The Merchant of Venice 


(1) Answer the following questions in brief:

1. How was Portia dressed and on whose recommendation
did she come to the court? 
Answer: Portia was dressed as a Doctor of Law in Act IV, Scene 1 of The Merchant of Venice. She came to the court on the recommendation of Bellario, a legal expert from Venice, who was unable to attend the trial. Bellario suggested Portia to the Duke as a capable substitute to act as the judge in the case between Shylock and Antonio. In her disguise as Balthazar, the legal expert, Portia played a crucial role in saving Antonio by cleverly interpreting the law and delivering justice.


2. What is the suit between Shylock and Antonio?
Answer: The suit between Shylock and Antonio in The Merchant of Venice is a legal dispute over a bond that Antonio signed. In order to lend money to his friend Bassanio, who needed funds to court Portia, Antonio borrowed 3,000 ducats from Shylock. Since Antonio did not have the ready money, he agreed to a peculiar condition proposed by Shylock: if Antonio failed to repay the loan within three months, Shylock would be entitled to a pound of flesh from any part of Antonio's body.

When Antonio's ships are delayed and he is unable to repay the loan on time, Shylock demands the pound of flesh as stipulated in the bond. He brings the case to court, seeking to exact revenge on Antonio, whom he despises for personal and financial reasons. The case becomes the central legal conflict in the play, with Shylock seeking to enforce the bond and Antonio defending himself, eventually leading to a courtroom drama where Portia, disguised as a lawyer, saves Antonio's life by outsmarting Shylock.

3. What does Shylock want? 

Answer:Shylock wants justice as per the strict terms of the bond he made with Antonio. He demands that Antonio fulfill the agreement by giving him a pound of flesh from his body, as Antonio has failed to repay the loan of 3,000 ducats within the agreed-upon three months.

However, Shylock’s desire is not just about the money or the bond itself; it is also driven by revenge. Shylock harbors deep resentment toward Antonio for personal and professional reasons, as Antonio has insulted and wronged him in the past. He sees this as an opportunity to get back at Antonio and to claim his revenge in the form of the pound of flesh, no matter the cost.

Shylock refuses any offer of repayment beyond the original sum, even when Antonio offers him three times the amount or more. His determination to exact the penalty of the bond becomes the central conflict of the play.

4. Why does Portia want the Jew to show mercy?

Answer: Portia wants Shylock to show mercy because mercy is a virtue that is highly valued in both human relationships and in the eyes of the law. In her speech in Act IV, Scene 1, Portia explains that mercy is not something that can be forced or demanded, but it is a natural, gentle quality that "droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven." She highlights that mercy is more powerful and noble than justice, and it enhances the very idea of justice.

She appeals to Shylock’s sense of humanity, urging him to remember that mercy is above strict legal justice. Portia argues that even though the law allows Shylock to claim the pound of flesh, he should choose to show mercy instead, as it is an attribute of God and noble rulers. Mercy, according to Portia, makes justice more complete and helps build a fairer and kinder society.

Her plea for mercy is not only a moral argument but also a strategic one, as she wants to save Antonio's life and prevent the bond from being enforced. She recognizes that Shylock’s refusal to show mercy will lead to consequences for him, both legally and personally. 

5. What does the Jew insist upon?

Answer: In The Merchant of Venice, Shylock, the Jew, insists on honoring the bond he made with Antonio, which stipulates that if Antonio fails to repay the borrowed money, Shylock is entitled to a pound of Antonio's flesh. Despite being offered multiple opportunities to accept money (even three times the amount of the original loan), Shylock remains adamant about his right to take the flesh, driven by his desire for revenge against Antonio, who has wronged him in the past.

Shylock insists on justice rather than mercy, arguing that the law should be upheld strictly as written in the bond. This insistence ultimately leads to his downfall when Portia, disguised as a legal expert, uses the legal technicalities of the bond to trap him.

6. What does Bassanio offer the Jew?
Answer: In The Merchant of Venice, Bassanio offers Shylock multiple times to pay back the loan with three times the amount of money that Antonio owes. He urges Shylock to show mercy and accept the money in place of the pound of flesh. Bassanio even offers to pay the debt ten times over if necessary, hoping that Shylock will reconsider his demand for revenge and agree to a financial settlement instead of taking Antonio's life. However, Shylock refuses all these offers, insisting on his right to the flesh according to the bond.

7. Why does Shylock call Balthazar (Portia) a Daniel?
Answer: Shylock calls Balthazar (who is actually Portia in disguise) a "Daniel" because he is comparing her to the biblical figure Daniel, who was known for his wisdom and sense of justice. In the Bible, Daniel was a prophet who famously interpreted the judgment of God with great fairness and wisdom, particularly in the case of the two women who claimed to be the mother of the same child.

By calling Portia a "Daniel," Shylock is acknowledging her as a wise and fair judge, albeit in a sarcastic or ironic manner. He is impressed by her legal acumen and her ability to twist the law in such a way that he is forced to forfeit his claim on Antonio's flesh, even though he had initially felt confident in his legal standing.

8. Why is not Shylock ready to take money?
Answer: Shylock is not ready to take money because he is obsessed with revenge rather than financial compensation. He insists on taking the pound of flesh from Antonio as per the bond, because he sees it as a way to exact justice for the wrongs he believes Antonio has done to him. Shylock has been wronged in his eyes by Antonio's insults, his business practices, and his personal animosity toward Jews.

The money offered to him — three times the amount of the bond — does not satisfy his desire for vengeance. He does not want just money; he wants to punish Antonio in the most literal way possible. For Shylock, it's not about the financial compensation, but about making Antonio suffer for the way he has treated him and his people. This is why he rejects the offer of money and insists on the pound of flesh.



(ii) Answer the following questions in 50-60 words each:

1. What does the bond say?

Answer: The bond in "The Merchant of Venice" is a legal agreement between Antonio and Shylock. It states that:

  1. Antonio will borrow 3,000 ducats from Shylock to help his friend Bassanio win the hand of Portia.

  2. Antonio agrees to repay the amount within three months. If he fails to repay the loan on time, Shylock is entitled to take one pound of flesh from any part of Antonio's body that is closest to his heart.

This bond is signed by Antonio as a gesture of trust and confidence, even though he doesn't have the money readily available. He is sure that his ships will return with wealth before the deadline. However, the bond's terms are extremely harsh, as it allows Shylock to claim a pound of flesh from Antonio if the loan is not repaid on time.

2. Why can't Shylock take his pound of flesh?

Answer: Shylock cannot take his pound of flesh because of a legal technicality that is pointed out by Portia (disguised as the lawyer Balthazar) during the court scene.

Portia cleverly interprets the bond and reveals that while the bond allows Shylock to take a pound of flesh, it does not give him the right to shed any of Antonio's blood. The terms of the bond are very specific: Shylock may take only a pound of flesh, and it must be done in such a way that no blood is spilled.

Since the bond does not explicitly allow for the shedding of blood, Portia argues that if Shylock takes the flesh and causes even a drop of blood to spill, he would be in violation of Venetian law. This would result in the confiscation of all his goods and his life being at the mercy of the Duke. Therefore, Shylock is left in a position where he cannot fulfill the terms of the bond without breaking the law.

Thus, Shylock loses his case because the law protects Antonio from harm, and Shylock cannot take the pound of flesh without risking severe consequences for himself.

3. What does Antonio want Bassanio to tell Portia?

Answer: Antonio wants Bassanio to tell Portia about the deep affection and love he has for him, especially in the face of his impending death. As Antonio prepares to face the consequences of the bond with Shylock, he asks Bassanio to convey his gratitude and affection to Portia, should he die.

He wants Bassanio to commend him to her, explaining how much he loved him and how he is willing to sacrifice his life for Bassanio’s happiness. Antonio expresses that he is at peace with his fate, as he sees it as a greater expression of friendship and loyalty to Bassanio than any material wealth.

In summary, Antonio hopes that Bassanio will tell Portia how much he loved him and how his actions were for Bassanio's sake, not to mention the grief he feels for leaving him behind.


4. What is the vow taken by Bassanio?

Answer: The vow taken by Bassanio is to offer himself to Shylock's mercy in exchange for Antonio's life. He vows to sacrifice his own life if necessary to save Antonio, as Antonio’s well-being is more important to him than anything else, including his wealth or personal safety.

However, Bassanio also makes a vow to Portia when he decides to give her the ring she gave him, as a token of their love and loyalty. This vow is a promise not to part with the ring, but when he later gives it to the disguised Portia (Balthazar), he does so as part of a greater plan to save Antonio. Bassanio’s actions of giving away the ring signify his deep commitment to love and friendship, as he is willing to part with something that holds great sentimental value to him, just as he has pledged his loyalty and love to Antonio and Portia.

5. What does Shylook offer after he fails to take his pound of flesh?

Answer: After Shylock fails to take his pound of flesh, he offers to accept the return of his principal money (the 3,000 ducats) that Antonio had originally borrowed. He also agrees to release Antonio from the bond if the money is paid back. Shylock even asks for the money three times the original amount as compensation, showing his willingness to settle the matter in exchange for monetary gain, rather than his original vengeful demand of a pound of flesh.

However, his offer is rejected by Portia (disguised as Balthazar), who insists that Shylock should still be bound to the legal penalty in the bond—he can only take the pound of flesh, but not a drop of blood, or else he will forfeit everything. This forces Shylock into a corner, where he is ultimately left with no option but to lose both his wealth and his life, as he does not comply with the laws of Venice.

6. What is the penalty imposed upon Shylock?

Answer: After Shylock fails to take his pound of flesh, he offers to accept the return of his principal money (the 3,000 ducats) that Antonio had originally borrowed. He also agrees to release Antonio from the bond if the money is paid back. Shylock even asks for the money three times the original amount as compensation, showing his willingness to settle the matter in exchange for monetary gain, rather than his original vengeful demand of a pound of flesh.

However, his offer is rejected by Portia (disguised as Balthazar), who insists that Shylock should still be bound to the legal penalty in the bond—he can only take the pound of flesh, but not a drop of blood, or else he will forfeit everything. This forces Shylock into a corner, where he is ultimately left with no option but to lose both his wealth and his life, as he does not comply with the laws of Venice.

7 What does Antonio want the law to do?

Answer: Antonio wants the law to show mercy and to release him from the bond's penalty. He asks the court, particularly the Duke and the judge (Portia in disguise), to pardon him and not enforce the strict terms of the bond, which would result in his life being taken. Antonio's main concern is Bassanio's well-being, and he doesn't want his friend to suffer because of the situation.

He also expresses a desire to grant Shylock's life in exchange for the mercy shown to him, hoping that this will lead to a fair resolution. Antonio believes that the law, while just, should also allow for mercy, especially in cases where it would bring about a more compassionate outcome.