Shylock |
iii. the person who takes the loan. [d] |
|
d. Bassanio |
iv. a wealthy lady of Belmont and a legal expert for the Duke of
Venice. [a] |
2. Choose the best option.
a. Antonio was unable to give a loan to his friend because
i. he did not trust his friend. [ ]
ii. all his money was in the bank. [ ]
iii. his money was invested in merchant ships. [✓]
iv. none of the above. [ ]
b. Antonio criticized Shylock because
i. Shylock would ask for a loan guarantor. [ ]
ii. Shylock asked for a high rate of interest. [✓]
iii. Shylock would give less than the amount asked for. [ ]
iv. all of the above. [ ]
c. The condition put by Shylock, if the loan was not paid, was that
i. he would get three times the loan amount. [ ]
ii. he would annex Antonio's estate. [ ]
iii. he would take a pound of Antonio's flesh. [✓]
iv. none of the above. [ ]
d. After all of Antonio's ships are lost at sea,
i. he is unable to repay the loan to Shylock. [ ]
ii. he forfeit his bond to Shylock. [ ]
iii. Shylock demanded his pound of flesh. [ ]
iv. all of the above. [✓]
3. Which of the following statements would best highlight the message this excerpt seeks to convey?
a. Men should be merciful towards all. [✓]
b. Men should be merciful towards only the deserving. [ ]
c. Men should be merciful towards friends. [ ]
4. Which of the following statements about Portia is supported by information in the excerpt?
a. Portia was not only wealthy, she was also highly intelligent. [✓]
b. Portia was a wealthy lady with frivolous interests. [ ]
c. Portia loved to disguise herself as a man. [ ]
Reference to context
5. "... it is twice bless'd;
It blesseth him that gives and him that takes;
'Tis mightiest in the mightiest; it becomes
The throned monarch better than his crown;"
a. In response to whose question does the speaker say these lines? What is the question?
= In response of to Shylock's question the speaker says these lines.
The question was that on what compulsion he must be merciful.
b. Why does the speaker feel that mercy is 'twice bless'd'?
= The speaker feels that mercy is 'twice bless'd' because it is blessed for the person who shows mercy and for the person who gets the mercy.
c. Explain the line 'it becomes the throned monarch better than his crown.'
= The quoted line explains that a king with the virtue of mercy is better than wearing his crown.
6. "Wrest once the law to your authority.
To do a great right, do a little wrong,
And curb this cruel devil of his will."
a. Who is speaking these lines? With whom are they pleading?
= Bassanio is speaking these lines.
These lines are pleading to Portia who was disguised as a young lawyer in the court.
b. What authority does the listener have?
= The listener has the authority to control Shylock of his will to take a pound of flesh from Antonio's body.
c. Explain the line 'To do a great right, do a little wrong, and curb this cruel devil of his will' with reference to the plot.
= Antonio had lent money from Shylock and he could not repay it, then according to Shylock's bond, Shylock would claim a pound of flesh from Antonio's body. This was the situation Antonio would die. But the bond was true according to the law of Venice. Portia said that they can not deny the bond for the sake of the record of the law of Venice. It would be wrong to do this. Then Bassanio said that it is more important to save Antonio's life which was a great right at that moment. It would be no offence to do a little wrong to control Shylock to claim a pound of flesh from Antonio's body.
Reflect and answer
7. "For, as thou urgest justice, be assur'd
Thou shalt have justice, more than thou desir'st."
How do Portia try to ensure that Shylock got 'more justice than he desired'?
= Portia was an intelligent lady. She brought the fact in front of the court that the bond said if Antonio fails to return the money within the tenure, he has to repay thrice the principle he took and about a pound of flesh only from his body but not a drop of blood. Then Shylock wanted only the amount mentioned and agreed to let Antonio go as he could not cut a pound of flesh without shedding a drop of blood. Portia also told him that if he takes more flesh in the estimation of a hair, he should die and all his goods will be seized. Then Shylock wanted to have only the principle back. But Portia further said him that as he had tried to kill Antonio indirectly, half of his property will be seized by the state as a fine and other half would be given to Antonio. Ultimately Antonio said that he will look after the half property of Shylock and give it to his would be son-in-law after his death. After this Shylock becomes contented. Actually Portia indirectly did the best thing for Shylock and Antonio at the end of the play. That was most desired for all of them.
8. At the beginning of the play. Portia appeals to mercy while Shylock appeals to law. Do you think both of them were right? Why?
= After Antonio's confession about the bond, Portia asked for mercy from Shylock for Antonio. Here Portia knew that it was Antonio's guilt and Shylock was right at his point. As per the bond, Antonio had to give thrice of the principle and a pound of flesh from his own body if he failed to repay the debt within the mentioned tenure. He could not repay and Shylock was ready to claim the amount and the flesh. He was right according to the bond. Antonio was not a minor, he signed the bond in spite of Bassanio's disagreement. He knew the conditions of the bond. On the other hand, Shylock was actually wanted to kill Antonio indirectly. Portia wanted to stop this. So she was appealing mercy. She was trying to save Antonio's life. No money can take or give life. Here only mercy can solve the situation.
9. Highlight the difference in the way Shylock and Antonio treated each other. What does their behaviour tell you about their attribute? Make a comparison using the table.
=
|
Antonio |
Shylock |
|---|---|
|
He was polite and vulnerable from the beginning of the play. |
He was very rigid from the beginning of the play. |
|
He was very submissive to the court and did not talk much during the
hearing of the court. |
He was all aggressive to get back his amount and punish Antonio. |
|
He asked the court to give the verdict. He was all polite to accept
the punishment ordered by the court. |
He was not respectful to the court and was only stuck to his revenge
against Antonio. |
|
He requested the duke and all the court to quite the fine of half of
Shylock’s goods. |
|
|
He took the other half only to render it and hand over it to the
would be son-in-law of Shylock. |
|
|
He ultimately made Shylock content. |
|
10. "I am content", says Shylock in the end. Is he really content? Why or why not?
= Shylock was proved guilty of indirectly trying to kill Antonio. Half of his property was to be seized by the state and the other half was to be given to Antonio. And his own life was under the duke's mercy. He was on the brink of being undone. At that point Antonio pleaded the duke to mercy Shylock and only the other half he would render and he would give it to the would be son-in-law of Shylock after his death. Actually all property of Shylock remained intact. Shylock said he was contented. All the cycle of events perhaps brought a change to the psychology of Shylock and he was literally contented at the end of the play.
11. If the judge had ruled in Shylock's favour Antonio could have ended up dead. Portia had to stay clam and think quickly in a tricky situation.
Imagine that you are travelling to a different city for a school field trip with your entire class and two teachers. At the railway station, you find yourself lost among hundreds of other travellers. By the time you push through the crowd and come near the edge of the platform, the train has left. In the chaotic rush, your friends and teachers missed the fact that you were not with them and they boarded the train without you. What will you do next?
= I will immediately rush to the office of the station master and request him to inform the next station to announce my teachers to get down from the train along with the other students and wait for me to reach the same station by the next train.