S Act3 2nd Semester

The Merchant of Venice
Act (3) Scene (I)

1. Who used this phrase ‘flesh and blood’? Was it misunderstood by anyone?
Shylock used this phrase to describe his daughter, Jessica. He was sorry to say that his
own flesh and blood rebelled. He was referring to Jessica’s elopement. It is
unbearable for Shylock that his own daughter should run away with a Christian and
disregarded her father. This phrase was misunderstood or deliberately misinterpreted.
Shylock uses the phrase flesh and blood in the usual sense, that Jessica is his natural
daughter. He refers to the biological relationship between father and child. But
Salanio/Salarino make fun of him, asking him if his physical desires are roused even in
his old age.
2. Why does Shylock want his daughter dead at his foot and the jewels in her
ear?
Shylock wants his daughter dead at his foot because she has not only
brought him , disgrace and dis honour by running away from home but has also
caused him a heavy financial loss by stealing his money and his jewels. He would not
mind his daughter’s having the jewels in her ears if he can have the satisfaction of
seeing his daughter dead before him. Death would be the only adequate punishment
for her misconduct. He would feel tortured if his daughter remains alive and goes
about in Genoa, flaunting the jewels which she had stolen from him. If she lies dead
before him with the jewels in her ear, he can gloat over the sight. Death is the
minimum punishment that the thinks his daughter should receive and he would then
not mind the loss of his jewels. Actually these would be the feelings of any father in
Shylock’s situation.
3. What consolation does Tubal offer to Shylock?

Tubal tells Shylock that he (Shylock) is not the only man who has suffered bad luck,
and that there are other men also in this world who become victims of bad luck. He
then mentions the case of Antonio. It is a well-known fact that we feel our own losses
much less when we learn that other people have also suffered losses. And our grief
over our losses is further diminished if we are told that our enemies have suffered
heavy losses. On being told that Antonio has lost his ships on the seas, Shylock feels
greatly consoled in his distress.
4. Who showed Tubal a ring? What did he tell him about this ring? How does it
concern Shylock?
1
Some of the creditors of Antonio who came with Tubal to Venice, told him
something about Shylock’s daughter. One of them showed him a ring that he got
from Jessica in exchange for a monkey. This ring had been stolen by Jessica from
her father’s house.
5. Why is Shylock touched to the quick? Why was this painful and angry reaction
on hearing the news about the ring?
It is a piece of painful news for Shylock that his daughter not only stole away the ring
from his house, but gave it up in exchange for a monkey. Shylock reacts sharply to the
news because the ring had a turquoise studded in it. It was particularly dear to
Shylock because it had been given do him by his wife when he was still courting her.
He is touched to the quick to hear that his daughter has given up so heartlessly her
father’s bridal present from his late, much lamented wife.
Act (3) Scene (II)
1. In what way does Portia show that she is more fond of Bassanio than the other
two suitors who had attempted the choice of caskets?
Portia’s treatment of Bassanio as a suitor is different from her treatment of other
suitors. She was unemotional and business like while talking to the Prince of Morocco
and the Prince of Arragon. She was glad to find that they made the wrong choice.
Their failure was her satisfaction. But not so in case of Bassanio .First, she wants
Bassanio to wait for some time before exercising his choice. In case he chose wrongly,
she would lose his company. This is a clear confession of Portia’s personal interest in
Bassanio. One of the conditions of the lottery of caskets is that a suitor who is so
passionately inclined towards Bassanio, is afraid that in the event of Bassanio’s wrong
choice. He would have leave Belmont immediately. This would deprive her of his sweet
company.
2. How, and what risk Antonio helped Bassanio and at what risk?
Antonio has helped Bassanio to raise a loan of three thousand ducats from Shylock.
The money-lender has imposed a dreadful condition that if the money is not repaid
within three months, he would have the right to cut off a pound of flesh from any part
of Antonio’s body. Thus, Antonio has secured the loan at the risk of his own life.
3. What role the music will play if in case Bassanio succeeds?
2
If Bassanio succeeds in his choice of the casket, music will be like the sound of
trumpet at the coronation of a king. Or it will be like the sweet sound of the dawn that
steals into the ears of the sleeping bridegroom.
4. In what way Bassanio looks like young Hercules?

Bassanio looks like young Hercules who saved the life of Virgin Hesione from being
sacrificed to the sea-monster. Portia’s fate is similar to her. Nerissa and others
standing nearby represent the women of Troy.
5. What is Bassanio’s opinion about beautiful looking women?

Bassanio thinks that women use beauty aids or cosmetics to look beautiful. Their
beauty is artificial. Those women who make a very good use of cosmetics look
superficial although outwardly they may look beautiful
6. In what way Portia sums up her qualities?

Portia admits that she is as a whole nothing better than an ignorant girl having no
training or experience of life. Still is happy because she is not too old to learn.
7. Explain how the lottery of caskets won by someone but the speaker got the
benefit into the bargain.
Gratiano had been quick in wooing the maid while his master was busy in going
through the fonnalities of choosing the casket. He had to try hard with his oaths of
love to win Nerissa’s heart. At last, he was able to secure the promise that Nerissa
would marry Gratiano if Bassanio won the hand of Portia. Thus, when Bassanio
won, victory came to Gratiano as well. Gratiano got the benefit into the bargain.
3
Act (3) Scene III
1. About whom is Antonio talking to SALANIO?
Antonio is talking to SALANIO about Shylock.
2. What reason does Antonio give for his hatred of the person who seeks his life?
Is this the only reason?
Antonio says that Shylock hates him because he had rescued many debtors from
Shylock’s clutches. Many debtors, who had forfeited the bonds signed by them to
repay their debts to Shylock, had approached Antonio with their complaints against
Shylock’s cruelty; and Antonio had helped those debtors with money.

S Act3 2nd Semester

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The Merchant of Venice

Act (3) Scene (I)

3. What consolation does Tubal offer to Shylock?

Act (3) Scene (II)

3. What role the music will play if in case Bassanio succeeds?

4. In what way Bassanio looks like young Hercules?

5. What is Bassanio’s opinion about beautiful looking women?

6. In what way Portia sums up her qualities?

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