The Merchant of Venice
by William Shakespeare
(Mulberry)
1. When we think of 'famous friends', what are some of the names that come to mind?
a. Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn
b. Archie and Jughead
c. Harry Potter and Ron Weasley.
d. Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson.
2. Why do you think friends are important?
a. We can share our ups and downs with friends.
b. We can help and get help from friends when in need.
c. We can enrich and help to grow each other in the journey of life.
Making Connections
Quick answers
1. Answer the following questions in not more than a sentence.
a. How much money does Bassanio ask Shylock, and for how long?
= Bassanio asks Shylock three thousand ducats for three months.
b. What is the penalty that Shylock asks for in the bond?
= Shylock asks for a penalty of a pound of Antonio's flesh to be cut off from whatever part of his body Shylock choose.
c. Who does Bassanio marry? Where does she live?
= Bassanio marries Portia, a wealthy heiress from Belmont.
d. What happens to Antonio's ships?
= All of Antonio's ships met with misfortune.
e. Why can't the Duke deny Shylock Antonio's pound of flesh?
= The Duke can't deny Shylock Antonio's pound of flesh because changing the law would harm trade in Venice.
Reference to context
2. "You shall not sign such a bond for my sake. I'd rather do without the money."
a. Who says these words and to whom?
= Bassanio says these words to his friend Antonio.
b. Why is the bond being signed?
= The bond is being signed to borrow three thousand ducats for three months from Shylock. As Bassanio needed the money to woo his lady Portia.
c. What are the terms of the bond?
= The term of the bond is that if they do not repay Shylock on the stipulated day, he would cut off a pound of flesh from Antonio's body whatever part he choose.
3. "Also, you must cut off exactly one pound of flesh - neither more nor less by a hair's weight..."
a. Who says this and to whom?
= Portia in disguise of Dr. Balthazar, says this to Shylock.
b. What does the bond not include?
= The bond does not include the fact that Shylock can take even one drop of Antonio's blood. He can only take one pound of flesh from his body.
c. What is the penalty if more than one pound is cut?
= If more than one pound is cut, Shylock will also be killed.
4. "... you take my life when you take the means whereby I live."
a. Who is taking away the speaker's meaning of living?
= The state and administration of Venice is taking away the speaker's meaning of living.
b. To whom is the speaker making an appeal?
= The speaker is making an appeal to the Duke.
c. Why is the speaker being punished?
= The speaker is being punished as he, being a foreigner, indirectly tried to seek the life of a citizen i.e. Antonio.
Read, reflect and write
5. Why does Shylock disliked Antonio?
= Shylock dislikes Antonio because he lends out money free of interest and brings down the rates for all of them moneylenders in Venice. He also betrays Shylock in public, where all merchants gather, criticizing his bargains and his fairly-gained profit, which Antonio calls interest.
6. Antonio willingly sings a bond, putting his own life at risk for his friend. Why isn't he worried about the risk?
= Antonio willingly signs a bond, putting his own life at risk for his friend. He isn't worried about the risk as he had confident that his ships would return in time and he loved his friend more than anything else. He wanted to lend for his friend anyway.
7. Does Shylock deserve to be punished? Give reasons for your answer.
= Shylock is a wicked moneylender. He levies high rates of interest on the money he lends to others. If we take this for granted anyway, but he can not ask for a pound of flesh from anywhere of Antonio's body. He actually wants to kill Antonio. He wants to take revenge on Antonio.
He wants to pour out all his grudges against Antonio. This is totally inhuman. Portia wanted to pay six or nine thousand ducats in return of three thousand ducats. But Shylock stick to his bond. He is in the inebriation of killing Antonio. He deserves to be punished to make his realise how offensive he is.
8. The theme of a story or a play is often a life lesson, moral or message about human nature. What is the theme of Portia's speech which meant to convince Shylock not to take the pound of flesh?
= The theme of Portia's speech is mercy. She delivered the speech to convince Shylock not to take the pound of flesh from Antonio's body. According to Portia, Mercy is a quality that cannot be forced. It must fall as gently and naturally as the rain falls on the earth below it.
Mercy is doubly blessed because it blesses the one who shows mercy as well as the one who receives it. It is one of the qualities of God himself, and human beings come closest to God when they show it. That's why she prayed mercy from Shylock for Antonio.
9. Describe the quality of mercy in your own words. Have you ever shown mercy? When and on whom?
= According to me, mercy is the most jovial thing in this world. We are the children of God. This resolves all the problems of this world, this is the way which leads us to peace and happiness.
I have shown mercy. One fine day, I was going to some far way station by train. We were waiting in the station and waiting for the train to come. And by the way, I have a purse and I always have some amount of money in it. Then at a time, I took it in my hand for some reason. Suddenly, a street children came and snatched it and ran very fast. Then all the passengers present there rushed behind him and caught him. They brought him to us. We took the purse from him. All suggested to call the rail police and hand him over to them. Then I took pity on him and told them not to do so. Then I gave the child some money and told him to buy some food for him.
10. Extended writing : Describe the characters of Portia and Shylock. How does Portia ensure that Shylock gets caught in his own trap?
= Shylock is a wicked man. He always seeks opportunity to make money. He hold grudge against Antonio and tried to kill him indirectly. He took advantage of the situation and cunningly signed the bond by Antonio.
On the other hand, Portia is beautiful and wealthy heiress from Belmont. She is beautiful and intelligent. She is humane and compassionate. She immediately felt pity for her husband's friend. She was ready to pay six or nine thousand ducats to save Antonio. She is smart. She quickly decided to go to Dr. Bellario along with Nerissa and went to the courtroom in the Duke's palace.
She first gave Shylock an opportunity to mercy Antonio. But Antonio was not a good soul. Then she decided to paly foul to him . She found the fact that there was no reference of even a drop of blood in the bond. She used that point to save Antonio from Shylock's trap and punished him too.
About the author/playwright :
William Shakespeare (1564-1616) was a playwright and poet whose popularity has not only survived but grown over centuries. He grew up in Stratford-upon-Avon and is known as the 'Bard of Avon'. Apart from thirty-eight plays, Shakespeare penned 154 sonnets, two narrative poems and other forms of poetry. His plays have been translated into several languages and are still performed all over the world.