ACT II, SCENE – 1

  1. Where does the scene take place? Who enters the scene and in what manner?
  1. This scene takes place in a room in Portia’s house in Belmont.

The Prince of Morocco and his followers enter the scene in exotic oriental costumes to the flourish of cornets.

  1. Explain: ‘ the shadow’d livery of the burnish’d sun’
  1. Morocco asks Portia not to look upon him with dislike on account of his complexion which is dark. He says he got this colour because of the fierce sun. He was born and brought up in a country where the sun is very close to the earth.

Livery is a uniform presented by a nobleman or a rich man to his servants. ‘Shadow’d livery’ means a dark skin, a uniform given by the fiercely shining sun. The Prince speaks of himself as the servant of the sun, a lord, who has given him a dark colour as the livery of his service.

  1. Explain: ‘Phoebus’ fire scarce thaws the icicles’
  1. Phoebus, in Greek mythology is one of the manes of Apollo, the Sun God. So, ‘Phoebus’ fire’ means the rays of the sun. ‘Icicles’ are long pointed spikes of ice.

The Prince means the sun’s rays are so faint in the North that they are scarcely able to melt the frost, snow and the icicles.

  1. What test does Morocco suggest should be done to prove his courage? Explain.
  1. Morocco suggests that he should be matched with any fair-skinned Northman. They should make a cut upon their bodies to prove their love for Portia, so that she can see whose blood is redder and more courageous.

Red blood was considered to be a sign of courage.

  1. Explain: ‘I tell thee, lady, this aspect of mine Hath fear’d the valiant’
  1. Morocco tells Portia that his dark complexion has created fear in the bravest of men.
  1. Which other example does Morocco give to show that he is proud of his dark skin?
  1. Morocco says that the most respected young ladies in his country have loved him for his dark complexion.
  1. On what condition will Morocco change his dark colour?
  1. Morocco says that he would not change this dark skin for anything in the world except to win Portia’s love.
  1. How does Portia reply to this?
  1. Portia tells Morocco that as far as her own choice is concerned, she is not merely influenced by what appeals to the eyes of a girl as the choice does not lie with her. Besides the lottery of the caskets prevents her from using her right to make a free choice. If she had not been limited and restricted by her father’s wisdom, he would have had an equal chance among the men she has so far seen.
  1. Does Portia really mean that Morocco has a good chance of winning her love?
  1. We have already seen in Act 1, scene 2 that Portia holds her suitors in contempt. She thinks the same of Morocco because he is boastful. Portia treats him with perfect courtesy and tact and speaks as if she holds him in high esteem.
  1. Whom had Morocco conquered with his scimitar?
  1. Morocco had slain the Emperor of Persia and a Persian prince with his scimitar.

Morocco is boasting of his greatness by implying that the Persian Prince who defeated Sultan Solyman, a Turkish ruler, thrice was a great warrior, greater than Solyman. Since Morocco slew the Persian Prince, he was a still greater warrior than the Persian Prince.

  1. What acts of bravery is Morocco ready to perform in order to win Portia?
  1. Morocco would outstare and frighten the most powerful man on earth. He would steal the young cubs from the female bear and even challenge the lion when, fierce with hunger, he goes forth in search of food. All these brave acts he is ready to perform to win Portia.
  1. Why is Morocco talking about Hercules and Lichas?
  1. Morocco is complaining of the test imposed upon him to gain Portia. It is not a test of valour but a matter of blind chance which may favour the unworthy one.

If Hercules ( the famous Greek hero who was reputed for his strength) and his servant Lichas were to play at dice to decide who is the better man, it is just possible that Lichas,

though inferior in physical strength, might be winner , by a lucky throw of the dice. The weaker hand may thus beat a decidedly better man at a game of chance.

Similarly, his own great renown, his birth, his wealth and achievements are of help to Morocco. He cannot win Portia by any great feat. He is forced to take his chance as against any inferior rival. He may miss his chance, and, then, he says that he will die of grief.

  1. How does Portia now clearly state the terms of the lottery?
  1. She tells Morocco that he must take his chance. He must either leave the matter alone altogether and not make the attempt or swear before choosing, that if he makes the wrong choice, he will never again speak to any lady on the subject of marriage i.e. never marry thereafter.

ACT II – SCENE 2

  1. Where does the scene take place? Who enters the scene & what role does he have in the play?
  1. This scene takes place in a street in Venice. LauncelotGobbo, the servant of Shylock, enters the scene. He plays the part of a country clown in the play.
  1. Who is tempting Launcelot and what does his conscience advise him?
  1. The devil is tempting Launcelot to run away from Shylock. But his conscience tells him not to run and to be careful. It tells him that he should look upon the suggestion of fleeing with contempt. Again when the valiant devil persuades him to run away, his conscience tells him that as he is the child of a good father or at least a good mother, he should stay where he is and not move.
  1. What does Launcelot feel about the advice?
  1. Launcelot feels that if he obeys his conscience, he will remain in the service of the Jew, who is the very devil himself in human flesh. He feels that his conscience is very unfeeling to advise him to stay in the service of Jew. Launcelot decides to obey the devil as his advice is kindlier and to run away.
  1. Who enters the scene now? Why could he not recognize Launcelot? Taking advantage of his condition what does Launcelot plan to do?
  1. Old Gobbo, the father of LauncelotGobbo enters the scene.He does not recognize Launcelot as he is more than half-blind. So Launcelot tries to experiment of having some fun with his father as he will not be able to recognize him.
  1. What does Gobbo ask Launcelot? What directions does Launcelot give him?
  1. Gobbo asked Launcelot the way to Shylock’s house. Launcelot tells Gobbo to take the next turning to the right, but the next turning to the left, and then at the next turning, not to turn at all, but turn straight to the Jew’s house.
  1. About whom does he inquire next? What does Launcelot mean by ‘young Master Launcelot’?
  1. Gobbo asks whether his listener knows if a certain Launcelot, who lives with the Jew, is still there.

Since his father has mistaken him for a gentleman, he decides to play the role of a gentleman and reproves old Gobbo for omitting the title ‘master’.

  1. Explain: ‘Now I will raise the waters’. What information about young Launcelot is given to his father?
  1. Launcelot wants to have some fun and tells the audience that he is going to bring tears to his father’s eyes.

He tells him that according to his fate or destiny, or the three sisters of the ancient Greeks, young Launcelot, is indeed dead and gone to heaven.

  1. Explain: ‘the Sisters three’.
  1. The Sisters three were the Fates or Destinies. They spun the thread of human life. Clotho, represented with a spindle, spun the thread. Lachesis gave it to a man as his fate, and Atropos cut it off when his life was to end. They symbolize fate and destiny.
  1. How does Launcelot finally prove to Gobbo that he is his son?
  1. When Launcelot tells old Gobbo that he is really his son, he does not believe it. Finally when he mentions the name of his mother, Margery, Gobbo concludes that he is really his son.
  1. To which animal’s hair is Launcelot’s beard compared by Gobbo? What does Launcelot reply?
  1. When Launcelot asks for his father’s blessing, he kneels with his back to his father. His father feels the hair and thinks it is his beard. So he remarks that Launcelot has a very long beard. He says that even Dobbin, the cart-horse does not have so much hair on his tail as Launcelot has on his chin.

Launcelot says that if that is true, then Dobbin’s tail must be getting shorter, since he last saw him. The last time he saw him, he had more hair on his tail than he has on his face.

  1. What does Gobbo ask his son? What does Launcelot reply?
  1. Gobo asks his son how he is getting along with his master, the Jew. He also tells him that he has bought a dish of cooked doves for his master.

Launcelot says that he has made up his mind to leave his master, Shylock. He tells his father to give Shylock a rope to hang himself with than a present because he had starved him.

  1. Explain: ‘ You may tell every finger I have with my ribs’
  1. The above words mean that one can feel all his ribs with one’s finger.

Launcelot means that he has grown so thin for want of proper food that his rib-bones are standing out prominently and can be counted with the finger.

  1. To whom does Launcelot want his father to give the present? Why?
  1. Launcelot wants his father to give the present to a certain Master Bassanio, as he wanted to enter his service because he had come to know that Bassanio was giving his servants new liveries (uniforms).

ENTER BASSANIO

  1. Who enters the scene with Bassanio? What instructions is he giving his servants?
  1. Along with Bassanio, his servant Leonardo and other followers enter the scene.

Bassanio tells one of his servants to get things done speedily and see to it that supper is ready by five o’clock. Then he tells him to send his letters to the persons to whom they are addressed, to give orders that the new outfits for his servants are stitched and tell Gratiano that he wishes him to come to his room at once.

  1. What is Launcelot’s reaction when his father introduces him to Bassanio as a poor boy?
  1. Launcelot objects to being called a poor boy by his father. He immediately corrects his father. He says he is not poor but is the servant of the rich Jew, Shylock. He suggests that a rich man’s servant cannot be a poor man.
  1. Explain: ‘ are scarce cater-cousins’
  1. Gobbo tells Bassanio that his son wants to leave the service of Shylock and join Bassanio because Launcelot and his master scarcely get on well together. He also offers Bassanio a dish of doves.
  1. According to Bassanio who had recommended Launcelot to him? What does he suggest to launcelot?
  1. Shylock had recommended Launcelot to Bassanio that very day.

He tells Launcelot that he can be his servant, if it is preferable or more advantageous to leave the service under a rich Jew, and become the servant of so poor a person as he is.

  1. Which old proverb does Launcelot mention in reply?
  1. Launcelot says that the old proverb that the grace of God is better than wealth is very suitably applicable to his old master and Bassanio.

He means that it is true that Shylock has riches, but Bassanio is a good man and has the favour of God.

  1. What instructions does Bassanio now give Launcelot and his father, and to his servants?
  1. Bassanio tells Launcelot and his father to go to Shylock and bid him farewell, and then find their way to his house.

He then tells his servants to get a suit for Launcelot more elaborately decorated than those of the other servants.

  1. Explain: ‘ Father, in. I cannot get a service, no; I have ne’er a tongue in my head’
  1. Launcelot tells his father that they should leave and asks his father what he thinks about his previous opinion that Launcelot cannot get a job by his own efforts. He has now proved his cleverness. He tells his father that he has got a new master through his own eloquence.
  1. What does Launcelot foretell for himself after reading his own palm?
  1. Launcelot is so overjoyed at getting a job in Bassanio’s household, that he considers himself the luckiest man in the whole of Italy. He looks at his palm and says that no man in Italy has as much good luck as shown on his palm.

After reading his palm he says that he will have a long life, will have fifteen wives (eleven widows and nine maids), escape thrice from drowning and be in danger of his life from falling out of a feather bed.

  1. Explain: “well, if fortune be your woman, she’s a good wench for this gear”.
  1. Since Launcelot is in high spirits, he says that fortune has proved to be a kind woman in his case as she promises him good luck.

10. What final instructions does Bassanio give Leonardo?

A. Bassanio tells Leonardo that once he has bought the things Bassanio had told him to and seen them carefully packed, to come back as quickly as possible, for that night he is entertaining all hismost valued friend.

BASSANIO & GRATIANO

  1. Who enters the scene now and what does he request of Bassanio?
  1. Gratiano enters the scene and asks Bassanio to let him accompany him to Belmont.
  1. Why does Bassanio ask Gratiano to amend his character?
  1. Bassanio tell Gratiano that he is too rash, too unmannerly, frank and straight forward. These qualities suit him well here as they are all his friends and know him well. So these qualities do not appear as faults to them but in a place where people do not know him (Gratiano) his manners will be considered uncouth (rude).

Therefore he requests Gratiano to make efforts to moderate his wild spirit with a bit of modesty lest,Bassanio too should be misunderstood as a boisterous fellow like Gratiano and all his hopes of winning Portia may be shattered.

  1. What does Gratiano propose to do?
  1. Gratiano proposes to dress soberly, talk respectfully, swear only occasionally, walk about with a prayer book in his pocket, look seriously, and while the prayer is being said, cover his eyes with his hat and sigh and say amen, follow all the rules of civil and polite behavior like a person who is trying to please his grandmother.
  1. What request does Gratiano makeand how doesBassanio react to it?
  1. Gratiano requests Bassanio to let him be himself that night when Bassanio is giving his party.

Bassanio says that he would be sorry to see Gratiano sad and solemn that night. He would prefer to see him in his wildest spirits and in his most amusing self that night.

  1. What does the scene reveal about the following characters?
  1. Launcelot:

He is the clown of the play. Shows a childlike affection for his father, he plays practical jokes at the expense of his father, which shows lack of respect on his part. His humour consists of misuse of words and malapropisms. He loves comfort and leaves Shylock to work for Bassanio who makes new liveries for his servants and treats them well. He is extravagant by nature and has a healthy appetite.

Old Gobbo:

He is a typical subservient member of the lower classes of that period. When he talks to Launcelot his language is quite simple, but when he talks to Bassanio, he becomes affected and makes the same misuse of big words as his son.

Shylock:

Launcelot says that he is famished in his service. His household is intolerable. According to Launcelot he is narrow-minded, cruel, miserly and heartless. He has recomemdedLauncelot to Bassanio to help Bassanio waster his money.

ACT II, Scene -3

  1. Where does the scene take place? Who are the two characters who enter the scene?
  1. This scene takes place in a room in Shylock’s house. Jessica and Launcelot enter this scene.
  1. Why is Jessica sorry that Launcelot is leaving the service of her father?
  1. Jessica is sorry that Launcelot is leaving the service of her father, because her father’s house is a ‘hell’ to her. He has made it so by his greed and his suspicious nature because of which he is keeping her in strict seclusion.

Launcelot is a jolly fellow and full of antics and nonsensical capering which relieves the boredom and dullness of the house.

  1. Why does Jessica give Launcelot a ducat?
  1. Jessica wants Launcelot to deliver a letter secretly to Lorenzo who will be one of the guests for supper at Bassanio’s house. It contains her plans for elopement that night.
  1. How does he part from Jessica?
  1. He tells her that tears prevent his tongue from uttering his feelings at parting from her. He says that his tears of grief overcome him and unman (weaken) him still further.
  1. What is meant by ‘if a Christian do not play the knave and get thee, I am much deceived’
  1. This means that if a Christian does not play some trick and take Jessica away, Launcelot will be much shocked.
  1. What does Jessica say to herself when Launcelot has gone?
  1. When Launcelot has gone, Jessica says to herself that it is so wicked of her to feel a disgrace to be her ‘father’s child’, but she cannot help it. Though she is Shylock’s daughter by birth, she is not so by behaviour.

She addresses Lorenzo, who is not there, and tells him that if he keeps his word, the struggle between her love for him and her duty to her father will soon be over. She will become a Christian and his beloved wife.