Merchant of Venice ACT 3 Scene 4 Question Answers

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Extract I

1. Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow:

Lorenzo

How true a gentleman you send relief, 

How dear a lover of my lord your husband,

I know you would be prouder of the work 

Than customary bounty can enforce you.

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;.

1. Who is referred to as a true gentleman? Why is he in need of relief?

Ans:  Antonio is referred as a true gentleman. He is in need of relief as Shylock insists on the penalty for the forfeiture of the bond, which is a pound of flesh from any part of his body.

2. Explain the relationship that exists between the gentleman and Bassanio.

Ans:  The relationship between the gentlemen, i.e., Antonio and Bassanio is that of love, affection and friendship. Antonio readily agrees to Shylock’s bond to give money to Bassanio to woo Portia and never regrets his generosity even at the forfeiture of the bond. His last wish is to see Bassanio before he dies. Bassanio reciprocates the same sentiments by rushing back to Venice soon after his marriage to save his friend       

3. Give the meaning of:

(a) an equal yoke of love.

(b) Of lineaments, of manners, and of spirit. 

Ans:  (a) an equal yoke of love: by the same bond of love.

 (b) Of lineaments, of manners and of spirit: features, mind, behaviour, and disposition 

4.  Why does Portia conclude that the true gentleman must be like Bassanio?

Ans:  Portia says that when two people are close friends and are united by the tie of mutual love, their two natures may have many things in common. There must be a certain similarity of features, mind, behaviour and disposition. This makes her conclude that the true gentleman, i.e., Antonio must be like Bassanio.

5. What assignment does Portia give to Lorenzo? Which aspect of Portia's character is shown in this scene?

Ans: Portia asks Lorenzo to take care and management of her household till she and Nerissa live in prayer and meditation in a monastery and till her husband comes back.

The given scene shows Portia’s intellectual ability, her devotion to Bassanio and her admiration for Antonio. She feels that since Antonio is like Bassanio in mind and personality, her admiration for Antonio is justified.

Extract II

Portia

Lorenzo, I commit into your hands 

The husbandry and manage of my house 

Until my lord's return: for mine own part, 

I have toward heaven breathed a secret vow 

To live in prayer and contemplation,

Only attended by Nerissa here,

Until her husband and my lord's return:

1. What is meant by the husbandry and manage of my house?

Ans:  The given words mean: the control and management of my house. Portia tells Lorenzo that she gives into his hands the entire management and care of her mansion till the return of her husband.

2. What responsibilities does Portia give to Lorenzo? Till her husband's return, what would Portia do?

Ans: Portia gives Lorenzo the complete control and management of her mansion till her husband’s return. Portia says that she has taken a secret oath to pass her days in religious exercises and holy meditation with Nerissa alone as her companion until the return of her husband

3. What was Portia's intention in leaving her home? Why did she need Nerissa to accompany her?

Ans:  Portia’s intention in leaving her home was to go to Venice to save Antonio from the clutches of Shylock by disguising herself as a lawyer. She needed Nerissa to act as lawyer’s clerk.

4. Under what pretext was Portia leaving her house?

Ans:  Portia was leaving her house under the pretext of spending her days in religious exercises and holy meditation in the company of Nerissa till the return of her husband.

5. Why does Portia say that during her absence Lorenzo would not find it difficult to run her house smoothly? How does Portia show that she is intelligent and has good management skills?

Ans:  Portia says that during her absence Lorenzo would not find any difficulty in running her house because she has instructed her servants to accept Lorenzo and Jessica as their master and mistress till she comes back.

In this scene, Portia shows her intelligence and good management skills. She devises a plan to save Antonio from the clutches of Shylock. After consulting her cousin Dr. Bellario, she decides to go to Venice, dressed as a lawyer with Nerissa dressed as lawyer’s clerk. She entrusts to Lorenzo and Jessica the administration of her mansion. It is her intelligent planning and management of the situation that take the action of the play forward.

Extract III

Portia

And look what notes and garments he doth give thee, 

Bring them, I pray thee, with imagined speed 

Unto the tranect, to the common ferry 

Which trades to Venice. Waste no time in words, 

But get thee gone: I shall be there before thee.

Balthazar
Madam, I go with all convenient speed.
                                                              [Exit
Portia
Come on, Nerissa; I have work in hand
That you yet know not of: we'll see our husbands
Before they think of us.

Nerissa
Shall they see us?

1.  Where does Portia send Balthazar? Why does she choose Balthazar to do the errand for her?

Ans:   Portia sends Balthazar to Padua to Dr. Ballario. She chooses him for this errand as Balthazar is her honest and trustworthy servant.

2. What does Balthazar take with him? To whom is he to give it?

Ans: Balthazar takes with him a letter to be given to Dr. Bellario of Padua, a lawyer and Portia’s cousin

3. Give the meaning of: 

(a) with imagined speed:

(b) to the common ferry/Which trades to Venice

Ans: (a) with imagined speed: with maximum speed one is capable of.

(b) to the common ferry/ Which trades to Venice: to the public ferry-boat which plies to and from Venice.

4. What was the purpose of sending Balthazar to Portia's cousin?

Ans: The purpose of sending Balthazar to Portia’s cousin was to hand over to him her letter and then to bring back from him certain letters, notes and robes. Notes prefer to Dr. Bellario’s written opinion about the case. Robes refer to the robes of a Doctor of Law for Portia and the dress of a lawyer’s clerk, meant for Nerissa

5. What hints does Portia give to Nerissa in the extract regarding their mission? When and how are the rest of the plans to be revealed?

Ans:  After Balthazar’s departure, Portia gives Nerissa a hint regarding their mission saying that she has some urgent work. She also says that they will go to the place where their husbands are. Portia will outline the rest of the plan to Nerissa in the coach which will carry them to their destined place.

Extract IV

Portia

                                                       ...then I'll repent,

And wish, for all that, that I had not kill'd them: And twenty of these puny lies I'll tell;. 

That men shall swear I have discontinued school Above a twelvemonth: I have within my mind

A thousand raw tricks of these bragging Jacks,

Which I will practise.

1. Why wouldn't the husbands of Portia and Nerissa recognise them when they would see them?

Ans:   The husbands of Portia and Nerissa would not recognise them when they would see them because they will be dressed like young men — one a Doctor of Law and the other as his clerk

2. How will Portia appear and behave after she reaches the destination?

Ans:    After she reaches her destination dressed as a young man, Portia will wear a dagger by her side. She will speak in the husky voice of a youth, passing from boyhood to manhood. She will walk with long manly strides instead of two short and quick steps of a woman. She will talk of broils and fights like a boastful young man. She will tell fanciful stories, as for instance how many great ladies have loved her and died of a broken heart. She says that her mind is full of  thousands of school-boyish pranks and she will try them all.

3.  What 'quaint lies' would Portia tell to mislead people? How does she expect men to react to her quaint lies?

Ans:  Portia will tell fanciful stories as for instance how many great ladies have loved her and died of a broken heart because she did not love them in return. Then she would say that she could not help it and pretend she is sorry for them and that she wished they did not die for her sake as it was not her fault. Similarly, she would tell scores of other little inventions and lies. She expects men to believe that she has left school more than a year

4.  Give the meaning of:

(a) puny lies:

(b) raw tricks:

(c) bragging Jacks:

Ans:   (a) puny lies: credible lies, lies that are convincing.

 (b) raw tricks: inexperienced tricks of youth.

 (c) bragging Jacks: boastful fellows. 

5. What does Portia tell Nerissa about disclosing her future plan? Comment on the imaginative skills of Portia in this scene.

Ans:   Portia tells Nerissa that she will outline her future plan to her in the coach while traveling to Venice. This scene describes the imaginative skills of Portia. She plans in detail the plan of action and decides clearly her and Nerissa’s roles in it. The way she plans to speak and walk and tell boastful lies clearly indicate Portia’s imginative skills.