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English Literature LINE / STANZA / SCENE WISE ANALYSIS OF POEMS, STORIES & DRAMA

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STOPPING BY WOODS ON A SNOWY EVENING ANALYSIS Stanza I (Lines 1-4) Get out the microscope, because we’re going through this poem line-by-line. Line 1 Whose woods these are I think I know. Our speaker is not the most confident person in the world. This line begins as a question, and we’re totally ready to get on board the question train, but then, halfway through the line, he switches it up. He wonders initially who owns “these woods.” The word these makes us realize that our speaker is actually near the woods in question. Our speaker then tells us he thinks he knows who owns these woods. Notice how he doesn’t say he knows who owns these woods; he says he thinks he knows. Why doesn’t our speaker say, “I think I know whose woods these are”? What would be lost or gained if the poem began with that rewritten line? Line 2 His house is in the village though; The speaker thinks he knows the owner of woods, and this owner lives in a house in the village. Civilization, sweet, sweet civilization! This line tells us that there is a village around here somewhere. The word “village” reminds us of thatched roofs, smoke curling out of little chimneys, and of a few stores and homes clustered around a single main street; in other words, a village is not the most hoppin’ place in the world. However, our speaker is relieved that the owner of the woods is in the village – now he doesn’t have to worry about getting caught 2

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trespassing on someone else’s property. Line 3 He will not see me stopping here Man, this woods-owner guy must be pretty strict if our speaker is so worried about getting caught taking a breather on his property. The speaker is almost trying to calm himself down and reassure himself that the owner “will not see me stopping here,” as though he believes that saying so makes it true. It’s similar to the magical phrase, “If I can’t see them, they can’t see me,” uttered by Haley Joel Osment in the movie Sixth Sense. This line also tells us that the speaker has stopped, that he’s hanging out at the moment. Line 4 To watch his woods fill up with snow. Our speaker is a total rebel. He’s hardcore trespassing so that he can…watch the snow fall? Yes, he has stopped in order to take a gander at snow falling on cedars. Stanza II (Lines 5-8) Get out the microscope, because we’re going through this poem line-by-line. Line 5 My little horse must think it queer Our speaker is not alone! He has a horse, and this horse is little. Maybe a pony. The speaker and his little horse probably spend a lot of time together, because our speaker is totally able to read the little horse’s mind. TIWARI TUTORIALS* ULTIMATE FOR ICSE, ISC & CBSE

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He imagines that his horse is thinking that things are a little strange right now. Line 6 To stop without a farmhouse near Our speaker continues to read his horse’s mind, and imagines the horse is thinking something along the lines of, “Whoa, why are we stopping here? We’re in the middle of nowhereville. Where’s my dinner? I don’t know about you, but I’m cold. There isn’t even a farmhouse close by – what’s going on?” The fact that our speaker even attempts to figure out what his horse is thinking shows that he’s a caring kind of guy, and that he’s aware that stopping in the middle of some snowy woods is kind of a random thing to do. Line 7 Between the woods and frozen lake Now we get the 411 on just where, exactly, the speaker and his horse have stopped: they are currently hanging out between the woods and the “frozen lake,” so they must be on a little patch of snowy shoreline with dark trees to one side and a glossy, ice-covered lake to the other. It must be really cold if the lake is frozen, and we also are kind of intrigued by the fact that the speaker is not riding through the woods, but is right beside the woods. Line 8 The darkest evening of the year. Not only is it snowy and wintry, but it’s also approaching nighttime too. Why is this speaker dilly-dallying when the light is dying and the snow is falling? A lot of people in his place would want to scurry home as fast as is humanly possible. 4


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Besides sounding ominous and like the preview to a horror movie, “the darkest evening of the year” makes us think of the winter solstice, which occurs in late December (in the northern hemisphere) each year and marks the moment at which the sun is at its farthest possible distance from the observer. It also happens to mark the beginning of winter. Whatever the case may be, it’s dark out and it’s getting darker by the minute. We don’t think that the speaker is the kind of guy to pack flashlights. Stanza III (Lines 9-12) Get out the microscope, because we’re going through this poem line-by-line. Line 9 He gives his harness bells a shake Even though the speaker can read his little horse’s mind, the horse can’t talk back. So, the next best option is to shake his booty. And by shaking his booty, we mean that he shakes his harness a little. There are little bells attached to his harness, which give a nice little jingle (think Santa Claus’s sleigh). Line 10 To ask if there is some mistake. Again with the mind reading. Our speaker knows his horse is shaking his bells in order to “ask” his master if something is awry, is there’s a problem. It’s kind of like the horse is saying, “Hey, is everything OK? We’ve been standing here staring at nothing for a little while, and I just wanted to make sure you didn’t need me to keep on truckin’. I’m cool with the standing still thing, but I just wanted to make sure I wasn’t TIWARI TUTORIALS* ULTIMATE FOR ICSE, ISC & CBSE

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misinterpreting you.” Line 11 The only other sound’s the sweep Beyond the harness bells’ shaking, the only other sound that the speaker can hear is the “sweep.” The word “sweep” makes us think of the sound brooms make when they sweep dust into a dustpan. At this point, we realize that the speaker is taking inventory of all of the sounds around him. He’s interested in sounds. Line 12 Of easy wind and downy flake. The sweeping noise comes from the slight wind and the softly falling snow. Have you ever listened to snow falling? It’s very, very quiet. There’s just a gentle whirr. Everything is very, very still. Stanza IV (Lines 13-16) Get out the microscope, because we’re going through this poem line-by-line. Line 13 The woods are lovely, dark and deep. Our speaker finally admits to liking the woods. We knew it all along. He’s entranced by the darkness and deepness of the woods, and he thinks they are lovely. Dark and deep woods are awesome in our book, but they also make us feel slightly anxious. There’s something mysterious about the maze-like nature of woods and forests. The point, though, is that our speaker digs these woods. Line 14 6


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But I have promises to keep, Our speaker begins this line with the word “but.” The word “but” makes us think that the speaker is contemplating staying in these woods rather than returning to the village to fulfill the promises he’s made. These promises may be things like, “I’ll be home for dinner, mom,” or they may be things like, “Let’s get married,” or “I will take care of you.” Regardless of whether these are big promises or little promises, our speaker flirts momentarily with the idea of breaking them, before deciding against it. Line 15 And miles to go before I sleep, Rats. Our speaker really is in the middle of nowhere, because he’s still got a few miles to go before he can rest his head on his pillow. He better roll out soon. But we feel like we are well acquainted with that feeling of being so far away from where you need to be that it almost seems easier to just give up and hang out. Line 16 And miles to go before I sleep. OK, so our speaker must really be far from home, because he feels the need to repeat the fact that he’s got miles to go. However, when he says the line a second time, we hear the word “sleep” more clearly than when we heard it in the line before. Maybe that’s because “sleep” has the honor of wrapping up the entire poem. In any case, this line makes us think of how awesome it will be for our speaker to finally rest his head on his pillow after such a long trek. TIWARI TUTORIALS* ULTIMATE FOR ICSE, ISC & CBSE

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QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS Q1. What is “I” in this poem? Who does the pronoun “whose” refer to? The narrator of the poem is the “I”. “Whose” refers to the owner of the woods by which the narrator of the peom is passing by. Q2. Do you think the owner of these “woods” is a lover of nature? Give a reason. No, the owner of the woods is not a lover of nature as he is in his village indifferent towards the beauty of the woods. Q3. Why does the speaker stop at the woods? What does his stopping here signify? The speaker stops at the woods to feast his eyes at the beauty of the woods. His stopping signifies that he is a lover of nature. Q4. What is the significance of “He will not see me stopping here”? The significance of “He will not see me stopping here” lies in the fact that the owner of the “woods” is unaware that someone is feasting his eyes on his property. Q5. From the first two lines what do you figure out about the speaker’s occupation? From the first two lines one can figure out that he is a traveler and probably travels long distance to fulfill his promises. Q6. What does “must” mean here? Why does the “little horse”, find it “queer”? The word “must” mean “for sure”. The little horse finds it “queer” as there was no farmhouse in sight where one can stop to rejuvenate oneself, and moreover it is a 8


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desolate place when it is snowing and already evening. Q7. The speaker is on his way to some place. What makes his pausing by the woods unusual, especially at the time of speaking? The speaker’s stopping by the “woods” is unusual as : (a) it is snowing (b) It is a dark evening. Q8. Who does “he” stand for? Why does he think there is some “mistake”? He is the horse. He thinks that there is some mistake as the horse and its traveler usually stops in farmhouses; but as the traveler has stopped to see at the beauty of the woods, the horse thinks it to be a mistake. Q9. It is very quiet all around. Which lines emphasize this? The last two lines of the extract “The only other sound’s the sweep of easywind and downy flake” emphasize that it is quiet all around. Q10. What are the three sounds spoken of? The three sounds are of (i) horse bells (ii) wind and (iii) the flakes of snow falling Q11. What image is created by “downy flake”? “Downy flake” refers to the snow fall, downy means silky, thus the phrase mean that there is snow falling which is like silk. The image is that of silky snow falling whichis beautiful. Q12. Where is the speaker at this time? What is he doing? What makes these woods attractive to the speaker? The speaker is in front of the woods where he has stopped to feast his eyes on the beauty of the woods. The snowfall has made the woods look attractive. Q13. What is the significance of the word ‘But’ in the second line? TIWARI TUTORIALS* ULTIMATE FOR ICSE, ISC & CBSE

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What are the “promises” he has to keep? The word “but” is significant as the speaker thinks that it is more important for him to fulfill his responsibilities than to gratify his soul by enjoying the beauty of the woods. Q14. The speaker has to make a decision. What does he decide to do? Why? The speaker has decided to move ahead and not merely enjoy the beauty of the woods. He decided to do so as he has some responsibilities to fulfill. Q15. Why, in your opinion, does the poet repeat the line“And miles to go before I sleep”? The poet repeats the line as he wants to emphasize to himself as well as to the readers that he has promises to fulfill.

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A DOCTOR’S JOURNAL ENTRY FOR AUGUST 6, 1945 ANALYSIS The poem, A Doctor’s Journal Entry for August 6, 1945 is penned down in the form of an entry in a journal by a doctor for keeping records. The entry gave the readers a vivid picture of how the people were taken aback when atomic bombs were dropped on their city of Hiroshima in 1945 during the Second World War. Narrative Technique: Vikram Seth’s poetic style has many features like the use of prose-pattern, epithets, images, wit, humor and irony. The poem is in a form of journal entry made by a Hibakusha (a Japanese word for a bomb survivor) on August 6, 1945. The use of this journal form for writing poetry is ingenious because this kind of poetry requires no rhyme pattern or other poetic devices. The style is colloquial, clipped. The poem has no rhyming scheme or stanzas, it is a continuous narration of what happened on a particular day. In the beginning of the poem, one can see the account of the impact of the atomic bombs on the city. The poet also uses Hyperbole (exaggeration) for highlighting the current situation. “The roof, the walls, and, as it seemed the world Collapsed in timber and debris, dust swirled Around me.” An atmosphere of horror, fear and panic too is created all around the narrator and the narrator gives a dreadful account of it in the next few lines. “It took some time for me to understand The friction on their burns caused so much pain They feared to chafe flesh against flesh again TIWARI TUTORIALS* ULTIMATE FOR ICSE, ISC & CBSE

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Those who could, shuffled in blank parade.” Vikram Seth has personified ‘loneliness’ to describe the helplessness of the survivors in A Doctor’s Journal Entry for August 6, 1945. “What choice had we? A dreadful loneliness Came over me when she had gone. My mind Ran at high speed, my body crept behind.” Lyrical in Spirit: Lyric Poetry deals with the poet’s own feelings, his state of mind and perceptions. A Doctor’s Journal Entry for August 6, 1945 is a poem about the poet’s own sorrows, feelings. The poem expresses the personal torments and sufferings of the victims. Symbolism: The poem is highly symbolic. The bombs that tore away the human beings of their clothes signifies that the whole of human race who suffered. Note the symbolism in the following lines,“……..I saw, dismayed, A woman with a child stand in my pathBoth naked. Had they come back from the bath? …………………………..and now the thought arose That some strange thing had stripped us of our clothes.” The common thing between all these people was that they were dumbfounded and silent. They were speechless. When someone is in deep sorrow he loses the power of speech, he becomes numb. It symbolizes that a powerful nation destroys the lives of the common people, they still remain silent. “My legs gave way, I sat down the ground. Thirst seized me, but no water could be found. My breath was short but bit by bit my strength 12


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Seemed to revive and I got up at length.” The above line shows the indomitable spirit of the doctor, induced with determination that he regains strength finally. This symbolizes Japan, as one of the world leaders in today’s world. Human Goodness: Even during such a crisis and chaos the goodness in human nature is not lost. There is still hope for care and concern in the minds of the people. The doctor, though himself wounded, calls out for his wife, and even thinks of helping out his staff in his hospital. A soldier hands over a towel to the doctor to cover himself. The main theme of A Doctor’s Journal Entry for August 6, 1945 is the destruction caused by the atomic bombs on Hiroshima. The poem depicts both mental and physical agony. The poet has described the gruesome reality of the first nuclear explosion and its power to destroy the whole human race. This bombing wiped out two cities and millions died. However, Japan endured the calamity, rose up, (bit by bit my strength/Seemed to revive) and rebuilt their shattered city and their world. QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS Q1. Who is ‘Me”? Where is he at present? What time of the day is it? What is the narrator enjoying as described immediately before these lines? “Me” in the extract is the narrator of the poem “A Doctor’s Journal Entry for August 6, 1945” who experienced the atomic bombing. He is at his home in a city (Hiroshima or Nagasaki) in Japan, which was bombed on 6th August 1945 during the Second World War. It was morning. The Narrator says that the day was peaceful and beautiful, and it was a warm morning when the narrator, a doctor by profession, got up and stretched himself and was relaxing at home. TIWARI TUTORIALS* ULTIMATE FOR ICSE, ISC & CBSE

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Q2. How is the natural scene, described before this extract, significant in the context of the poem? The natural scene described just before the extract is significant as it shows how the beauty of nature was destroyed in a moment by the man made culture of war and hatred and scientific developments. The evil use of science is juxtaposed against the beauty of nature. Q3. What are the strong flashes mentioned in the extract? Why does the narrator wonder whether those are magnesiumm flares? The strong flashes mentioned in the extract are the atomic bombing that happened in the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki during the Second World War on 6th August, 1945. The narrator wonders whether they are magnesium flares as it is war time and he thinks that it is probably the magnesium flares that are usual during wars. He dcan not think that the city is bombed with an atomic bomb. Q4. What harm did the flashes cause to the building? Why did the narrator exclaim that “the world collapsed”? The flashes destroyed the buildings. The narrator exclaimed that “the wrold collapsed” as wherever he would see all around him, he could see nothing but destruction and decay. Q5. What happened to the narrator’s body? What was the reaction on seeing all this? The narrator’s clothes were burnt. A splinter had protruded into his thigh. Blood started sprikling from the right side. His cheek was torn and he removed dispassionately a piece of glass from his body. Q6. Why is the narrator looking for his wife? What does his attitude towards his wife indicate about his character? The narrator is looking for his wife to figure out if she is safe. 14


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The narrrator’s attitude towards his wife indicates that he loves his wife too much and is caring about her. Q7. Describe the appearance of his wife. What has caused her appearance to be so? What does he tell her? How does their conversation indicate about human values? The wife of the Doctor, Yecko San is being described as pale, bloodstained and frightened, who was holding her elbow. It is the atomic bombing and the shock of it which caused her appearance to be so. Their conversation shows two things about human values- (a) the cruelty and inhumanity of the warmongers and (b) the goodness, fighting spirit, helping nature of the people like doctor and his wife. Q8. Agaisnt what do they trip up in the street? How do they feel about it? What has caused that object to be there? What does he think that they should do now? They trip up in the street against a head. They felt strange about it and said sorry later torealize that it was a dead man. A gate crashed on him and cuased the death. The doctor thinks that he should get to hospital as they needed aid and he should help his staff in hospital. Q9. What are your feelings for the narrator and his wife? Give a reason to justify your feelings. My feelings towards the narrator and his wife is that of sympathy as they, like other citizens of the two Japanese cities, were suffering because of the war mongers who decided to use atomic bombs on these two cities. Q10. How did fire spring up in the dust? Give two reasons that made the narrator intend to go the hospital. Fire narrator intended to go to the hospital as (a) he himself is TIWARI TUTORIALS* ULTIMATE FOR ICSE, ISC & CBSE

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wounded and would need medical attention, and (b) being a doctor, he thought he should be in hospital to serve others in these trying times. Q11. Later, in the poem, he sees a soldier. What does the soldier do for him? Then what does he tell his wife? Why? The soldier gives him a towel. he then tells his wife to go ahead as he has no strength to carry on. He asks his wife to do so as she should get medical aid even if he cannot. Q12. Describe of the sights which he sees later. After that he sees “shadowy forms of people” silently walking with their arms stretched straight out, dangling from their shoulders as they cannot bear the friction of the burnt skins; and a woman and her child both naked. Q13. Why do you think, all do not feel ashamed of being naked? They do not feel ashamed of being naked as (i) everyone’s clothes are burnt and all are naked (ii) more shameful act was of the people who decided to bomb the city (iii) they are so numb by the experience that feeling ashamed does not matter to them. Q14. By referring to any two examples, show how the poet gives a detailed picture of what was happening. The two examples are (a) shadowy forms of people” silently walking with their arms stretched straight out, dangling from their shoulders as they cannot bear the friction of the burnt skins and (b) a woman and her child both naked as their clothes are all burnt with bombing. Q15. What are the “shadowy forms” referred to in the extract? What do the words, ghosts, scarecrows and the dumb indicate? The naked suffering people of the bombed city parading with paid are referred to in the extract. The words “ghosts”, “scarecrows”, 16


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“dumb” indicate that the people of the city are suffering limitlessly because of the atomic bombing. Q16. What is the impact of his wife’s absence on him? What does the impact indicate about their relationship? “A dreadful lonelines” came over the doctor in the absence of his wife. It shows that the doctor and his wife are too much in love with each other and in their suffering they needed each other. Q17. Which four people does the poet see on the way to the hospital? What was common to all? Why? The four people that the poet sees on the way to the hospital are soldier, a naked woman with his naked child, a naked man, and an old woman. All of them are naked and suffering from immense pain and are dumb with pain and shock. They are so as the atomic bombing has caused all these. Q18. What/who do you think is responsible for causing so much bloodshed? Does it prove that the tyrant is really powerful? Give a reason to justify your opinion. The war mongers are responsible for causing so much bloodshed for no reason, but their own profit. No, it does not prove that the tyrant is really powerful as the fighting spirit and helping nature of people proves however inhuman the war mongers may be, their cruelty and violence will be countered by people’s faith in humanity.


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IF THOU MOST LOVE ME..... ANALYSIS Sonnets from Portuguese is a collection of 44 sonnets written by Elizabeth Barrett Browning during the years 1845-1846 and published in 1850. The sonnets have been very popular since their publication. Elizabeth Browning was a Victorian poet whose poetry was very popular in England as well as in the United States. All her sonnets revolve around her intense love for her would-to-be husband Robert Browning. FORM & STRUCTURE: The poem If Thou Must Love Me is a sonnet. A sonnet is a fourteen-line poem with a normal rhyming pattern in iambic pentameter. The rhyme scheme in this sonnet is abba/abba/cdc/dc. This sonnet If Thou Must Love Me is a combination of Petrarchan and Shakespearean conventions. The fusion of these two conventions adds unity to the sonnets and seems to echo the unity of the couple portrayed in the poem. USE OF DIALOGUE: The poet has used dialogue in the sonnet. She had put forth a quotation, an argumentation by a lover presented in a form of sonnet. Moreover, the sonnet seems like a discussion by the both parties about their relationship. The poem is more about the lady’s opinion about how her man should love her. It seems like she is not happy with the present idealism of her man. REPETITION: The word ‘love’ has been repeated for at least ten times in the poem. It is used by the poet not just to praise the subject but has also focused on the intellectualism of what love should be. Barrett Browning is more concerned about the kind of love that lasts forever rather than ‘love for love’s sake.’ 18


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PERSONIFICATION: Personification is that figure of speech where abstract ideas are attributed human qualities. Again ‘love’ has been personified in If Thou Must Love Me, when the speaker says, ‘love’s sake’ and ‘love’s eternity.’ CUMULATIVE LISTING: Cumulative Listing is a technique of listing similar ideas in poetry. Here in this sonnet, the poet has used this technique of Cumulative Listing. It emphasizes a particular statement. In the first two lines of If Thou Must Love Me, the poet wants her lover not to love her for love’s sake or for her physical attributes. In support of this statement, the speaker uses Cumulative Listing and enumerates her physical characteristics in the poem- her smile, her pleasant voice etc. The Cumulative Listing reinforces the idea presented in the first two lines of the poem. THEMES: Theme of Love: Love is the most dominant theme in Elizabeth Barrett Browning’s sonnets. This poem shows her suggestion to her lover about how he should love her. Elizabeth Barrett Browning was disabled and had incurable diseases; therefore she was afraid that Robert Browning would leave her. That is why she says that her lover must not love her for her smile or gentle voice as these qualities fade with time. She wants Robert Browning to love her forever and such kind of love can only exist when he would love her as a person and not for her looks. Women Rights: During the Victorian period, women did not have the right to vote or had any right to own property. They were not given the right to study classical and commercial subjects; they could only study history, geography and general literature. During that period, women were not treated equal to men. Therefore, Barrett Browning was against these TIWARI TUTORIALS* ULTIMATE FOR ICSE, ISC & CBSE

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social and gender differences and one will find that her writings were based on issues like child labour, ill treatment and oppression of women. In this poem she mocks the idea of courtly love. Her sonnets give importance to the thinking of women and not to the male-dominated society. Here in the sonnet, If Thou Must Love Me, the speaker wants her lover not to love her for superficial qualities or out of pity but for what she is as a person. Thus this poem questions the idea of a woman and demands the right of woman to speak and to be heard. QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS Q1. To whom are these lines addressed to? How is he related to the poet? Comment on their relationship. The lines are addressed to Robert Browning, another significant poet of the Victorian Era. Robert Browning is Elizabeth Barrett Browning’s lover and later husband. The love relationship between Elizabeth Barrett and Robert Browning became so famous that till today many refer to them. As Elizabeth’s father was against the match they had to elope to get married. Q2. Why does the poet proclaim not to say certain things in love? Do you agree? Why? The poet says that the lover should not proclaim that he loves her for her beauty as outward beauty is an impermanent thing. Yes, I agree, as beauty lies not in how a person looks, but how a person is. And a person should love someone not because of outward beauty. Q3. What does the phrase “falls in well with mine” suggest? The phrase “falls in well with mine” suggests that the male language of wooing does not matter to the poet and those tricks of thoughts of the male lovers are nothing but wasted attempts as she can see through them. 20


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Q4. What does the phrase “change for thee” signify? Is it a significant phrase in the peom? The phrase “change for thee” signifies “change for you.” With time people’s perception changes - what one finds beautiful today, one may not find it tomorrow. Therefore the poet says that if the lover loves her for her outward beauty then it may change very soon as neither outward beuaty is permanent and not one’s liking is permanent. Q5. What is the poet trying to suggest in the above lines? The poet suggests that neither beauty, nor one’s perception of beauty is constant as they change with time. Therefore the poet says that a love based on outward beauty makes no sense as it may wither with time. Q6. What does the lines “so wrought, / May be unwrought so” signify? The lines “so wrought” May be unwrought so” signifies that a love “fashioned in such terms (based on physical beauty) would soon become out of fashion.” Q7. What does the poet mean when she says not to love in pity? Why does she think so? The poet is of the opinion that if the lover loves her out of pity then as soon as the melancholy of the poet withers away, there would be nothing more to love. She thinks so because if the reason of love is pitying the beloved, then as soon as the reason of the pity withers away, the love will also vanish. Q8. What would make the “creature” forget to weep? When the creature, that is the person who is sad, is being comforted then the compassionate gesture, the sympathy would make her forget to weep. In other words, the lover would make the beloved TIWARI TUTORIALS* ULTIMATE FOR ICSE, ISC & CBSE

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so happy, that she would forget the reasons of the sadness. Q9. Why would the comfort of the beloved be a reason of losing the love? Do you agree with the poet? The comfort of the beloved be a reason of losing the love is that the comfort would dry her tears and that way the reason for which she was loved will wither away, leading to a withering away of the love. Q10. The second last line of the extract starts with a “but”. Why? The second last line starts with a “but” as the poet prescribes before this line a series of things for which the lover should not love the poet and then says that she should be loved only for love’s sake. Q11. What does “love’s sake” mean? Do you agree to it? What is the meaning of “evermore”? The phrase “love’s sake” means “only for the sake of love.” Yes, one should agree to it as a love which is only for the sake of love will last forever. “Evermore” means everlasting, for eternity. Q12. What is “love’s eternity”? Can one achieve “love’s eternity”? “Love’s eternity” is a love which is eternal, will never die. Yes, one can achieve “love’s eternity.”

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I BELIEVE ANALYSIS Capabilities of Human Beings: The poem I Believe depicts the theme of the uncountable capabilities of man and his dreams and achievements. The poet believes a human being can rise to great heights, endure a number of hurdles and reach their goal. In the first stanza, the poet says that a human being can throw a pebble upwards, pierce through the heaven and watch the angels play. This actually means that humans can achieve the most difficult and sometimes even the unachievable goals. At a spiritual level, it means raising our conscience to a higher point and becoming one with God. In fact, the poet wants to say that human beings can conquer all parts of the universe if they believe in themselves, use their capabilities and work diligently. She means to say that humans can conquer all the three realms of the earth- the atmosphere, the lithosphere and the hydrosphere. The poet also believes that humans can make this world heaven-like and themselves like angels. Feminist Reading: The poem I Believe has been written by one of the eminent Garo poets and activists, Brucellish K Sangma. The poem voices the concern about dreams and aspirations of a woman in a male-dominated society. A number of restrictions are imposed on women in a patriarchal society. Such a society is male-centred and they subordinate women in all domains in their life: familial, religious, political and economical. The woman of today wants to free herself from such a society and achieve her dreams. She wants to reach the sky, dive into deep oceans, and conquer all the three realms of the earth. The poet believes today’s women like the poet can achieve her goals. STYLE: TIWARI TUTORIALS* ULTIMATE FOR ICSE, ISC & CBSE

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Simplicity rules the poems of Brucellish K Sangma. It is a translation from the original Garo poem, Anga Bebera’a into English by the same poet. The poem consists of six stanzas and the poet has taken ample care to use appropriate English words to convey her theme and message. The poem is composed in free verse i.e. it has no rhyme scheme and no regular pattern of rhythm. It should be noted that each stanza is a single sentence. ANAPHORA: Anaphora is a figure of speech in which there is deliberate repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of verses, paragraphs, clauses or sentences. Anaphora is frequently used in Bible and in poetry strongly influenced by Bible. In this poem I Believe, ‘I believe’ has been used repeatedly in the beginning of each stanza (except stanza 6) to convey the feelings, dreams and aspirations of the poet. HAIKU: A Haiku is a traditional poetic form , which originated in Japan. It is three-line poem with a total of 17 syllables. This poem I Believe consists of six stanzas, each comprising of three lines. The different stanzas are put together through the central theme which runs throughout the poem. It is for this reason that the poem resembles the Japanese Haiku. CUMULATIVE LISTING: I Believe has used the technique of Cumulative Listing. It is technique which involves a kind of accumulation of broadly similar ideas. The device is used to emphasize the main idea of a poem. Each stanza begins with the phrase ‘I believe’ and enlists a number of things that the speaker is capable of doing. Thus, the ideas, if put together can be seen forming a list or catalogue. SYMBOLISM: 24


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Symbolism refers to the use of symbols to represent ideas and qualities. The entire poem, I Believe, though written in simple and lucid words, has symbolic meaning. Some of the symbolism are listed below: “I believe I can soar heights Touch the silky clouds And feel the stars” (Stanza 2): Here, heights symbolize ‘sky’ meaning space without limit. ‘stars’ symbolize the list of achievers. “I believe I can dive Right into the depths And swim with the sharks” (Stanza 3): Here, ‘depths’ symbolize the ‘ocean of life’ and ‘sharks’ symbolize the hurdles and difficulties faced in life. The poet believes she can cross all hurdles that come on her way and achieve success. “I believe I can claw into the earth’s belly Pick up the priceless gems And adorn myself with them” (Stanza 4): ‘claw into the earth’s belly’ symbolize putting in labour and hard work to achieve something. ‘Priceless gems’ symbolize the resources available on earth- metals, minerals and precious stones. ‘Adorn’ means to enrich oneself with this resources. QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS Q1. Who is the speaker? What is the context in which these lines are spoken? Brucellish K. Sangma, the poet of “I Believe”, is the speaker. Brucellish K Sangma’s poem “I Believe” deals with what she believes to be her duty as a human being. But before she talks about her duty she says that she can achieve many things. It is in this context that the above lines are being written. TIWARI TUTORIALS* ULTIMATE FOR ICSE, ISC & CBSE

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Q2. What does it mean “to pierce the heavens”? “To pierce” is “to penetrate”. The poet believes that the pebble (small stone), she intends to throw, has the force in it to penetrate heaven and create the possible gap for the poet to have a view of heaven. In this context the phrase “to pierce the heavens” is used. Q3. What heights does the poet want to achieve in these lines? The poet, Brucellish K. Sangama, says that she has the willpower in her to throw a pebble upwards which would pierce the heaven and let her have a view of the angles playing. What she means here is that if she wants, she can achieve heaven. In the same way, she says that she can soar to the heights of the silky clouds and can view the stars. Both her wishes can provide her certain kinds of pleasures. Q4. Comment on the intention of the speaker in these lines? The poet, Brucellish K. Sangma’s intention in these lines is to present the impossible things that she could achieve if she wants to. She says that she has the resolve to dive into the deep sea and swim with the sharks and then she can also reach the mines to get the priceless gems with which she can beautify herself. The poet’s resolve and willpower to achieve things in her life is very much evident in these lines. Q5. Does the poet really want to swim with the sharks? State the idea of the poet behind these lines. Brucellish K. Sangma though in the beginning of the poem states that she can do many impossible things; but she really does not intend to persue all those. Her ambition in life is not to achieve pleasure and riches for herself; but to fulfill her duty as a human being which she states in the last stanza of the peom “I Believe.” The poet says that she has the resolve to dive right into the sea and swim with the sharks, which shows that she is courageous and adventurous and is ready to undertake any challenge for the sake of pleasure. 26


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Q6. What is “earth’s belly”? What is its importance? What is the poet’s intention? The phrase “earth’s belly” refers to the mines, as mines are underneath the surface of the earth. The importance of the phrase “earth’s belly” is that it has innumerable riches in it. All the expensive metals with which we adorn ourselves are underneath the earth. Brucellish K Sangma says that she has the resolve in her claw and reach the “earth’s belly” to get priceless gems to adorn herself. Q7. What are the things the poet wnats to achieve? Does the poet really feel that she can do all these? If not, then what is the purpose of these lines? The poet, Brucellish K. Sangma in the poem “I Believe” says that : • She can pierce the heavens and see the angels play. • She can soar to the level of silky clouds and view the stars. • She can dive into the sea and swim with sharks. • She can even take out gems from mines to adorn herself. The poet thinks that she has the resolve, courage and determination to undertake all these tasks for sake of pleasure, riches and enjoyment. But, as the last stanza of the poem states, she sincerely believes that her first duty is to fulfill her responsibility as a human being. Q8. What is “world’s treasures”? The phrase “would’s treasures” refers not to the rich mines or to priceless gems or to any other expensive luxurious things of the world; but they refer to the human beings who are more valuable than anything else according to the poet, Brucellish K Sangma. Q9. What is the firm belief of the poet? The firm belief of the poet, Brucellish K Sangma, is that it is her TIWARI TUTORIALS* ULTIMATE FOR ICSE, ISC & CBSE

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first duty to fulfill her role as a human being - that is, to make the world a better place for fellow human beings to live in. Q10. What is the role assigned to the poet? What is the poet’s dream? The role assigned to the poet is that of being a human being. To distinguish ourselves from animals, we should not only pursue things which are determined by our drives for hunger and pleasure; but to think about our fellow human beings and make the world a better place to live in. The poet’s dream is that if all the people of the world start thinking in the way the poet does then the world will be a better place to live.

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A PSALM OF LIFE ANALYSIS The title of A Psalm of Life is an appropriate one. A psalm is an invocation to mankind to follow the path of the righteousness. Here, the speaker advises people to be heroes in their lives. He asks them to lie in the present, without thinking about the past or the future. A poem teaching a moral lesson is called a didactic poem. A Psalm of Life is a didactic poem. The poet’s task in the poem is to instruct and guide, to inspire and modify. The poem teaches basic human values and lays out a foundation for a prosperous, ethical life. STYLE: Form and structure: The poem consists of nine stanzas of four lines each. The poem has regular rhyming pattern. Each stanza follows the rhyme scheme abab. In every stanza, the first line rhymes with the third line and the second line with the fourth. Allusion: Allusion is a reference to other works or cultures in prose and poetry. H.W Longfellow has used allusions to convey his message in the poem. ‘Tell me not, in mournful numbers.’ In the above line, numbers refer to the verses in the Bible. ‘Dust thou art, to dust thou returnest’ The above line too has a Biblical reference. FIGURES OF SPEECH: Similes: It is a figure of speech in which a likeness between two different things is stated using the words ‘like’ or ‘as.’ Examples of similes in A Psalm of Life are, 1. Still, like muffled drums, are beating 2. Be not like dumb, driven cattle! TIWARI TUTORIALS* ULTIMATE FOR ICSE, ISC & CBSE

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METAPHORS: Metaphor is that figure of speech where comparison of two different things are implied but not clearly stated. Examples of metaphor in the poem are, 1. Life is but an empty dream. 2. Soul id dead that slumbers… 3. Art is long and Time is fleeting ALLITERATION: Alliteration is the close repetition of the consonant sounds at the beginning of words to facilitate narration. Examples of alliteration in the poem are, 1. Grave is not its goal 2. Find us further 3. Dumb driven cattle 4. Learn to labour 5. Dust thou art, to dust thou returnest. PARALLELISM: Parallelism is used when the speaker says 1. Life is real! Life is earnest! 2. Still achieving still pursuing. H.W Longfellow points out that one has a duty to make this world a better place to live in. A Psalm of Life is a whole collection of moral principles to be followed by all the people. The principles listed by the poem are enumerated as follows,*Life has a serious mission. *Life does not end with death. *We have a destiny irrespective of our joys and sorrows. *Time is too short for our long mission. *Become great by emulating great men. 30


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*Learn to labor and wait for results. *Act now, in the living present. *Be a hero in the struggle of life. QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS Q1. What does the poet wish to signify by the term “mournful numbers”? The poet uses the term “mournful numbers” to signify “sad songs”. It can also a metaphor for a fatalistic and a pessimistic view of life. Q2. Explain the third line of the extract. The third line of the extract “For the soul is dead that slumbers” means “the person who is inactive is virtually dead”. Q3. What, according to the poet, is not what it appears to be? How does he justify this statement? According to the poet, it may seem that with death comes an end of life, but it is not so as soul is immortal. He justifies the statement with the Christian belief that man emerges from the soil and eventually returns to it upon death. Q4. Explain : “Life is real! Life is earnest!” Life is not an empty dream, but a reality which has a sense of purpose, and therefore one should live life “earnestly” that is, with positivism, vitality as well as sincerity. Q5. Why does the poet claim that life is real and earnest? The poet claim that life is real and earnest and death is merely an illusion as soul transpires from body; but it never dies. Thus death is not the ultimate end of life; and therefore life is real and earnest. Q6. What does “dust” refer to? To which belief does the poet refer here? “Dust” referred to in the extract is the metaphor for the universe. The poet refers to the Christian belief that after death man returns to TIWARI TUTORIALS* ULTIMATE FOR ICSE, ISC & CBSE

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the dust from where it comes. Q7. How does the poet refute the above mentioned belief? The poet refutes the Christian belief of “from the dust, to the dust” by saying that human body is made of dust and will return to dust, but the soul is immortal and will never die. Q8. How, according to the poet, should we live our lives? The aim of our lives should be constant earnest striving in the present, so that the future becomes increasingly better. The goal of the life should be to live earnestly every day. Q9. What is compared to the sound of muffled drums? And why? Out hearts beats are compared to the sounds of muffled drums as with the passage of time we are progressing towards our grave. Q10. What is the destination of “our hearts”? Is it the final destination? The destination of “our hearts” is the grave. It may be the destination, but it does not matter, what matters is how earnestly one has lived life. Q11. Explain in brief the meaning of the expression “dust thou art, to dust returnest.” Human body is made of dust and after death returns to dust. It is a Christian belief. Q12. To what does the poet compare the world? Why is such a comparison made? The poet compares the world to a battlefield. Such a comparison is made as the poet considers the world a battlefield in which one stays temporarily with a specific purpose and each day one fights a battle to live earnestly. Q13. Explain “bivouac of life.” “Bivouac” means “an encampment in the open air without tents”. 32


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What the poets means by “bivouac of life” is “the battle field of life”. Q14. What is indicated by the expression, “dumb, driven cattle”? The expression “dumb, driven cattle” indicates the cattle that go by blind faith and not by reason. Q15. How does the poet wish us to act in the struggle of life? In the struggle of life, according to the poet, we should not surrender, but we should fight like heroes. Q16. Why does the poet urge us to take interest only in our present? The poet urges us to take interest only in our present as the present is the solution to the past, and future must invariably be fine should we have done justice to the present. Q17. Explain : “Heart within and God o’erhead!” To live an earnest life in the present we should have faith in our actions (heart within) and at the same time have infinite grace and mercy (God o’erhead) of God. Q18. What do the lives of great men teach us? The lives of great men teach us that we can only leave our mark in this world through our good deeds. Q19. What does the poet mean by “footprints onthe sands of time”? The phrase “footprints on the sands of time” signifies the name and fame that one leaves behind after one is dead in the course of human history (sands of time). Q20. What is referred to as the “solemn main”? Who is sailing as the ‘main”? Life is compared to “solemn main” (sea) as it is grim in its depth and vastness. The shipwrecked brother (referring to fellow human beings who have strayed from the right path) is sailing. TIWARI TUTORIALS* ULTIMATE FOR ICSE, ISC & CBSE

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Q21. With reference to the extract, explain the meaning of “shipwrecked brother”. “Shipwrecked brother” is used here to mean fellow human beings who have strayed from the right path and courted disaster. Q22. Why does the poet refer to the “footprints on the sands of time”? The poet refers to the “footprints on the sands of time” as he gives importance to human history, the mark one leaves in human history through one’s heroic deed of living life earnestly. Q23. How can we make our “brothers take heart again”? We cah make our “brothers take heart again” by setting the right example of living life earnestly. Q24. Explain, “with a heart for any fate”. “With the readiness to face any eventuality that might befall us.” Q25. What virtue of patience does the poet bring out in these lines? The virtue of patience the poet brings out in these lines is that one should carry on doing good with courage and determination and wait patiently for the fruits of labour as it will arrive even though it may take some time. Q26. Name the poem and poet. State the central idea of the poem. The poem is “A Psalm of Life” by H.W. Longfellow. The central idea of the poem is to urge the readers to live hardworking, earnest and patient lives in accordance with righteousness and God’s grace as it will provide meaning to life.

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THE LAST LEAF Q. Do you agree that a work of art is only for the sake of beauty? Comment in relation to O. Henry’s “The Last Leaf.” It is true that a work of art is valuable for its beauty; but at the same time art also has a social fucntion, to educate. An artistic work which is simply beautiful is art; but an artistic work which saves the life of a person is more beautiful than that as it has served a much more significant function that just soothing someone’s eyes and heart. Thus Behrman’s last leaf on the ivy tree is truly a masterpiece as it saves the life of Jhonsy. A masterpiece is a great work for art, like a painting, sculpture or piece of music or writing (poetry, fiction, etc.). It is the height of someone’s artistic abilities. It is the artist’s highest achievement and the best in his ability as an artist. All the artists in the story “The last Leaf” want to create masterpieces and strive towards it. Old Behrman has done so throughout his life, but before death he does something which is truly a masterpiece. He paints a leaf in the ivy tree which instills faith in Johnsy and she recovers from her illness. During the process of painting it on a windy, rainy cold night, Behrman is infected by pneumonia and he dies, but his work of art saves someone whom he cares for. Therefore it is a masterpiece. Behrman’s artistic piece proves that art is not only for the sake of beauty, it serves much more significant function than that. THE KABULIWALA Q. Do you agree that the ending of the story “The Kabuliwala” exquistely renders the richness of the inner world of man? Rabindranath Tagore’s short story deals with a relationship between a five year old child Mini and a Kabliwala (an Afghan), Rahamat. Rahmat’s little daughter back at home in Afghanistan is TIWARI TUTORIALS* ULTIMATE FOR ICSE, ISC & CBSE

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essential to the story, though she never appears in the story. The Kabuliwala’s love for his daughter is manifested in showering his love to Mini. But when a strange incident lands the Kabuliwala in jail, Mini forgets all about him. Kabuliwala again appears on the wedding day of Mini and realizes that his daughter also must have grown up by that time. Mini’s father, the narrator could realize this and consequently curtails some expenditure of the festivities of the wedding to sponsor the Kabuliwala’s return journey back to his country. As a short story writer, Tagore was a practitioner of psychological and social realism as his stories depict poignant human relationships within a simple plot. The sort story “The Kabuliwala” begins abruptly, develops around incidents and ends with a twist. It starts with Mini as a girl and her developing friendship with the Kabuliwala and suddenly there is a twist in the story as the Kabuliwala was sent to prison Years after we meet the Kabuliwala on Mini’s wedding day. The twist happens as the story is not anymore about friendship but portrays a father’s love for his daughter who is living far off. Tagore pays more attention to the richness of the inner world of man, to emotions and less to outward events. The artistic mastery of Tagore’s stories is visible in their successful endings. THE BET Q. Give the character sketches of the lawyer and the banker. How do they differ? With which character are your synpathies? Give reason for your answer. The lawyer is a man of firm determination as he not only says things but proves them by action. He goes for voluntary selfimprisonment for fifteen years to prove his point and at the same time for his greed for money. For greed, he gives away his precious youth, his freedom and all form of enjoyment of life without any association with any other human being. His acceptance of the bet shows his 36


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determination, his truthful nature, but also points out his greed for material possessions. As against the lawyer, the banker is rackless with his money. He hosts the party for discussion on capital punishment and moreover to trap the lawyer. He goes in for an unnecessary bet just to prove that death penalty is better than life imprisonment. While laying the conditions for the agreement. When we meet him later in the story as an older man, we see a change in his fortunes which makes him flout his principles and wickedly think of killing the prisoner just before the accomplishment of his captivity period. But at the same time it can be said that he is a life-like human being. I sympathize with the lawyer as he has ambitions to realize his dream of material possessions and in the process of acquiring it through the bet realizes the vanity of it and left it. He is a man of determination and action by giving up two millions to prove the fleeting and futile nature of material possessions. THE TIGER IN THE TUNNEL Q. But life had to go on. State how Ruskin Bond brings out this idea in his story “The Tiger in the Tunnel”? Ruskin Bond in the short story “The Tiger in the Tunnel” talks about the bravery of Baldeo, a tribal man, who works as a night watchman in a wayside station. His job is to look after the safe passage of trains from the tunnel. There is the fear of a tiger near the tunnel and one night when Baldeo was on his duty, he was attacked by the tiger and killed; though Baldeo could also hurt the tiger and it got killed being hit by the train. Baldeo’s twelve year old son Tembu, took up the position of being a night watchman in the same station after his father’s death as he has to look after the family after his father has passed away. It is a true that there are many disasters waiting on such TIWARI TUTORIALS* ULTIMATE FOR ICSE, ISC & CBSE

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a way-side station; but the fear of that cannot deter people from carrying on with life. Similarly, Baldeo is dead, but his family must carry on living and thus Tembu had to be courageous enough to take up the job as life has to go on. PRINCES SEPTEMBER Q. When one loves someone one should set him or her free. Love is not about captivity, it is about freedom. Do you agree? Give a reasoned answer with reference to the short story “Princess September”. The short story “Princes September” is a fairy tale where a Siamese Princess’ parrot died and she wept bitterly. A small bird came to her room and sang melodious songs to make her happy. The bird used to fly around with princess September in the place and sing songs for her. But her jealous sisters advised her to keep the bird in a golden cage, which had been gifted by her father. When the bird was caged, he stopped singing, and did not eat or drink. The bird prayed for his freedom and said that he could only sing when he is free. Finally, when Princess September saw that the bird was suffocating in the golden cage and was about to die, she set him free. The bird was thankful to the Princes and srayed with her and sang for her. The story ends happily when we see Princess September married to the King of Cambodia and living a happy life with him. Thus the story proves that when one loves someone, one should set him or her free and love can blossom the best when there is freedom.

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Act-III Scene-I Points:  Salarino and Salanio enter and wonder what Rialto is abuzz with  Salarino answers that 1. There are unconfirmed reports that Antonio has had his rich ships wrecked in the narrow seas of Scotland called the Goodwins 2. This strip of water is risky and shallow and this is where many ship wrecks have taken place 3. Salarino compares the many ships with the dead remains of the human bodies in a metaphor 4. He personifies gossip as Report, a woman, who may or may not be true  Salanio wishes that 1. Report (the personified Gossip) was as untrue a woman as ever knapped (nibbled/bit) Ginger (a reference to old women in Elizabethan England), or one who tried to convince her neighbors about her loyalty to marriage by weeping on the death of her third husband. (Since she is thrice married she is disloyal.) 2. He however wants to avoid the long phrases and talk directly. 3. He confirms that Antonio, the honest merchant, has lost his money 4. He wishes that he was so distinguished and capable as to be able to save his dear friend. Important words and phrases: Knapped: nibble; Prolixity: long phrases Important figures of speech: Metaphor: Salanio compares the direct and straightforward manner of talking with a highway; Personification: Salanio continues to address gossip as a woman  Salarino and Salanio spot Shylock and ask cross themselves in mock fear. (This gesture reflects the typical prejudice that Jews were subjected to. Shylock is compared with the devil here.) TIWARI TUTORIALS* ULTIMATE FOR ICSE, ISC & CBSE

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Salanio asks Shylock what the news prevails among the merchants Shylock takes it as a slight and answers that the merchants are talking and gossiping about Jessica’s flight (elopement). Salarino insults Shylock punning on the word flight (escape and flying off), saying that he knew the ‘the tailor’ (an indirect reference to Lorenzo) that had stitched the wings of the bird (Jessica) that flew away with. Salanio also continues the pun (and the insult) and mocks Shylock suggesting that Shylock knew that Jessica was in that age when daughters elope with their lovers (the pun being that the mother bird knows that the fledgling will fly away) Shylock responds with his own pun on the word ‘dam’ and curses Jessica (dam: the mother bird; damn: the curse) Salarino and Salanio tell Shylock that He is in no position to judge Jessica That the difference between Jessica’s ‘flesh’ (here character) and his is as stark as between ‘ivory’ and ‘jet’ That the difference between her blood and Shylock’s is as plain as it is between Rhenish wine and Red wine Shylock tells Salarino and Salanio that he has run into a bad deal with Antonio He calls Antonio a bankrupt, a prodigal, who once used to insult Shylock and call him a ‘userer’ (a term of insult). Antonio used to lend money out of courtesy to people, damaging Shylock’s business. Now he will have a hard time saving himself from the penalty Salarino hopes that Shylock will not pursue the bond in letter and spirit if the Bond is forfeited. He wonders what a pound of flesh is good for. Shylock’s answers and reveals his intentions in the following speech: To bait fish withal: (he will catch fish with Antonio’s flesh) if it TIWARI TUTORIALS* ULTIMATE FOR ICSE, ISC & CBSE

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will feed nothing else, it will feed my revenge. (Antonio’s flesh will satisfy Shylock’s revenge if nothing else) He hath disgraced me, and hindered me half a million; {Antonio had insulted Shylock and caused him a massive loss to the tune of half a million (fig of speech, hyperbole)} laughed at my losses, mocked at my gains, (Antonio has made fun of Shylock’s losses and joked about his profits as he is a userer) scorned my nation, thwarted my bargains, (Shylock’s race and his business deals have been at the receiving end of Antonio’s hatred)cooled my friends, heated mine enemies; (His enemies have been excited and friends have been made unresponsive) and what’s his reason? I am a Jew. (And this has all been done as Shylock is a Jew) (From here Shylock asks a series of Rhetorical Questions) Hath not a Jew eyes? hath not a Jew hands, organs, (Is not a Jew a human being; does he not have eyes, hands and organs?)dimensions, senses, affections, passions? (does he not have a human shape, sense organs, choices and feelings?) fed with the same food, hurt with the same weapons, (does he not eat what others eat? Is he not hurt with the same weapons that hurt others?) subject to the same diseases, healed by the same means, (is he not subject to the same diseases and cures that others are used to?) warmed and cooled by the same winter and summer, as a Christian is? (does not the weather behave with the Jew as it does with everybody else?) If you prick us, do we not bleed? if you tickle us, do we not laugh? (if you penetrate a Jews body with a needle it will bleed; if you tickle a Jew he will laugh) if you poison us, do we not die? (the effect of poison on the body of the Jew is that same as it is on the body of others) and if you wrong us, shall we not revenge? (and if a Jew is wronged (ill treated), he will seek revenge much as any other man would do the same) If we are like you in the rest, we will resemble you in that. (Since TIWARI TUTORIALS* ULTIMATE FOR ICSE, ISC & CBSE

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a Jew is no different from the others in respect of his human qualities, he will be very like the others is respect to revenge) If a Jew wrong a Christian, what is his humility? Revenge. (Shylock refers to the one quality that Christians are supposed to have: humility. But they don’t have it. They are revengeful.) If a Christian wrong a Jew, what should his sufferance be by Christian example? Why, revenge. (Therefore, Shylock argues that by the Christian example, the Jew shall show no mercy if a Christian has wronged him.) The villany you teach me, I will execute, and it shall go hard but I will better the instruction. (The evil behavior taught by the Christians will be practiced against them. And Shylock will be more aggressive than the Christians in his execution of revenge.) Tubal, a friend of Shylock’s and a Jew, enters. Shylock asks him if he has been to Genoa to look for Jessica and Lorenzo. Tubal announces that he cannot find Jessica. Shylock rants against his daughter, and he wishes her dead as he bemoans his losses. He refers in particular to A diamond that cost him two thousand ducats in Frankfort that Jessica has carried with her The Jewish race, Shylock says, has felt the curse so strongly for the first time (in light of his personal loss). Shylock uses a Biblical allusion to carry the point home. He refers to the Curse of God on the Jews that condemned them to exile.) He wishes Jessica dead at his foot with the jewels in ear He wishes that she was placed in her coffin (hearsed) at his foot with his money in the coffin He laments that he has spent an incalculable sum in her search and has not been able to find his daughter, who has robbed him. He calls his misfortune ‘loss upon loss’. Tubal informs Shylock of Antonio’s great loss. One of his other TIWARI TUTORIALS* ULTIMATE FOR ICSE, ISC & CBSE

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ships, coming from Tripolis, has been reported missing. Shylock is especially embittered when Tubal reports that Jessica spent eighty ducats in one night. Shylock is saddened by the news but the news of Antonio’s loss gladdens him. Tubal informs him of Antonio’s many creditors He informs him also about a turquoise (a precious metal) ring Jessica has taken with her—given to Shylock in his bachelor days by a woman named Leah, presumably Jessica’s mother— and has traded that ring for a monkey. Shylock’s spirits brighten, however, when Tubal reports that Antonio’s ships have run into trouble and that Antonio’s creditors are certain Antonio is ruined. He asks Tubal to hire him a lawyer to pursue his bond well in advance (fourteen days before the bond is forfeited) He declares that he will pursue the bond to the bitter end. He will try to eliminate Antonio as it will lead him to better profits (Antonio used to oppose Shylock’s moneylending.) He asks Tubal to see him at the Synagogue (the Jewish temple).

Act III Scene II

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Points Portia: I pray you.....................................stay you from election. In Belmont, Portia begs Bassanio to delay choosing the casket for a day or two. If Bassanio chooses incorrectly, Portia reasons, she will lose his company. She tells him that she feels that she will not lose him (although she stops initially short of confessing love) Her instincts that Bassanio will make the right selection cannot be said to be guided by hate, if not love She confesses that a maiden in the affairs of love and marriage has no speech ‘tongue’ to express herself; only ‘thought’ She would like to detain Basaanio for a month or two before he TIWARI TUTORIALS* ULTIMATE FOR ICSE, ISC & CBSE

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risks his chances in casket selection She wishes she could teach Bassanio how to choose right but expresses her helplessness as she will break her oath to the will of her father If Bassanio moves towards making the wrong casket selection and fails to get Portia, Portia will have the wish and the desire of breaking the oath she has been under. Thus Bassanio’s failure will ‘make’ Portia wish a sin (sin of breaking her oath Bassanio’s ‘eyes’ (his gaze) should be ‘beshrewed’ (treated as the culprit) as it has cast a spell on Portia Portia declares openly that she is not her own mistress now. She gives her ‘one half’ to Bassanio and the other half that comes to her goes to him too. Portia is entirely his. She curses the time (the naughty times) that puts barriers between ‘the owners’ and ‘their rights’ {between Bassanio and Portia} Despite her declaration, if Portia and Bassanio can’t get together, the blame should lie on Fortune not on Portia If it is proved so Portia blames Fortune, not herself (as she has dedicated herself to Bassanio already) She blames her desire of keeping Bassanio with her for extended period of time for her long speech as she intends to hold him back from choosing the casket for as long as she can In response to Portia Bassanio says that he is living on the ‘rack’, a torture bed, hinting at his emotional torture (he is desperate to make the selection) Portia plays along the torture bed metaphor and asks Bassanio what treason (crime) has been mixed with his love Bassanio answers that the only treason (crime) there has ever been is that he has doubted his success in love. He argues that much as there will never be friendship between fire and ice, there will never be treason in Bassanio’s love Portia still playfully refers to the Rack. She says that as men on the rack will say anything to ensure their life and save them TIWARI TUTORIALS* ULTIMATE FOR ICSE, ISC & CBSE

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from torture so will Bassanio say anything to save himself  Playing the rack metaphor further Bassanio asks Portia to ‘promise me life’ (tell him the secret of the caskets) Portia: Away then.........................................makest the fray  Portia asks Bassanio to proceed for casket selection and says that he must choose the one that she is locked in  She tells Bassanio that he will find her if he loves her  She asks for music while Bassanio makes the casket selection saying that music will bring about romance in the effort: 1. If Bassanio loses he will be like the dying swan whose grave will be Portia’s tears (simile) 2. If Bassanio wins he will be like a new crowned monarch before whom his subjects will bow 3. Music will be like the sound of the drums into the ears of the dreaming bridegroom summoning him to marriage on the day of the wedding, if Bassanio wins  She remarks on how Bassanio moves towards the caskets, comparing Bassanio with Hercules (the young Alcides) when he saved the Trojan Princess, Hesoine, from virgin sacrifice to the Sea Monster (she uses a classical allusion). At that time the whole of Troy gathered to mourn (howl) at the spectacle.  Presently Portia compares herself with the virgin who is about to be sacrificed and people around her (Nerissa and others) with the Dardinian (Trojan) wives who are so tense and miserable that their faces are tear-streaked.  She asks Bassanio to approach the caskets in the manner of Hercules and conveys to him that she is much more anxious than he is considering that she is merely a spectator and not a participant in the exercise. Notes on the song  The song guides Bassanio towards the right selection of the casket. It tells him that ‘Fancy’ (attraction) is false and dies TIWARI TUTORIALS* ULTIMATE FOR ICSE, ISC & CBSE

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very much in the cradle where it is born. Therefore, they should not pay attention to Fancy (attraction). {Bassanio should not pay any attention to the charm and the fancy of the gold and the silver caskets} Bassanio: So may..........................Joy be the consequence Bassanio says:  What appears does not always become true  The world (society) is misled by outward embellishments (decoration)  The most corrupt plea (request) in law is that which is uttered smoothly and presented in a melodious voice to conceal the evil intent  In religion errors are sanctioned by pious looking men who justify them citing the text (religious books)  The most plain vice (sin) is that which appears as virtue on the outside  Cowards with scary hearts and temperaments try to look brave sporting the beard of Hercules and Mars (the God of war)  Beauty is not always natural; it is created and purchased in the form of cosmetics (by the weight)  The outward appearance could be miraculous if beautiful and those who are beautiful in this way are light of character (not serious people)  The crispy/snaky/golden locks (the blonde hair) that sway in the wind on the heads of beautiful women may actually be artificial; their true possessor might be dead with her head in the tomb (sepulchre)  In this manner ornament (fake show) is very like (simile) the peaceful and misleading shore to an actually stormy sea; the beautiful scarf on the face of an Indian beauty (ordinary looking woman)  Outward charm is the falsehood that cunning people assume to 46


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befool the wise.  Gold should therefore be rejected as it was once the curse for king Midas (allusion to the King whose touch would convert everything to Gold)  Silver should also be rejected as it is a common metal that exchanges hands in the form of coins  Lead, which threatens instead of promising anything, with its lackluster appearance impresses Bassanio more than the fine words written on the gold and silver  He chooses lead and wishes himself joy. Portia: How...................................surfeit Portia says that:  All her feelings except those leading to love have vanished  Feelings such as those that led her to doubt Bassanio, become rashly hopeless, shiver in fear and harbor jealousy have all fled away  She wants her love to be moderate and not drive her into excessive ecstasy (Figure of speech Apostrophe: love is addressed here directly)  The joy of love should be like gentle rain upon her (figure of speech, metaphor: joy of love is to fall on her like soft rain)  She has felt the blessing of love in excess; it must be less or she will be surfeited (too full with it). Bassanio: What find I here..........................ratified by you Points:  Bassanio finds Portia’s picture in the casket  He calls the artist who has drawn Portia’s sketch ‘a demi God’  He calls the artist ‘a demi God’ as the artist has succeeded in capturing Portia very closely in the image (that Bassanio has found) 1. Bassanio wonders if Portia’s eyes are moving 2. Or whether he feels that they are moving (Bassanio comments TIWARI TUTORIALS* ULTIMATE FOR ICSE, ISC & CBSE

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upon liveliness in the picture. The picture is so full of life that its stillness is gone.) Portia’s lips in the picture are parted only by her sweet breath; such a barrier is welcome even between two sweet friends (metaphor again: the upper lip and the lower lip are the two friends that are separated by Portia’s fragrant breath) Bassanio compares the painter (who has done the portrait) with the spider (metaphor again), who has woven a golden web in Portia’s hair to capture the hearts (feelings) of men. Portia’s golden hair thus capture the feelings of men faster than gnats (insects trapped in cobwebs) Bassanio wonders how the painter could have done the eyes; how he was able to resist the brilliance of Portia’s gaze. In Bassanio’s love stricken assessment, Portia’s one eye should have had the power to steal both the eyes of the painter and, thus, the painting should have had only one eye. Finally Bassanio says that he is far from able to convey the beauty of the portrait much as the portrait is far from able to convey Portia’s beauty: the degree by which he cant convey the beauty of the portrait corresponds with the degree by which the portrait cant convey Portia’s beauty. He picks up the scroll and reads it finally, calling it the essence and gist of his destiny The Scroll: Bassanio is told that his choice has not been influenced by his outward appearance On his true choice Bassanio stands a fair chance of success This ‘fortune’ (Portia and her wealth) falls to him he should be happy and satisfied Bassanio’s happiness should augur him well; his luck has and will fetch him happiness He should turn to Portia and claim her with a loving kiss TIWARI TUTORIALS* ULTIMATE FOR ICSE, ISC & CBSE

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A gentle scroll……………………….. ratified by you  Bassanio calls the scroll ‘gentle’ and turns to Portia to claim her as instructed  He intends to accept her in marriage and asks her to accept him  He uses a SIMILE to convey that his state is like that of a contender who has impressed the general public but is not quite able to believe that he has done so, although people have appreciated him  Continuing the simile Bassanio says that such a contender is Giddy (nauseated/exhausted) in his response to the crowd and dazed, not quite able to understand that the ‘peals of praise’ (sound of applause) are meant for him  Bassanio calls Portia ‘thrice fair’ and tells her that his confusion is as great as that of the above mentioned contender  He asks her to confirm/ratify and sign his achievement for him Portia: You see me, Lord Bassanio, where I stand, (Portia refers to her own condition and state here; asking Bassanio to look over her perspective) Such as I am (in her state as Portia, the heiress of Belmont): though for myself alone I would not be ambitious in my wish (For the woman Portia, who has inherited her father’s estate, she does not want anything more from life), To wish myself much better (she has no need to want to be better); yet, for you I would be trebled twenty times myself (For his sake/ so as to be worthy of him, she wants that she should be sixty times her better in her attitude and approach); A thousand times more fair (a thousand times prettier), ten thousand times more rich (ten thousand times richer); That only to stand high in your account (so that she could win TIWARI TUTORIALS* ULTIMATE FOR ICSE, ISC & CBSE

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his complete affection), I might in virtue, beauties, livings, friends, Exceed account (people might say that Portia is the full of qualities/ pretty/has friends and inheritance); but the full sum of me (but in totality) Is sum of something, which, to term in gross, (her value put crudely) Is an unlesson’d girl, unschool’d, unpractised; {is that she is an uneducated/ untaught girl; unexposed to society and cultures (she undervalues herself)} Happy in this, she is not yet so old But she may learn (Her biggest happiness being that she is not so old that she may not learn) and; happier than this (still happier thinking), She is not bred so dull but she can learn (that her upbringing has given her the means to learn); Happiest of all is that her gentle spirit Commits itself to yours to be directed (and her greatest source of happiness is that she and her essence is Bassanio’s to direct), As from her lord, her governor, her king (that Bassanio is her Lord, Governor and King). Myself and what is mine to you and yours Is now converted (Everything that is hers is Bassanio’s): but now I was the lord Of this fair mansion, master of my servants (before Bassanio succeeded Portia was the owner of the house, servants and her own Queen) Queen o’er myself: and even now, but now, This house, these servants and this same myself Are yours, my lord: (But at this very moment she giver herself and all her possessions to Bassanio) 50


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I give them with this ring; (Her allegiance to Bassanio is marked by the giving of this ring) Which when you part from, lose, or give away, Let it presage the ruin of your love And be my vantage to exclaim on you. (If, and as and when, Bassanio loses the ring, the loss will give Portia the justification to accuse Bassanio and lead to the destruction of their love) Bassanio: Madam you have bereft………….. Bassanio’s dead Points:  Bassanio confesses that Portia has robbed him of all words; that he has no ability to thank her  He blushes (blood speaks to you in my veins)  He also says that he is terribly confused in his thoughts as a result of his great success  In a simile, he compares his own confusion with the confusion of a favorite Prince after the Prince has delivered a great speech  The buzzing of the crowd around the Prince is such that the Prince is not able to understand the response  Every little response of the crowd gets mixed with the other responses and what comes out is a ‘wild nothing’ (no meaningful interpretation)  The one element of the Prince’s understanding is that the crowd is happy with him, and he can feel the joy – both expressed and unexpressed  He promises Portia that he will not let the ring part from his finger ever  That the parting of the ring will be akin to Bassanio’s death  Portia should then say that Bassanio is dead. Nerissa tells Portia and Bassanio that:  It is now her time and Gratiano’s that the two of them, having seen Portia and Bassanio prosper in their hopes of wedlock, TIWARI TUTORIALS* ULTIMATE FOR ICSE, ISC & CBSE

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would like to celebrate the event  Gratiano expresses his joy at the union of Bassanio and Portia  He calls it the happiest event in their lives  He expresses his wish to marry at the time Bassanio and Portia will ‘solemnise the bargain of your faith’ (formalize their marriage). Bassanio wonders who it is that Gratiano wishes to marry. Gratiano: I thank your lordship (he thanks Bassanio), you have got me one (Bassanio has found him a wife without quite realising it). My eyes, my lord, can look as swift as yours: (He congratulates himself on being as alert as his friend and master, Bassanio. He tells us why in the next line) You saw the mistress, I beheld the maid; (While Bassanio wooed Portia, Gratiano set her eyes on Nerissa) You loved, I loved, for intermission. {While Bassanio expressed his love for Portia, Gratiano expressed his love for Nerissa as he does not believe in ‘intermission’ (wasting time) either} No more pertains to me, my lord, than you. (It does not suit him to waste time much as it does not suit Bassanio) Your fortune stood upon the casket there (while Bassanio’s fate depended on the selection of the right casket) And so did mine too (even Gratiano’s luck and fate depended on Bassanio’s right casket selection), as the matter falls (to conclude); For wooing here until I sweat again (he made the effort to impress and persuade Nerissa about marriage), And sweating until my very roof was dry (metaphor: it means that he was completely exhausted trying to persuade Nerissa) With oaths of love (with promises of love), at last, if promise 52


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    1. 2. 3.  

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last (finally, he managed to get a promise), I got a promise of this fair one here (he managed to get Nerissa’s word) To have her love, provided that your fortune (to be able to obtain her love if you were lucky enough to get her mistress) Achieved her mistress. Portia asks Nerissa if this is all true Nerissa replies in the positive and tells her that she has taken fancy to Gratiano Bassanio asks Gratiano if he meant to marry Nerissa and gets a reply in the positive At this point Lorenzo and Jessica along with Salerio enter Bassanio: Lorenzo………………………….. welcome Bassanio welcomes Lorenzo and Salerio in Belmont He wonders if his newly acquired status as the Lord of Belmont gives him the capacity to welcome Lorenzo and Jessica there He welcomes them on behalf of Portia Portia welcomes them too Lorenzo tells them that he did not intend to be there in Belmont but Salerio requested him to accompany him there and that despite his saying no many times Salerio insisted that he be there Salerio tells them that Antonio has sent Bassanio a letter that he has borne from Venice Bassanio asks them how Antonio is Salerio makes an indirect reference to Antonio’s sickness; that he is sick in mind and body Bassanio reads the letter Portia: There are some shrewd contents……brings you Portia notices the changing expression of Bassanio and says that contents of the letter are shrewd (sharp/bitter) She tries to guess what the letter could contain. It could be the TIWARI TUTORIALS* ULTIMATE FOR ICSE, ISC & CBSE

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news of a dead friend; or something equally grave as Bassanio’s constitution (complexion) would not have changed in this manner as no ordinary letter would have changed it in any firm man Portia notices Bassanio’s constitution getting worse and worse and finally asks what the letter contains Portia tells him that she is Bassanio’s half and therefore must have half the share of everything that Bassanio gets Bassanio: O sweet Portia……………………….merchant marring rocks Bassanio tells Portia that: The letter contains some of the most unpleasant words that were ever written by man When he first declared his love for Portia he told her that all his wealth was his gentleman’s background (it ran in his veins) Bassanio told Portia that he was a gentleman and he did not misinform her Yet, in telling her that he had no wealth he bragged and spoke a lie as he was in debt At the time he told Portia that he was valued at a zero he should actually have told her that he was worse than zero He has been bound to a dear friend (Antonio) It is on his account that Antonio has got indebted further to his enemies He shows Portia the letter and in a metaphor Compares the letter to the body of Antonio Every word of the letter to the open and bleeding wound on Antonio’s body He asks Salerio if none of his ships have returned from Tripolis, Mexico and England, Lisbon, Barbary and India He asks if all Antonio’s ships have been drowned: not one has escaped the rocks that destroy merchants? Salerio: Not one…………………………………his bond TIWARI TUTORIALS* ULTIMATE FOR ICSE, ISC & CBSE

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Salerio answers in the negative. He confirms that Antonio’s ships have drowned indeed. He also tells Bassanio that Shylock won’t accept the money even if he is offered it He confirms that Shylock has been importuning the Duke (who had the authority to sanction the bond) day and night He calls Shylock a creature who in the shape of man is desperate to ruin Antonio Shylock has been questioning the freedom of Venetian law and constitution as he has so far not been given the chance to move court for Antonio’s flesh and if he has been denied Justice Twenty merchants, the Duke and the Magnificoes have tried to convince Shylock to drop his cruel plea But they have not been able to move him from the envious plea that he be given his bond, its forfeiture and Justice Jessica: When I was ……………………….. poor Antonio Jessica tells Bassanio that she heard Shylock swear to Tubal and Chus, his two friends, that a) Shylock will have Antonio’s pound of flesh b) He will deny even twenty times the value of money he lent Antonio if he is made that offer She tells them that law and power of authority alone can save Antonio; Shylock will destroy him Portia asks Bassanio if his friend Antonio is in such trouble and in response to that Bassanio answers: He calls Antonio his dearest friend and the kindest man Antonio is one in whom the best and untired spirit for helping others is visible He is someone in whom the ancient Roman values live on It is thus ironical that he has to face Shylock’s ire Portia asks him further what sum he owes the Jew and Bassanio gives her the three thousand ducats figure. To this Portia responds: TIWARI TUTORIALS* ULTIMATE FOR ICSE, ISC & CBSE

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PORTIA What, no more (Is three thousand ducats responsible for such a fate; she is amazed at the paltry sum of money)? Pay him six thousand, and deface (cancel, destroy) the bond; Double six thousand, and then treble that, (multiple twelve by three and pay him thirty six thousand and pay the bond) Before a friend of this description (before a friend of Antonio’s nature and description) Shall lose a hair through Bassanio’s fault (loses his life or faces any risks on Bassanio’s account). First go with me to church and call me wife (she tells Bassanio to undertake the oath of marriage first), And then away to Venice to your friend (and then tells him to go to Antonio); For never shall you lie by Portia’s side (as Bassanio should never be by Portia’s side with a guilty heart) With an unquiet soul (a guilty heart). You shall have gold To pay the petty debt twenty times over (she tells him to carry so much gold with him as to pay the debt twenty times over) : When it is paid, bring your true friend along (when the debt is settled Antonio may join Bassanio in Belmont). My maid Nerissa and myself meantime (she and Nerissa) Will live as maids and widows (will live as women whose husbands are not there with them). Come, away! For you shall hence upon your wedding-day (she invites Bassanio to walk the aisle/participate in the marriage ceremony first): Bid your friends welcome (she asks him to welcome his friends), show a merry cheer (and be cheerful): Since you are dear bought, I will love you dear (she tells him that he is her rare possession, another metaphor, and she 56


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will love him very much) . But let me hear the letter of your friend (She asks him to read her the letter). BASSANIO reads the letter aloud:  Antonio’s ships have all been lost  His creditors are after him for the debt he has to settle  His finances are running very low  His bond to the Jew has been violated  He will lose his life as he has no option but to pay the penalty  He absolves Bassanio from all the debts that Bassanio owes him  He expresses the wish to see Bassanio before he loses his life  But he also tells him to travel back to Venice at his leisure and not in forced by the letter PORTIA asks Bassanio to conclude all his business here and go to Venice as soon as possible. BASSANIO tells Portia that:  He will start for Venice as she has given him the leave to do do  And he will try to save his friend and come back to her as soon as he can  He will not rest and lie down till he gets back  Nor will he rest till he is united with Portia once again.

Act III Scene III Salient points 2. Antonio begs Shylock to consider his plea 3. Shylock conveys that he is steadfast and that come what may he will extract the penalty 4. The position of law and its influence on Venetian citizens becomes clear 5. Antonio wishes for Bassanio’s return 1) Shylock: Gaoler………………….look to him TIWARI TUTORIALS* ULTIMATE FOR ICSE, ISC & CBSE

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Shylock asks the jailer not to let Antonio importune him He expresses his hatred for Antonio’s charitable attitude and blames his interest-free loans for his losses 2) Antonio asks Shylock not to pursue his bond 3) Shylock: I will……………………request  Shylock dashes Antonio’s hopes of finding him merciful. He says that he has sworn to his God that he will pursue the bond.  Antonio had called him a dog. Now Antonio should brace for Shylock’s fangs.  The Duke will have to do justice to Shylock’s request  Shylock criticizes the jailer for taking Antonio to plead with him and others. He asks the jailer to treat him more strictly.  Shylock, Antonio, Salarino and a Gaoler enter  Shylock calls Antonio a fool that lent out money gratis  He does not want Antonio to talk to him of mercy  Antonio pleads with Shylock to hear him out SHYLOCK I’ll have (pursue) my bond; speak not (argue not) against my bond: (these two lines indicate that Shylock is desperate to pursue his line of revenge) I have sworn an oath that I will have my bond. (Shylock conveys his religious intensity; for him the bond is larger than life now. He will pursue it.) Thou call’dst me dog before thou hadst a cause; But, since I am a dog, beware my fangs: (Shylock’s argument is deductive. Since Antonio called him a dog, he (Antonio) must not expect anything but a dog-like behaviour from Shylock. Shylock roots and grounds his hatred for Antonio in this speech) The duke shall grant me (deliver) justice. I do wonder, 58


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Thou naughty (indisciplined; partial, as he has favored Antonio) gaoler, that thou art so fond To come abroad with him at his request (since the jailor has favored Antonio and helped him speak to Shylock)  Antonio again begs Shylock to hear him out  Shylock very clearly conveys that the time to talk is long gone and that the bond will be pursued  He declares he will be cruel and not be foolishly merciful to Christians who have harbored the traditional hatred against him and his race.  Salarino calls Shylock ‘an impenetrable cur’ (a hard-hearted dog) who lived with men  Antonio defeatedly confesses that he will not follow Shylock with useless requests  He knows why Shylock is after him and wants his life  He thinks that Shylock’s determination to kill him has to do with Shylock’s business interests. If Shylock manages to remove Antonio from the Venetian market, he will be able to charge interest at will.  Salarino expresses the hope that the Duke will not grant Shylock his suit ANTONIO The duke cannot deny the course of law: (Antonio says that it is beyond the Duke to refuse commoners justice or alter the very course of law for him) For the commodity (rights/agreement) that strangers (foreigners) have With us in Venice, if it be denied (refused), Will much impeach the justice of his state (raise doubts on the rule of law in the state of Venice); Note: Antonio is aware of the Venetian legal system and, on that basis, states that the Duke had no power to alter the TIWARI TUTORIALS* ULTIMATE FOR ICSE, ISC & CBSE

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course of Justice. Venice was a bustling city and a major centre for trade in Europe and people from all nationalities and religions were entitled to equal legal rights. Shylock will be treated fairly by the Duke.) Since that the trade and profit of the city Consisteth of all nations (Venetian economy was very inclusive and the city’s prosperity was due to its lack of bias against foreigners.) Therefore, go: These griefs and losses (troubles; he has lost his ships and now has to face the penalty) have so bated me (weakened him), That I shall hardly spare a pound of flesh To-morrow to my bloody creditor (That by the time Shylock looks to take a pound of flesh from Antonio, he will have no flesh on him). Well, gaoler, on. Pray God, Bassanio come To see me pay his debt, and then I care not! (All that Antonio wants is that Bassanio should be present at the time his debt is paid in the form of a pound of Antonio’s flesh.)

Act III Scene IV Background: A major scene that prepares the audience for the strategies that Portia and Nerissa are planning to adopt to save Antonio and help Bassanio in his efforts to do the same. Lorenzo and Portia talk and Portia hands over the manage and the charge of her Belmont house to him and Jessica and tells them that Nerissa and she intend to spend their time as nuns in a monastery till their husbands return. Lorenzo: Madam………………………….. enforce you 60


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Lorenzo tells Portia that she has a ‘noble’ and true judgment of divine friendship (he refers to the friendship between Antonio and Bassanio)  He also claims not to be making these comments only because he intends to impress Portia  He praises Antonio and tells Portia about Antonio’s great character; the knowledge of Antonio’s character would have helped Portia in strengthening her resolve to help him out  He calls Antonio a true gentleman and a great friend of Bassanio’s  He also conveys that Portia’s knowledge of Antonio’ s nature would have given her greater satisfaction than her usual acts of charity. Portia: I never did repent……………………………… lays upon you. Portia responds telling Lorenzo that  She never regretted being charitable and she asserts that she will not regret being charitable in helping Antonio. The reasons she offers are: 1. There is reason for her to believe that Antonio is very like Bassanio 2. She bases her reasoning on the analogy of the two bulls: much as two bulls are yoked together in a cart, friends and companions who spend their time together have their ‘souls’ (their natures) yoked to pull the cart of friendship 3. In such friends there is a remarkable similarity of facial expressions, of attitudes. Antonio and Bassanio are two such friends  She reasons that Antonio is ‘a semblance’ (a reflection) of her own soul as he occupies a position equal to hers in Bassanio’s heart and in that case she has spent little effort in purchasing (securing) him.  She refers to Antonio’s state as that of ‘hellish cruelty’ (Shylock’s cruelty here that has captures Antonio) TIWARI TUTORIALS* ULTIMATE FOR ICSE, ISC & CBSE

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Portia considers talking of her efforts as self praise and does not want any talk over it.  She conveys the following plan to Lorenzo: 1. She entrusts Lorenzo with the manage and the command of her Belmont house 2. She has taken a sacred vow that she will spend her time in prayer and meditation with Nerissa in a monastery two miles away 3. Nerissa and Portia will live there till their husbands return and Portia requests Lorenzo not to refuse this offer that she has made him affectionately  Lorenzo agrees to accept Portia’s offer readily  Portia tells him that her servants will recognize Lorenzo and Jessica in her place and Bassanio’s  Lorenzo and Jessica take their leave of Portia Balthasar: Now Balthasar……………………………. Before thee  Portia hopes to find Balthasar as helpful and honest as she has ever found him  She asks him to carry a letter to Padua to her cousin Dr. Bellario as speedily as he can  She asks Balthasar to bring notes and garments that Dr Bellario has to give to her  She is to be met at the Tranect (the place where the ferries start and load for Venice)  There she asks Balthasar to meet her at the common ferry (the public boat) for Venice  Balthasar should waste no time in words and return as soon as possible  Balthasar exits and Portia tells Nerissa that they have work to do and they will meet their husbands soon  On Nerissa’s asking her if their husband’s will see them Portia replies in the following words: 62


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PORTIA: They shall (their husbands will see them), Nerissa; but in such a habit (in such an attire), That they shall think we are accomplished With that we lack. (Imp: There is a reference to illusions here. Portia tells Nerissa that their husbands will not be able to make out their identities. They will be under the impression that Portia and Nerissa are what they are not: men) I’ll hold thee any wager, (She is prepared to bet on the matter) When we are both accoutered (dressed) like young men, I’ll prove the prettier fellow of the two, (This is a funny way of saying that Portia will be playing the dominant role between the two of them) And wear my dagger with the braver grace (She intends to carry the dagger much more bravely), And speak between the change of man and boy With a reed voice, (A reference to the feminine voice: Portia will speak between the tone of a boy and that of a man) and turn two mincing steps (ladylike steps) Into a manly stride, (into masculine steps and body language)and speak of frays (of quarrels) Like a fine bragging youth (a simile: like an irresponsible young man), and tell quaint lies (strange lies), How honourable ladies sought my love, (Portia will talk the favorite masculine jargon: about women seeking her/his love and she denying them in such a way that they all committed suicide) Which I denying, they fell sick and died; I could not do withal(she could not manage them all together); then I’ll repent (she will regret and wish) , And wish for all that, that I had not killed them (she will regret killing them); TIWARI TUTORIALS* ULTIMATE FOR ICSE, ISC & CBSE

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And twenty of these puny lies (harmless but masculine lies) I’ll tell, That men shall swear I have discontinued school Above a twelvemonth. (Portia will tell these lies in such a way that people around her will think that she has been out of school only a year back) I have within my mind (she has planned) A thousand raw tricks (rude jokes and words) of these bragging Jacks (eager and excited boys), Which I will practice (which she will try and practice on others while she is in disguise). Nerissa asks her why they are to disguise as men. Portia tells Nerissa that she will inform her of the particulars once they are in the coach. She also asks her to hurry up as they had to cover twenty miles that day.

Act III Scene V Background  The scene opens with Launcelot and Jessica conversing with each other in Portia’s garden  It is a comic scene and serves the purpose of giving the actors enough time to go back and forth before the greater and the more important trial scene that follows Launcelot: For look you……………………neither  Launcelot taunts Jessica that that the sins of the fathers (the ancestors) are to be laid against the children and she will suffer from the impact of Shylock’s sins  In a rather mocking tone Launcelot tells Jessica that he is concerned about her and fears for her  He asks her to be happy and cheer up as she is damned  Jessica retorts that her husband will save her as she is a Christian now and she cannot be suffering from the Jew’s natural sin  On this Launcelot blames the Christians who have been 64


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converting other people to the faith and says that such conversions will be against the interest of the Christians overall as they will raise the price of pork, the staple food that Christians eat, and once that happens the Christians will not have enough money to put ‘rasher’ on the coals (rasher: pork strips) Lorenzo enters and hears Jessica’s plaint and warns Launcelot of serious consequences if he does not desist from taking Jessica into tight corners Jessica tells Lorenzo that Launcelot and she have fallen out as Launcelot has pronounced her damned and sinful and has also accused Lorenzo of being a mean Christian as he has been raising the price of hogs by converting her to Christianity Lorenzo tells Launcelot to ‘prepare’ for dinner Launcelot puns on the word ‘prepare’ and associates it with hunger. He says that everybody at home is ‘prepared’ hungry enough for dinner Lorenzo calls Launcelot a wit-snapper – a person whose vocation it is to play with words and tells him to prepare, ‘cook and serve’, dinner Launcelot tells him that ‘cover’ is the word needed for the servants to serve dinner. (The word ‘cover’ indicated ‘cover’ the table.) On Lorenzo’s asking him to ‘cover’, Launcelot flatly denies and says that he can’t cover (his head with a hat as it was considered a social affront – Launcelot puns again: ‘cover’ the table and ‘cover’ the head) Lorenzo uses an apostrophe: a direct address to something abstract to comment on Launcelot He remarks that Launcelot has planted in his memory an army of good words and that he knows of many fools who do very well in life on the basis of their verbosity. (Here Lorenzo makes a reference to all the courtly jesters that held a royal rank and profile and had the same ability as Launcelot to charm people TIWARI TUTORIALS* ULTIMATE FOR ICSE, ISC & CBSE

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with words) Lorenzo asks Jessica what she thinks of Portia Jessica remarks: Portia is past all expressions and no words are enough to convey her essence Bassanio should live an upright life as he has the joys of heaven on earth (in Portia’s form) and should he not have an upright life on earth he will never go to heaven She reasons it further saying that the Gods playing a match in sport would need a lot more to equal the scales if they placed Portia on one as a wager, since no one mortal woman would be able to equal Portia’s qualities She opines that the poor, uncilivilised world does not have a match for her Lorenzo is quick to quip that he is Jessica’s husband exactly as Portia is Bassanio’s wife (a remark made in mock humour as he wishes Jessica to have the same opinion of him) Jessica wants him to know her opinion of him and they finally settle that Jessica will give him a fair assessment at the dinner table as he will be able to digest her criticism among all the other things

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The Duke enters the court set in Venice along with the magnificoes He feels apologetic about Antonio having to go through ordeal: he mentions Shylock as the stony adversary and an ‘inhuman wretch’ Shylock, according to the Duke, is not capable of showing any pity and has not even a drop of mercy in his character Antonio thanks the Duke for trying hard to reduce the instinct of revenge in Shylock’s character and trying to mitigate (reduce) the harsh court proceedings TIWARI TUTORIALS* ULTIMATE FOR ICSE, ISC & CBSE

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Yet, Shylock’s obdurate (stubborn) nature has made it impossible for any compromises to be reached  Antonio tells the Duke that he is beyond legal redemption; no legal remedies can pull him out of Shylock’s reach now  Antonio’s only approach is to battle Shylock’s hatred with his own patience  Antonio confesses that he has run out of all options to compromise: his only strategy now is to brave Shylock’s fury in a patient manner NOTE: The address that the Duke gets from the Antonio has the title ‘YOUR GRACE’ and not ‘YOUR SERENITY’, which serves its purpose to remind the audience that they are watching and reading an English play set in an Italian backdrop.  Shylock enters the scene DUKE Make room (the Duke asks people to stand aside so that Shylock is visible to the audience), and let him stand before our face (let the Duke and Shylock be face to face; Dramatic device). Shylock, the world thinks (people around; society and the world is of this opinion), and I think so too (and the Duke is in agreement with that opinion), That thou but lead’st this fashion of thy malice (that Shylock is conducting himself in this hateful manner) To the last hour of act; and then ’tis thought (only up to the last point of the act. The Duke means to imply that Shylock won’t show his revengeful aspect to Antonio finally and be considerate) Thou’lt show thy mercy and remorse more strange Than is thy strange apparent cruelty; (That once he has satisfied himself on Antonio’s plight, he will display his merciful side) And where thou now exact’st the penalty, (And while Shylock TIWARI TUTORIALS* ULTIMATE FOR ICSE, ISC & CBSE

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has requested the Duke for granting him the forfeiture of his bond, the Duke hopes that Shylock will not seek it in the final analysis and show mercy) Which is a pound of this poor merchant’s flesh, (The Duke defines the penalty: a pound of Antonio’s flesh) Thou wilt not only loose the forfeiture (He hopes that Shylock will not only forgo the penalty), But, touch’d with human gentleness and love, (under the influence of human feelings of Love and compassion,) Forgive a moiety of the principal; (Shylock will also forgive a large portion of the penalty, having felt pity for Antonio) Glancing an eye of pity on his losses, (fig of speech: personification; the Duke personifies pity to convey that Shylock will cast an eye of pity on Antonio’s losses) That have of late so huddled on his back, Enow to press a royal merchant down (Antonio’s losses have been such that any other merchant would have given way under them) And pluck commiseration of his state (and his losses are enough to influence people into sympathsing with him) From brassy bosoms and rough hearts of flint, (even the savage races, such as the Turks and the Tartars, who have hardened emotions and wild feelings and have never been made civilized and sensitive would have pitied Antonio and a man in his state) From stubborn Turks and Tartars, never train’d To offices of tender courtesy. We all expect a gentle answer, Jew (The Duke tells Shylock to be considerate and gentle). Shylock: I have possessed………………………………..Are you answered? Shylock refuses to budge and tells the Duke that it is his wish to TIWARI TUTORIALS* ULTIMATE FOR ICSE, ISC & CBSE

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proceed against Antonio He has, according to his own admission, sworn on the holy Saturday that he will work for the penalty and damages to be paid if the bond is forfeit If the Duke denies him the forfeit, the violation will legal and Shylock will not be responsible for it The very ‘charter’, the document of Venetian constitution and independence, will be risked by such a denial As for reasons why he chooses to be so malicious towards Antonio, Shylock simply blames his whim HE uses the following examples to illustrate the role of ‘humour’ in a person’s conduct: If his house were infested with a rat and he pleased to spend ten thousand ducats to have the rat poisoned, no one will question the legal validity of his judgment There are men who do not love the sight of a gaping pig ( a reference to the roasted pig on the dinner table) There are men who behave abnormally when they see a cat And then there are men who are allergic to the notes and the tunes of the high-pitched bagpiper (a bag-pipe is a popular Scottish musical instrument) Shylock uses the dichotomy (division) of AFFECTION (Preference) and PASSION (Strong like or dislike) to justify his argument. Preference is guided by a man’s nature and thus rules his Passions. For all the examples Shylock mentions, he tells the Duke and the Court that there is no basis for why a man can’t tolerate the sight of a roasted pig, the cat and the bagpipe except one A man (any man) may offend others by taking a dislike to popularly accepted things. But the intention of such a man is not to offend others. The man is offended by things popularly appreciated. Therefore, he dislikes them and is considered offensive. TIWARI TUTORIALS* ULTIMATE FOR ICSE, ISC & CBSE

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Shylock relates his argument to Antonio and announces it in the Court that he dislikes and hates Antonio as he (Antonio) has offended him.  It is, therefore, that Shylock has chosen to forego his financial interest and pursue a losing suit (a loss making venture in letting go nine thousand ducats and accepting a pound of human flesh) In the interaction that follows BASSANIO and SHYLOCK have a verbal duel and accuse each other of wrong doing:  Bassanio accuses Shylock of being insensitive and cruel  Shylock tells Bassanio that he is not bound, or forced to please Bassanio with his answers  Bassanio accuses Shylock of trying to kill all that he does not love  Shylock concludes that violence proceeds from hatred and a man kills what he hates  Bassanio argues that hatred should not be born out of offence  Shylock answers that it will be folly to let a serpent sting a man twice ANTONIO I pray you, think you question with the Jew………..Let me have judgment and the Jew his will.  Antonio has so far been mute and he tells his friends and the Duke that: 1. Shylock’s Jewish cruelty is coming to the fore here 2. Shylock is more difficult to reason with than: a) Standing on the beach and expecting the tides to reduce b) Asking the wolf he has given the ewe (the mother sheep) weep for her lamb c) Asking the mountain pines (the pine trees on the hills) to move their tops from one side to another when ‘gusts of heaven’ (high winds) blow across them without making any noise d) Anything that is impossible and the hardest 70


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masters) and let their palates (the tongues of the slaves) Be season’d (be given) with such viands (delicious food)? NOTE: Shylock questions the dichotomy that existed in the Venetian society in its treatment of the Christians and the non Christians You will answer ‘The slaves are ours:’ (If Shylock asked the Venetian people to treat the slaves fairly, they will tell him that the slaves are theirs and purchased. They don’t have rights and thus get no fair treatment…) so do I answer you: The pound of flesh, which I demand of him, Is dearly bought; ’tis mine and I will have it. (Shylock is merely extending the logic of Slavery to his own argument: Antonio’s pound of flesh that he demands of the Duke and the Court is earned by Shylock. He is legally entitled to cut it from Antonio’s body. It is not for him to look into it morally when the Venetians do not look at Slavery morally) If you deny me, fie upon your law! (if the pound of flesh be denied to Shylock, the laws of Venice are flawed) There is no force in the decrees of Venice. (The legal statutes of Venice are without any power as they are not function on the principle of equality) I stand for judgment: answer; shall I have it? (Shylock craves for judgment.) The Duke declares that he has the power and the authority to dismiss the Court and that he will dismiss the court unless Bellario, a learned doctor, whom the Duke has decided to adjudicate on the issue, approaches the Court Salerio informs the Duke that there is a man waiting for the Duke’s permission to enter the Court. The man has the letters and has come all the way from Padua. TIWARI TUTORIALS* ULTIMATE FOR ICSE, ISC & CBSE

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The Duke expresses his wish to see the letters and asks for the messenger  Bassanio asks Antonio to take courage and not give in just as yet  Antonio confesses that he is a tainted or sick ram of his flock and will fall to the ground first  He says that he is the fittest for death; he compares himself with the weakest fruit that has fallen first on the ground in a metaphor.  He asks Bassanio to write ‘his epitaph’ (tombstone address).  Nerissa enters and she is dressed like a lawyer’s clerk  The Duke asks where she has come from and she greets the Duke telling him that she is from Padua and sent on by Bellario  Bassanio asks Shylock why he whets his knife so seriously  Shylock answers that it is his desire to cut off a pound of flesh from the bankrupt Antonio  Gratiano remarks that Shylock is sharpening his knife not on his ‘sole’ but his ‘soul’ (he uses a pun). He calls Shylock a cruel Jew.  Gratiano tells Shylock that no metal—not even the executioner’s axe (the axe that the executioner kills the criminals)—could ever be half as sharp as Shylock’s hatred.  Shylock remarks that no prayers will be able to ‘move’ him GRATIANO O, be thou damned (Gratiano curses Shylock and calls him damned), inexecrable (repulsive, hateful) dog, And for thy life let justice be accused! (Shylock should have no reason to live except that he can not be killed legally in a civilized society) Thou almost makest me waver in my faith (Shylock forces Gratiano to lose faith in his Christian beliefs and thoughts) To hold opinion with Pythagoras (And Gratiano will agree with TIWARI TUTORIALS* ULTIMATE FOR ICSE, ISC & CBSE

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the philosophy of Pythagoras) That souls of animals infuse themselves (The philosophy of Pythagoras was that the souls of animals fly into the human bodies at the time of their death.) Into the trunks of men (into the bodies of men). Thy currish spirit (Shylock’s dog-like soul) Governed (inhabited, was present in) a wolf who, hanged for human slaughter, (and that wolf was hanged for the killing of human beings) Even from the gallows did his fell soul fleet, (while the wolf was hanged, his soul escaped his body) And whilst thou layest in thy unhallowed dam (and while Shylock lay in the womb of his evil mother) Infused itself in thee (the spirit of the cruel wolf entered Shylock’s body), for thy desires Are wolfish, bloody, starved, and ravenous. (As Shylock’s thoughts are cruel, bloodthirsty and violent)  Shylock tells Gratiano and Antonio’s friends in general to shut up, for all their words will not make Shylock’s course illegal  He tells Gratiano that he (Gratiano) is hurting his lungs in railing Shylock in this manner  The Duke mentions a letter from Bellario and wonders where the learned doctor from Padua is  Nerissa answers that Portia (the learned doctor) is waiting to be admitted in the Duke’s service  The Duke instructs his men to escort Portia to the Court room and asks his clerk to read him the letter from Bellario  The Clerk reads: Bellario in his letter has expected the Duke to: a. Understand that he was sick at the receipt of the letter b. His dear friend and collegue, a young doctor of laws by the name of Balthasar, was with him at the time he received the 74


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Duke’s letter Bellario informed Balthasar of the disput between Antonio and Shylock Together they consulted many books Balthsar carries Ballario’s opinion and has his own learning to back it Bellario does not have enough words to describe Balthasar’s learning and it is Balthasar who attends the Duke’s court at Bellario’s ‘importunity’ (request) and in his ‘stead’ (place) Bellario requests the Duke not to let Balthasar’s visible lack of experience stand in way of his Judgment In Bellario’s opinion Balthasar has ‘so young a body’ with ‘so old a head’ Bellario leaves Balthsar to the service of the Duke and the Duke’s ‘trial’ (here test offered to young Balthasar) should be the benchmark for Balthasar’s fame The Duke refers to the opinion that the learned Bellario has of this young doctor of laws Portia next enters the scene ‘dressed like a doctor of laws’ The Duke asks if Portia has been sent on by Bellario and she answers in the positive Portia is welcomed in the Duke’s court The Duke asks her if she knows the dispute between the Jew and Antonio Portia has full knowledge of the matter and asks Antonio and Shylock to stand before her She remarks that: Shylock’s ‘suit’ (request) is ‘strange’ (anomalous/abnormal) However, it is not illegal and he cannot be stopped on purely legal grounds She asks Antonio his awareness of his predicament. That he stands to be threatened for life. TIWARI TUTORIALS* ULTIMATE FOR ICSE, ISC & CBSE

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She asks him if he signed the Bond Antonio confirms having signed the Bond NOTE: Portia’s introduction is very subtle and leaves the audience asking the big questions. We know that she has considered the matter closely with Bellario. The Duke’s clerk read out that in the letter. Yet, Portia only mentions that Shylock’s petition and suit cannot be summarily dismissed under the Venetian law. Portia’s initial support to the legal validity of Shylock’s plea helps to bring out the monster in Shylock. And that helps Portia expose his true colours to the Court and the audience at large. Shakespeare has brought out, among other things, the element of MALICE AFORETHOUGHT with which Shylock pursues the case against Antonio.  Portia expects Shylock to be merciful  Shylock asks her why he should show Antonio mercy; there is no provision in law that can force him to do so Portia: The quality of mercy………………………….. Must needs give sentence against the merchant there. Portia argues that: 1. The quality of Mercy is not forced on anyone and by anyone (Shylock should not think of it that way) 2. It (the quality of Mercy) is like the gentle rain from heaven (figure of speech: metaphor) on earth 3. The quality of Mercy is blessed twice: a. It blesses the person who receives it b. It blesses the person who gives it (or shows mercy) 4. It is the ‘mightiest’ (the greatest feature) in the ‘mightiest’(most powerful people) 5. Mercy suits and defines the chosen King better than his crown 6. The scepter (royal staff) of the King represents the authority of his earthly power 76


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The scepter of the King is also the feature, the symbol of his power and grandeur, in which resides the awe and the fear with which the King’s subjects perceive him Mercy, however, is higher; greater than the influence of the scepter Mercy resides and is enthroned in the very hearts of Kings (Portia draws a distinction between authority and compassion of Kings. She argues that a King is known not by his authority of power but by his greater merciful self.) Mercy is a quality of God himself It is with Mercy that a mortal King and his mutable power appears Godly and Divine The King’s judgment is Godly when his Mercy moderates his Justice She tells Shylock to remember that Justice alone does not lead the human race to salvation; that though he requests Justice, he should know that Justice devoid of mercy dooms the human race (a ref to the original sin in the bible that doomed the human race). Mercy shown by God leads us to salvation and, therefore, we should know the importance and the need of Mercy. Man prays to God for Mercy and our prayers tell us to be merciful to others Portia observes that she speaks in such detail to remove the element of cruel and cold-hearted justice from Shylock’s plea If Shylock follows the course of Justice without mercy, the Venetian Court will, by the rule of law, have to deliver a sentence of punishment on Antonio Shylock: My deeds upon my head………………. Forfeit of my bond Shylock is unmoved and asks the Court to deliver his Justice and the penalty on Antonio as forfeit Portia wonders if Antonio has been able to arrange the money TIWARI TUTORIALS* ULTIMATE FOR ICSE, ISC & CBSE

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he owed Shylock Bassanio answers that he has the money and he deposits it on Antonio’s behalf. He says that He is indebted to pay the money ten times over And use his hands, his head and his heart to settle Antonio’s debt If such an offer fails to break ice with Shylock, it should appear that Malice (hatred) has won over Truth He requests Portia and the Duke to alter the law once so as not to let Shylock perform a legally sanctioned murder He requests them to do a great right by doing a little wrong to rein in Shylock’s malicious will Portia: It must not be……………………….it cannot be Portia tells the Court that the law cannot be altered There is no authority in Venice that can change a decree ‘a rule established by law’ As such a change will be recorded in the annals of legal history in Venice as a precedent and errors will be made by its use in future Shylock praises Portia by calling her a Daniel (NOTE: it is a biblical allusion to Daniel, a character in the Bible, the old testament, who was known for his wisdom and judgment) and says that he wishes to honor her. Portia looks over the bond and tells Shylock that for his money lent, he is being offered thrice the amount Shylock cries foul and cites his oath he has made to God. He declares he will not lay perjury upon his soul for the state of Venice Portia declares that the bond is forfeit and that Shylock, by the bond, is entitled to claim a pound of flesh from Antonio to be extracted from nearest his heart She asks Shylock to be merciful and accept thrice his money TIWARI TUTORIALS* ULTIMATE FOR ICSE, ISC & CBSE

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and let her tear the bond SHYLOCK: When it is paid according to the tenor (when the bond is paid in accordance with the words in it i.e. a pound of Antonio’s flesh.) It doth appear you are a worthy judge (Shylock calls Portia a deserving judge of the case, someone who has shown knowledge and understanding of Shylock’s cause); You know the law, your exposition (Portia is complimented by Shylock. She knows the law and her understanding has been perfect) Hath been most sound (perfect): I charge you by the law (Shylock asks Portia to adhere to law in judging his case), Whereof you are a well-deserving pillar, (He also calls Portia a well deserving pillar of law; someone who knows and intends to implement the law) Proceed to judgment (It is in the name of law that a judgment should be delivered): by my soul I swear There is no power in the tongue of man (he swears that there is not a single soul in the state of Venice whose words could dissuade Shylock from carrying out his intention of executing the bond on Antonio in letter and spirit) To alter me: I stay here on my bond (He intends to seek the implementation of his bond) Antonio requests the Court to give the judgment without delay Portia is prompt in telling Antonio that the judgment is not in his favour: he must prepare his bosom for Shylock’s knife Shylock calls Portia noble and excellent Portia explains that the intent (direction) and the purpose (scope) has a complete relation with the penalty that Antonio must pay and which is also mentioned on the bond Shylock praises Portia yet again and compliments her on the maturity of her judgment Portia asks Antonio to ‘lay bare his bosom’ and Shylock asserts TIWARI TUTORIALS* ULTIMATE FOR ICSE, ISC & CBSE

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that Antonio must expose him his breast as it is from there that he must lose flesh  Portia confirms the words of the bond; that Antonio must lose flesh from ‘nearest his heart. She asks for the scales to weigh the flesh  Shylock confirms that he has the scales but refuses to provide for the surgeons as it is not nominated by the Bond  Portia does mention that the lack of surgeons might bleed Antonio to death and Shylock ruthlessly conveys that he is under no obligation to save Antonio’s life  On Portia’s importuning his moral conscience, Shylock replies in the negative and tells the Court that he does not intend to provide for any medical assistance to Antonio NOTE: Portia’s plan is a ploy to draw Shylock into admission of his own nefarious intentions. The man intends to kill Antonio and he does all that he can in his hatred to stick to the Bond in letter and spirit. Portia later turns the Bond on its head and it becomes untenable for Shylock to follow it in letter and spirit. Again Portia reveals Shylock’s MALICE AFORETHOUGHT. Shylock bites the bait and goes out of his way to show that he is about to commit a legally sanctioned murder in the garb of legalities of the Court.  Portia asks Antonio if he has anything to say to his friends before the final judgment is passed and he makes a long speech: ANTONIO But little (he does not have much to speak): I am arm’d (protected by his fortitude) and well prepared (prepeared for Shylock’s knife). Give me your hand, Bassanio: fare you well! (he bids him goodbye) Grieve not (do not be sad) that I am fallen to this for you; (that he has met with this fate on his account) For herein Fortune shows herself more kind Than is her custom: (Antonio’s optimism, a point in contrast 80

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with his pessimism in the first act, tells him to read his fate positively.) it is still her use (It is the usual fate of people) To let the wretched man (the unfortunate man) outlive his wealth (see the days of his poverty after his wealth), To view with hollow eye (tired eyes) and wrinkled brow (lose forehead skin) An age of poverty; (Antonio argues that man generally lives to see his bad days while he does not have to live on. He is saved the pain of living through his miseries. He will be dead soon and spared the horror of his poverty.) from which lingering penance (from that lasting punishment) Of such misery doth she cut me off. (of the misery and the pain of misfortune, fortune saves him) Commend me to your honourable wife: (he asks Bassanio to tell Portia his story) Tell her the process of Antonio’s end; (Bassanio should tell her how Antonio died) Say how I loved you, speak me fair in death; (Bassanio should tell the world about their friendship and their close bond) And, when the tale is told, bid her be judge Whether Bassanio had not once a love. (and leave it to his wife to be the judge of their friendship) Repent not you that you shall lose your friend, And he repents not that he pays your debt; (neither of them should repent on what has happened and what will follow) For if the Jew do cut but deep enough, I’ll pay it presently with all my heart. (As no matter how deep an incision the Jew makes on Antonio’s body, Antonio will pay the debt most willingly.) Bassanio responds to this emotional speech by referring to his dear wife TIWARI TUTORIALS* ULTIMATE FOR ICSE, ISC & CBSE

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He says that Portia is as dear to him as life itself but not even life and his wife and all the world together holds a position that may be compared with Antonio’s He says that he is prepared to lose all to Shylock to save Antonio Portia, who is listening to this conversation unbeknownst to Bassanio, expresses her disapproval of her husband’s offer Gratiano is the next to commit all his resources, including his wife to Antonio’s defence. He goes a step further and wishes that Nerissa were in heaven to request the Gods to change Shylock’s mind Shylock mocks the Christian husbands for the frivolity with which they pledge their wives to the welfare of their friend. He wishes his daughter were married to a descendent of Barrabus (a criminal in the Bible, another Biblical allusion) and not to a Christian. Shylock asks the Court to hurry up and award him his sentence Portia announces that Antonio’s pound of flesh is Shylock’s for the taking. It is sanctioned by law and awarded by the Court. Shylock rushes to thank Portia. Portia further states that Shylock may cut off the same pound of flesh from close to Antonio’s chest; this is also sanctioned by law and awarded by the Court Shylock rushes towards Antonio and thanks Portia again for a decisive sentence against the erring merchant. Before he can lay his knife on Antonio’s body, Portia stops Shylock She tells him that the Bond does not mention blood. Shylock is entitled to the flesh and not the blood. NOTE: An understanding of the Biblical canon is required here. The Bible considers Blood to be a sacred component of life. And in Venice, shedding Christian blood was a crime of the highest order. The flesh (that represents sin in the Bible) could be risked as it was rank and base. Yet the distinction between TIWARI TUTORIALS* ULTIMATE FOR ICSE, ISC & CBSE

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blood and flesh is nowhere more apparent than in the Christian theology; Shylock’s bond would not have had legal sanction had it explicitly referred to shedding Christian blood. It is the implicit reference, the natural outcome that Portia takes out from what appears to be an unassailable Bond. The bond is malafide in light of what it would do if it were executed. It would shed Christian blood: an illegal and immoral act to commit in a predominantly Christian country. Portia asks Shylock to take away a pound of flesh without shedding a drop of Christian blood She tells Shylock that He can cut off a pound of flesh But if he sheds a drop of Christian blood in the cutting of a pound, his lands and goods will be confiscate by the State of Venice Gratiano is ecstatic and Shylock is shocked. He wonders if that is the law and Portia points out that he can see the relevant act Shylock can immediately sense that he has been exposed and his game is up. He asks for a compromise. The Bond could be paid thrice and Antonio could go home. Portia however has other plans. She intends to hunt Shylock with his own weapon: cold legality. Shylock has refused settlement in open court and he will get only what his legal entitlement is: a pound of flesh without a drop of blood. She intends to give him nothing but the penalty Portia tells Shylock: To be ready to cut off the flesh Not shed any blood Cut no less, no more than a mere pound; if he cuts more or less than a pound by the twentieth part of a scruple (the smallest unit of measurement) or even the weight of a hair, Shylock will lose all his wealth and property to the State of Venice and risk death himself. TIWARI TUTORIALS* ULTIMATE FOR ICSE, ISC & CBSE

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Antonio’s friends know that he has won the case. Gratiano begins to celebrate already by daring Shylock to act  Shylock asks for the principal amount he lent Antonio, the threethousand pounds. If he is given that he can go home  Portia refuses to let him have the offer. Shylock’s earlier refusals to settle the matter financially entitle him only to Justice and nothing else  Shylock is so defeated that he conveys his intent to forego even the principal. He knows that he stands thoroughly exposed.  Portia however will not let him go scot free. She brings the charge of murder to his door: PORTIA Tarry, Jew (she asks Shylock to wait): The law hath yet another hold on you (Shylock has further accountability to the Venetian law). It is enacted in the laws of Venice (it is so written and mentioned in Venetian law, so enacted), If it be proved (successfully established) against an alien (against a foreign citizen; Shylock was a foreign citizen) That by direct or indirect attempts He seek the life of any citizen (that directly or otherwise, he plotted against the life of a citizen), The party [the person (here, Antonio)] ‘gainst the which he doth contrive (the person against whom the foreign citizen makes such an attempt) Shall seize one half his goods [that person (here Antonio )] will own half the property and goods of the foreign citizen (here Shylock) of the ; the other half (the other half of the property) Comes to the privy coffer of the state (will be owned by the state’s treasury); And the offender’s life lies in the mercy [the life of the offender 84


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(here Shylock) will lie at the mercy of the Duke and the government of Venice] Of the duke only, ‘gainst all other voice. [and in this matter the judgment of the Duke will be final and undisputed] In which predicament [in this problem and conflict], I say, thou stand’st [Portia is telling Shylock that he will have to defend himself now that he can be said to have tried murder] ; For it appears, by manifest proceeding, (as it is very clear by the case that Shylock tried to harm Antonio’s life) That indirectly and directly too (both directly and indirectly) Thou hast contrived against the very life [that he contrived, planned, against the very life of Antonio) Of the defendant (Antonio is the defendant here); and thou hast incurr’d (and Shylock has become liable for being prosecuted by the state of Venice for a crime that he could not have committed) The danger formerly by me rehearsed (the danger here refers to the danger that Shylock faces now from Venetian law) . Down therefore and beg mercy of the duke (Shylock should go down on his knees and beg the Duke for forgiveness). Gratiano tells Shylock to beg mercy of the Duke and others so that he may get the leave to hang himself. He tells Shylock that: Shylock does not have the leave to hang himself either He does not have the value of a cord (rope) left with him And the State must hang him The Duke tells Shylock that there is vital difference between him and the Christians and makes two points: He forgives Shylock his life even before he has asked for it Half Shylock’s wealth is Antonio’s And the other half should come to the state of Venice. This could be further converted into a fine if Shylock is humble. TIWARI TUTORIALS* ULTIMATE FOR ICSE, ISC & CBSE

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Shylock’s defeat is now visible and he asks the Duke to: Punish him severely. He uses a metaphor comparing his life with a house. He argues that a house without foundations is hollow; very similarly, a life without money and means is hollow and Shylock wants to have none of it That if they have decided to take the means that have sustained his life, they have decided to take his life Portia asks Antonio if he could show Shylock mercy. Gratiano observes that all that Shylock deserves is a halter gratis (a rope free of cost) Antonio’s merciful character however comes out and he declares that if it pleases the Duke and the lords and the Court, he would: Request the Duke and the Court to cancel the fine against half of Shylock’s wealth. Keep the other half of Shylock’s wealth (that now goes to Antonio) to give it away to Lorenzo, who eloped with his daughter Jessica. Two further points he stipulates: That Shylock should embrace Christianity That he should draw up a deed of gift in the Court of all his possessions and transfer them to his son in law and his daughter The Duke tells the Court that he will withdraw the pardon that he has given Shylock if Shylock fails to satisfy the Court on these points Portia asks Shylock if he has anything to say Shylock answers that he is satisfied and has no say in the matter anymore Portia asks Nerissa to draw the deed of gift. Shylock asks them to send it on and let him go home The Duke gives Shylock the leave to go Gratiano mentions that Shylock’s christening (the ritual of acquiring a new Christian name) will bring him to the font (the TIWARI TUTORIALS* ULTIMATE FOR ICSE, ISC & CBSE

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large stone bowl kept in the Church with holy water) with two Godfathers but had he been the Judge, he would have sent Shylock to the gallows (to the hanging place) with ten Godfathers. Gratiano means to say that he would have called ten more Godfathers as Jury to punish Shylock had he been the judge. Shylock exits the scene The Duke asks Portia to go home with him to dinner Portia humbly turns the Duke’s request down. She tells him that she must go back to Padua by the next boat. The Duke feels sorry that Portia is not able to dine with him He asks Antonio to reward Portia as she has saved him his life The Duke, the Magnificoes and the followers exit the scene Bassanio thanks Portia for her service to them as a lawyer. Portia has freed them of grievous penalties and for her services he offers her the three thousand dollars that he got for Shylock. Antonio also requests her to accept the money and expresses his indebtedness to her Portia does not intend to take the fee. She says: A man satisfied with his work is paid by it In being able to deliver Antonio (save him) Portia is satisfied and therefore well paid. She tells them that she has never been interested in money and monetory gains She asks them to recognize her when they meet again She intends to take her leave of them Bassanio importunes Portia to accept something to remind her of them. He asks Portia to accept something as a tribute, if not as fee He asks for two things to be granted: Portia should forgive him for being stubborn; she should not say no to him Portia asks for Antonio’s gloves and Bassanio’s ring On being asked his wedding ring Bassanio recoils. This is the TIWARI TUTORIALS* ULTIMATE FOR ICSE, ISC & CBSE

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ring that his wife gave him and he does not wish to part with it He says that the ring is a worthless article and it will be shameful of him to give Portia that Portia positions herself brilliantly and says that she will not have any other ring but the one that she asked for Bassanio pleads his helplessness and says that: More depends on the ring than the value He will look for the most valuable ring in Venice and give Portia that He will make public announcements to that effect if Portia spares her this ring that he got from his wife Portia mocks the offer Bassanio made and calls him ‘liberal only in making offers. She accuses him of making an offer first and then not keeping his promise Bassanio tells her that the ring is a gift from his wife and that he swore it when he put it on that he would never remove it. Portia terms Bassanio’s explanation a mere excuse and wonders if his wife would truly object to the ring being given away if she knew the contribution Portia has made in Antonio’s life She says that Bassanio’s wife would not ‘hold enemy’ forever if she knew how well Portia deserved the ring She exits the place with Nerissa dissatisfied Antonio requests Bassanio to let the lawyer have the ring. He requests Bassanio to consider his friendship with Antonio and the lawyer’s deserving nature to make his point Bassanio finally gives in and asks Gratiano to run after the clerk and give him the ring and bring him to Antonio’s house Gratiano exits the scene Bassanio and Antonio go to Antonio’s house even as Bassanio tells Antonio that they will fly away to Belmont in the morning (fig of speech metaphor; their going to Belmont is being compared with the flight of the bird) TIWARI TUTORIALS* ULTIMATE FOR ICSE, ISC & CBSE

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ACT IV SC II 

Portia and Nerissa enquire the Jew’s house so that the deed could be given Shylock to sign  They intend to leave Venice that evening itself in order to reach Belmont before Bassanio  The deed, Portia says, will be welcome to Lorenzo Gratiano enters the scene  He overtakes Portia and Nerissa and hands them the ring that Bassanio has sent on  He also makes them a dinner invitation  Portia expresses her inability in attending the dinner  She accepts the ring most thankfully  She asks Gratiano to show Nerissa Shylock’s house Nerissa tells Gratiano that she will try to get the ring out from her husband and Portia wishes her good luck. Once the rings have been obtained, the women will have defensive husbands. There will be a lot of swearing on the part of the husbands, who will swear and pledge their innocence in the matter. Portia tells Nerissa to hurry and join her at the tranect (where the ferry for Belmont will be caught on their way back).

Act V Salient points 1. Brings back the elements of comedy to the play. Significantly different from the previous act as it lends the drama a happy ending 2. Brings together all the major characters 3. Restores Antonio his fortune 4. Presents mock conflict (the ring episode) and its resolution in the play 5. Also presents to us Merchant of Venice as one of the problem TIWARI TUTORIALS* ULTIMATE FOR ICSE, ISC & CBSE

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plays of Shakespeare with elements of Comedy and Tragedy interwoven in it Lorenzo and Jessica compare their night with the classical nights: LORENZO The moon shines bright: in such a night as this (on one such night of full moon), When the sweet (fragrant) wind did gently kiss the trees (Wind personified: wind ‘kisses’ the trees: slowly and gradually moves the trees) And they did make no noise (and the kissing, the movement produced no noise) , Reference 1: Troilus and Cressida In such a night (Lorenzo repeats the phrase ‘in such a night) Troilus methinks mounted (climbed) the Trojan walls (the walls of Troy) And sigh’d his soul (cried in pain) toward the Grecian tents (Grecian camp), Where Cressid (Cressida) lay that night (where Cressida was that night) There is a series of references drawn on here. The references are as follows: • The full moon light is being compared with the night on which Troilus went over to the Grecian camps after the war of Troy had been concluded. • Troilus was Priam’s son, in love with Cressida, to whom he swore eternal fidelity. After Cressida was taken into the enemy camp, Troilus would stand on the walls of Troy looking at the Greek camp Reference 2: Thisbe and Pyramus JESSICA In such a night Did Thisbe fearfully (anxiously) o’ertrip (walk lightly over) 90


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the dew (the wet grass) And saw the lion’s shadow ere himself (and saw the shadow of the lion before the lion) And ran dismay’d away (ran away surprised) The reference has three points: • Pyramus and Thisbe were lovers in Babylonia and their story is retold by Ovid in Metamorphoses • They had decided to meet under a tree, where Thisbe arrived, saw the shadow of a lion and ran away, dropping her scarf • Pyramus, who arrived later saw the blood smeared scarf (that had the blood of an ox), thought that Thisbe had been killed and stabbed himself. Thisbe, who returned to the spot later stabbed herself too, seeing dead Pyramus. Reference 3: Dido and Aeneas LORENZO In such a night (on a night such as this one) Stood Dido with a willow (a tree; symbolises Loss) in her hand (holding a willow) Upon the wild sea banks (on the banks of the stormy sea) and waft her love (waved to her love, Aeneas) To come again to Carthage (to return to Carthage) Note: • The Queen of Carthage, Dido, fell in love with Aenas, the Trojan Hero. She would wait on the banks of the stormy sea after Aenas had gone to found the city of Rome, anticipating his return. • The story is told by many poets in literature Reference 4: Media and Aeson JESSICA In such a night Medea (an enchantress) gather’d the enchanted herbs (magical herbs) TIWARI TUTORIALS* ULTIMATE FOR ICSE, ISC & CBSE

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That did renew old Aeson (Jason’s father Aeson; see note). The reference has the following points:  Aeson was the father of the Greek hero Jason, mentioned also in the context of the Golden fleece in Act I  Medea was an enchantress who loved Jason and helped him get the Golden Fleece  Medea was said to have restored Jason’s father Aeson to life. Ovid wrote about it in Metamorphoses  The Elizabethans believed that herbs, esp. certain herbs, gained special qualities when gathered on a moonlit night LORENZO In such a night (on a night such as this one; Lorenzo means to be jovial in comparing their situation with that of the great historical figures they have mentioned before) Did Jessica steal (pun: rob her father and run away herself) from the wealthy Jew (Shylock) And with an unthrift love (pun again; the expression implies ‘careless devotion’ and ‘penniless lover’) did run from Venice (escape from Venice) As far as Belmont (for Belmont). JESSICA In such a night Did young Lorenzo swear he loved her well (Jessica outwits Lorenzo; another example of women characters in Shakespeare’s comedies being smarter than the male characters. She tells Lorenzo that he made her promises in love that he never kept), Stealing her soul with many vows of faith (He captured her heart with declarations of love) And ne’er a true one (and did not keep his promises). LORENZO In such a night 92


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Did pretty Jessica, like a little shrew (complaining woman), Slander her love (insult her ‘love’ here her love for Lorenzo), and he forgave it her (he forgave her for it). JESSICA I would out-night you (Jessica is confident she would outwit Lorenzo further if they were undisturbed), did no body come (if no one would disturb them); But, hark, I hear the footing of a man (But they hear the steps of a man). Notes on the above interaction: 1. The above interaction shows us the romantic relationship between Jessica and Lorenzo 2. It reestablishes the elements of Love and Romance in the play 3. The allusions point to the one common feature in the relationships of all the archetypical lovers: the difficulties they faced in their union 4. Jessica and Lorenzo’s case is no different from that of the historical lovers  Stephano enters the scene and announces: 1. Portia will be back before dawn 2. Nerissa and she wander about the ‘holy crosses’ small roadside shrines 3. Portia and Nerissa have been in prayer for happy wedlock hours (a happy married life)  Lorenzo asks who is with Portia and Stephano mentions Nerissa as ‘a holy hermit and her maid’  Stephano asks Lorenzo if he has had any news from Bassanio. Lorenzo tells him that they have had none.  Lorenzo asks Jessica to move in the Belmont house and take personal charge of the preparations to welcome Portia  Launcelot enters and announces the arrival of a post (a messenger) with his horn (post-horn: it was a custom for the TIWARI TUTORIALS* ULTIMATE FOR ICSE, ISC & CBSE

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messengers to blow horns before they announced the news) full of good news. They have finally heard from Bassanio. He will be in Belmont before the morning. Lorenzo calls Jessica his ‘sweet soul’ and tells her to move in the house and await the arrival of the master and the mistress of the house He doubts his own decision: there is no need for them to move in at all as they are almost into the early morning. He asks Stephano to go into the house and tell the servants and the attendants of the arrival of the owners of the house He tells Stephano to play music in open air to mark the happy reunion about to take place in the morning hours Lorenzo makes the following observations about the night and music: The moonlight sleeps sweetly upon the bank (personifies the moonlight) They will sit out in the open and music will gradually ‘creep’ in their ears (a weak personification and a metaphor; music is said to creep and thereby is compared with an creeping insect. It can also be implied that it is the creeping saint trying to spread good feeling and harmony) The soothing calm and peace of the night suit the notes of melodious ‘harmony’(music) He asks Jessica to gaze at the sky and the floor of heaven (a strong metaphor continues in the next lines; heaven (the visible sky) is compared with the floor) The floor of heaven (surface of heaven) is richly decorated with ‘patines of bright gold’ (pieces of shiney metal; the stars). Explanation: as the surface of a room would have the beautiful pattern of metal and stone on it, so has the sky got the stars decorating it. Even the smallest orb (planet) that the human eye can see sings like an angel in its path and motion (simile and personification here; the planets sing ‘like’ angels and they TIWARI TUTORIALS* ULTIMATE FOR ICSE, ISC & CBSE

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‘sing’, which is a human character) 7. They sing together as if in a quire/concert with the ‘young eyed cherubins’ (A cherubin was the second in the order of angels, portrayed as a winged child) Explanation: Lorenzo gets highly philosophical in his observations. He refers to the ideas of Pythagoras in observing that the planets and the stars have an inherent music. The Elizabethans too believed that the motion of the stars and the planets produced sounds and the combination of these sounds created harmony. 8. The harmony of the planets and the stars is also present in the immortal human soul 9. It cannot, however, be heard as long as the ‘muddy vesture of decay’ (the perishable human body) ‘grossly’ (rudely/ roughly) ‘close it in’ (holds the ‘immortal soul’ captive) Note: What Lorenzo is saying is as follows: the music and harmony of the stars and the planets is found also in the immortal soul. Yet, man is unable to hear it as the soul is the prisoner of the perishable body.  The musicians enter and Lorenzo asks them to arouse Diana (the moon Goddess) from her slumber by their music  He asks them to play welcoming notes for Portia  Jessica observes that she is never ‘merry’ (in the jovial mood) when she hears serious music LORENZO The reason is (Lorenzo tries to explain Jessica’s behaviour), your spirits are attentive (Jessica is never jovial when she hears sweet music as she is a receptive/sensitive listener): For do but note a wild and wanton herd (He asks her to observe the behaviour of an indisciplined, uncontrollable herd of cattle), Or race of youthful and unhandled colts (or the breed of immature and untrained young male horses), TIWARI TUTORIALS* ULTIMATE FOR ICSE, ISC & CBSE

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Fetching mad bounds (jumping around madly), bellowing (producing loud sounds) and neighing loud (high sounds), Which is the hot condition of their blood (which is the true nature of their wild blood); If they but hear perchance a trumpet sound (if they hear perhaps the sound of a trumpet), Or any air of music (song) touch their ears (if the animal mentioned, the youthful and unhandled colts, hears the melodies and the sound of music), You shall perceive them make a mutual stand (it is seen that they all stand together still), Their savage eyes (wild eyes) turn’d (are transformed) to a modest gaze By the sweet power of music (harmonious influence of music): therefore the poet (here, Ovid, the great Roman poet) Did feign (depicted) that Orpheus (the famous musician in Greek myth, son of Caliope, was presented with the lyre of Apollo and sang and played so beautifully that animals, plants and even the lifeless objects moved from their places) drew trees, stones and floods (moved trees, stones and influenced natural phenomenon); Since nought so stockish, hard and full of rage (as there is nothing so stubborn, insensitive and aggressive), But music for the time doth change his nature (that it cannot be influenced by the sweet melodies of music). The man that hath no music in himself (a man with no music in him), Nor is not moved with concord of sweet sounds (and someone who is not moved by the harmony of sweet sounds), Is fit for treasons, stratagems and spoils (is suited only for crime, trickery and robbery); The motions of his spirit are dull as night (such a man has no 96


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spiritual life and is mentally dull) And his affections dark as Erebus (and his feelings are as evil as the home of the dead. Erebus in Greek myth is the home of the dead): Let no such man be trusted (such a man is not worthy of anyone’s trust). Mark the music (he asks Jessica to listen to the music). Note: Lorenzo’s argument is that music has great humanizing qualities and the sensitive react very gravely and somberly to it. Music has the potential to discipline and order even those forms of life that are naturally wild and insensitive. Enter PORTIA and NERISSA  Portia observes the light burning in her hall  She remarks on the light of the candle. The little candle, she says, throws out its beams of light  She compares the beams of candle light with charitable, good deeds in a corrupt world  Nerissa responds that the moon light had quite eclipsed the candle’s beams  Portia compares the moon light with the greater glory. She adds that a King’s substitute can never be the King. That a king’s substitute impresses us as long as the King is not around.  The presence of the king dims and lessons the radiance of the substitute.  She uses a simile to tell Nerissa that the substitute disappears before the king as ‘the inland brook’ (the river) vanishes into ‘the main of waters’ (the sea).  They suddenly hear the music in the air.  Nerissa points out that the music is of Portia’s band of musicians (it used to be a custom for the rich to employ their own musicians)  Portia opines that things are lent a charm and novelty by their TIWARI TUTORIALS* ULTIMATE FOR ICSE, ISC & CBSE

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contexts. That nothing is perfect without favorable surroundings.  The music, Portia says, sounds more melodious at night than it does by day  Nerissa says that it is the silence of the night that lends music its greater melody. PORTIA The crow doth sing as sweetly (the crow sings as sweetly) as the lark (the lark is a bird of Alaudidae family, found worldwide and universally acknowledged for its melodious song), When neither is attended (when they are not heard; Portia hints at the silence of the night that makes the song of the lark as melodious as that of the crow), and I think The nightingale, if she should sing by day (if the nightingale were to sing during the day), When every goose is cackling (when geese made loud and unpleasant sounds) would be thought No better a musician than the wren (the nightingale would not be any more melodious than the wren). How many things by season (here, environment/surroundings/ right time) season’d (textured/defined/given a shape) are (By the above example Portia hints at the contextual propriety of all that is pleasing to human nature. Melody lost in chaos is noise. And silence makes the unpleasant sounds tolerable.) To their right praise and true perfection! (things earn their right praise and true perfection by the time and place in which they are born and prosper) Peace, ho! the moon sleeps with Endymion (Classical allusion: in Greek myth: a beautiful youth, loved by the moon, who visited him every night to bathe him in her silver light) And would not be awaked (and should not be aroused).  Lorenzo recognizes Portia’s voice and announces her arrival 98


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for the audience Portia remarks that Lorenzo recognizes her much in the manner of a blind man knowing the cuckoo (by its bad voice). The figure of speech is a simile: ‘as the blind man knows the cuckoo’. Lorenzo welcomes Portia home Portia tells them that Nerissa and she have been in communion with God for better healths of their husbands and asks whether Bassanio and Gratiano have returned. Lorenzo tells them that they have not yet returned. He informs them of the messenger whom they sent to announce their arrival in advance Portia tells Nerissa to instruct the servants at home not to let out the fact of their absence from Belmont to her husband. She requests Lorenzo and Jessica for the same and they readily oblige. Lorenzo can hear the trumpet of Bassanio’s followers. He promises Portia that they are no ‘tale tellers’ Portia replies that: The night is not true to its character as it is the time of happy family reunion. It is more like the ‘daylight sick’ (a day without much light), it looks a little dimmer The night is very like the day that is when the sun is concealed in the clouds Bassanio enters with Antonio, Gratiano and his followers Bassanio remarks that Venitians will share their day time with ‘the Antipodes’ (Australians) if Portia (who is as great a source of light as the sun) walks at night Portia puns on the word ‘light’, saying that she would love to give light (be a source of light) but not be light (light and shallow of character) She remarks that a ‘light’ wife (a woman of shallow character) TIWARI TUTORIALS* ULTIMATE FOR ICSE, ISC & CBSE

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makes a heavy (sad) husband Bassanio should never have a reason in Portia to be heavy She thanks God for their safe and sound return Bassanio introduces her to Antonio and asks her to welcome him. He describes Antonio as someone to whom he was very indebted Portia puns on the word bound. She says that Antonio was ‘bound’ (in chains) for his friend, and, therefore, Bassanio should be much ‘bound’ (grateful) to Antonio. Antonio expresses his satisfaction over having got acquitted and does not want the past to be talked about. There is optimism in his heart. Portia welcomes Antonio home. She says she is eager to host him not merely in words but in deed. She will ‘scant’ (cut short) ‘this breathing courtesy’ (this verbal welcome) By this time Nerissa has already cornered Gratiano and he defends himself loudly: Gratiano is prepared to swear that he has done no wrong and that Nerissa’s accusations are unjustly made Gratiano declares that the ring was indeed given to the clerk of the lawyer who represented Antonio He also declares that he has no interest in the matter and that the clerk’s welfare is of no concern to him Had he known that Nerissa would take the matter so offensively he would not given the ring away to the clerk Portia interjects and asks what the quarrel is about Gratiano informs them of Nerissa’s grievance. He dismisses her plaints as useless and being about ‘a hoop’ (a ring) of gold He calls it a ‘paltry’ (useless) ring, one that had ‘cutler’s poetry’ (the common inscriptions that the knife-makers decorated their knives with) on it He even quotes the inscription on the ring (comparing it with TIWARI TUTORIALS* ULTIMATE FOR ICSE, ISC & CBSE

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those on the knives) as ‘Love me and leave me not’  Nerissa answers him thus: NERISSA What talk you of the posy or the value (Gratiano should not be the one talking of the poetry and its value)? You swore to me (Gratiano gave Nerissa his word that he will keep the ring with him and defend it), when I did give it you (at the time the ring was given him), That you would wear it till your hour of death (he promised her that he will wear the ring till his death) And that it should lie with you in your grave (and that even his death will not separate him and the ring): Though not for me, yet for your vehement oaths (Nerissa shows her displeasure by according greater importance to Gratiano’s oaths. He should have kept the ring with him to keep his word, if nothing more), You should have been respective and have kept it (Gratiano should have kept his oath). Gave it a judge’s clerk! no, God’s my judge (Just to take the quarrel forward, she doubts Gratiano’s explanation that he gave the ring away to the judge’s clerk), The clerk will ne’er wear hair on’s face that had it (the clerk who got Gratiano’s ring will never have facial hair on him). NOTE: Nerissa’s grouse and Portia’s arraignment of Bassanio is the mock revenge the two extract from their husbands. The two women have clearly outwitted their husbands in every department. The ring episode is their masterstroke.  GRATIANO protests that the judge’s clerk will grow beard on his face if he grows to be a man. Nerissa however is far from convinced. She mocks him wondering how a woman will grow to be a man.  Gratiano swears again affirming that he gave the ring to a young man TIWARI TUTORIALS* ULTIMATE FOR ICSE, ISC & CBSE

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Gratiano describes the man he gave the ring to. The man, he says, was only a boy, short in stature, talkative, and he begged the ring of him. Gratiano could not say not to him. Portia finally gives her opinion and criticizes Gratiano. In her opinion Gratiano is guilty. He should not have given away the first gift of his wife so carefreely: The ring was held on with promises and pledges of love It was also fastened with faith to Gratiano’s very flesh She points out Bassanio’s ring that she had committed to him at the time of their marriage. Bassanio swore that he would never part with it and Portia is confident that he will neither leave the ring nor remove it off his fingers for all the wealth the world has to offer She snubs Gratiano, alleging that he has given Nerissa a very unreasonable cause of grief. To take the point further, she places herself in Nerissa’s shoes and declares that she would have been equally furious had she been in her place Bassanio in an aside wishes that he had never given the ring away. If only he could cut off his finger and say that he lost it in defending the ring Gratiano tells them that Bassanio gave his ring away too. That the Judge who asked for it deserved it: That it was only after Bassanio’s act that he gave his ring to the clerk That the boy, his clerk, who made the effort to prepare the deed of gift (for Lorenzo), asked Gratiano his ring That neither the judge (the lawyer) nor his assistant would accept anything but the rings Portia asks Bassanio what ring Gratiano has alluded to: is it the ring she gave Bassanio and the one he swore to keep for life Bassanio confesses that he cannot add a lie to an error he has already committed. He points to his finger that does not have TIWARI TUTORIALS* ULTIMATE FOR ICSE, ISC & CBSE

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the ring upon it Portia accuses Bassanio of having a false and empty heart She declares that she will not be Bassano’s wife till she sees the ring Nerissa also vows not to consider Gratiano her husband till she sees the ring she gifted him In his defence Bassanio says that Portia would not have objected to the rings being given to the Judge and his clerk if: She knew the person who was given the ring (implying Balthasar, the lawyer) She knew the person for whom the ring was given (implying Antonio, his dearest friend) She knew why the ring was given (implying the impossibility of saving Antonio and the ease with which Portia brought it about) She knew how all his offers fell on deaf ears and nothing but the ring would be accepted If she knew all of the points, she ‘would abate the strength of her displeasure’ (decrease her anger and plaints against Bassanio) Portia, in mock humor between Nerissa and herself, further expresses her deep displeasure with her husband on the following grounds: That Bassanio did not know the ‘virtue’ (true value) of the ring That he did not know half the value and the worth of Portia who had given him the ring That he forgot his own honour with which he had sworn to keep the ring with him She questions Bassanio’s version and wonders why any man would be so stubborn as to insist on the ring if Bassanio defended it with any ‘terms of zeal’ (determination) The ring, she tells us, was held by Bassanio as ‘a ceremony’ (sacred symbol of marriage) TIWARI TUTORIALS* ULTIMATE FOR ICSE, ISC & CBSE

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She is bound to agree with Nerissa that Bassanio gave the ring away not to man but a common woman and she bets her life on it NOTE: Portia’s speech is a further reflection on the Merchant of Venice being an Elizabethan comedy. The woman holds the man defensive. Portia is calling the shots here, and Bassanio must defend himself. BASSANIO No, by my honour, madam, by my soul (Bassanio swears by his honor as a gentleman and his soul), No woman had it, but a civil doctor (that he did not give it any woman but a doctor of laws), Which did refuse three thousand ducats of me (the same doctor who refused three thousand ducats that Bassanio offered him) And begg’d the ring (and asked Bassanio for the ring); the which I did deny him (and Bassanio refused the ring to him initially) And suffer’d him to go displeased away (and the lawyer, being offended by Bassanio’s refusal, walked away initially); Even he that did uphold the very life (and Bassanio did suffer the displeasure of the very person who saved the very life) Of my dear friend (of his closest, dearest, friend). What should I say, sweet lady (he tells Portia with regret)? I was enforced to send it after him (that he was compelled to send the ring to him); I was beset with shame and courtesy (his refusal to the lawyer had shamed him as a gentleman); My honour would not let ingratitude (he could not let his honor be tainted by his own inability to bestow a small reward) So much besmear it (taint/stain his honour). Pardon me, good lady; For, by these blessed candles of the night (a metaphor: he 104


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swears on the stars, comparing them with the candles), Had you been there, I think you would have begg’d The ring of me to give the worthy doctor. (Had Portia been there she would ask Bassanio to give the precious ring away to the deserving doctor who saved the life of his dear friend.) Portia angrily tells him not to let the deserving doctor ever visit her. The doctor, she says, has got the one thing she so dearly loved. And the one thing Bassanio swore to keep for her and failed to keep his word in. Taking her cue from her husband, she will more than generously bestow all that she has upon the learned and talented doctor She will not deny the doctor any favours Nerissa tells Gratiano that she will be uninhibitedly generous with the lawyer’s clerk and that she should be left to her own protection. NOTE: Portia and Nerissa tell Bassanio and Gratiano in their mock humour that the men have lost their absolute claim over their women now. Since they could not suffer the shame of denying the doctor and his clerk the one precious thing their wives had given them, the wives will not be ashamed to deny the doctor and his clerk the most precious thing the husbands gave them. The husbands’ absolute claim over their wives is their most precious achievement. Portia and Nerissa threaten Bassanio and Gratiano that they will treat the doctor and his clerk as liberally and attentively as they do them. Antonio finally interjects and says that he has been the cause of the unhappy quarrels between husbands and wives Portia finally realises that she is taking the joke too far and assures Antonio that he is welcome Bassanio apologizes to Portia and asks her to forgive him Before his dear friends and keeping them as witness he swears to her on her beautiful eyes, in which he sees his reflection TIWARI TUTORIALS* ULTIMATE FOR ICSE, ISC & CBSE

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Portia holds the argument there and asks the assembled party to notice that Bassanio’s oath is flawed In her two eyes Bassanio ‘doubly’ sees himself (his two images). He, therefore, swears by ‘his double self’ {Pun on ‘doubly’. Bassanio sees two images ‘doubly’ and behaves like a ‘double’ self (false person)}. Such an oath cannot be trustworthy Bassanio asks for her forgiveness again and swears her that he will never break any of his promises Antonio now breaks in with his own assurance and tells Portia that he once lent his body for her Bassanio’s wealth He tells Portia that he almost lost his life for Bassanio and that he was saved by the young judge who took the ring Antonio pledges his soul for Bassanio’s sake again. Once he put his physical safety at stake for his friend; now he is willing to put his spiritual safety at stake for him (note the use of the word ‘soul’). The phrase ‘soul upon the forfeit’ means that Antonio commits his soul to Portia as the penalty if Bassanio fails her in his promises. Antonio tells Portia that Bassanio will never break his oaths in future Portia requests Antonio to be his friend’s guarantor and hands him the ring She asks Antonio to tell his friend never to lose the ring again. Antonio hands the ring to Bassanio and tells him to swear never to lose it Bassanio looks at the ring with a sense of shock. The ring is the same that he gave the young doctor Portia tells Bassanio that she took the ring from the doctor At this Nerissa offers Gratiano a ring too, saying that she obtained it of the ‘scrubbed boy’, the doctor’s assistance Portia finally addresses all her guests: TIWARI TUTORIALS* ULTIMATE FOR ICSE, ISC & CBSE

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PORTIA: You are all amazed (she refers to their surprise and consternation): Here is a letter; read it at your leisure (she shows them a letter, asking them to read it); It comes from Padua, from Bellario (the letter was written by Bellario, her cousin, and came from Padua): There you shall find that Portia was the doctor (that letter proves beyond doubt that Portia was the doctor of laws and Nerissa, the clerk), Nerissa there her clerk: Lorenzo here Shall witness I set forth as soon as you (Lorenzo’s testimony is now called upon. He beong a friend of Antonio, Bassanio and Gratiano shall prove that Portia and Nerissa left the house as soon as their husbands) And even but now return’d (and have returned only a little before the men); I have not yet Enter’d my house (she has just entered the house). Antonio, you are welcome; And I have better news in store for you (there is something better Portia has to share with Antonio) Than you expect: unseal this letter soon (she presents Antonio a seperate letter that she asks him to open); There you shall find three of your argosies (three of his ships) Are richly come to harbour suddenly (have returned to the harbour safely and unexpectedly): You shall not know by what strange accident I chanced on this letter (she does not intend to get in the detail of how she got the letter and from where). NOTE: The above speech is the speech of resolution. Shakespeare must conclude the comedy on the positive note much as he began it on a sombre note of Antonio’s grief. The TIWARI TUTORIALS* ULTIMATE FOR ICSE, ISC & CBSE

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Merchant of Venice is rich again and his fortune is restored to him. For reasons of Dramatic Convenience the speech does not detail how and where Portia came across Antonio’s letters) Antonio expresses that he is dumb Bassanio and Gratiano wonder if Portia was the doctor and Nerissa his attendant Antonio reads the letter and conveys that his ships are back indeed. He calls Portia ‘sweet lady’ who has given him ‘life and living’ His ships, he tells us, have safely come to road (back to the harbor) Portia tells Lorenzo that she has some good news for him and Jessica too Nerissa addresses Lorenzo and Jessica and says that she will give them the bounty without charging them a fee. Nerissa hands them the deed of gift that Shylock signed and that entitles them to all his property and money on his death Lorenzo thanks them and refers to ‘manna’. Portia and Nerissa drop ‘manna’ (the bread from heaven in the Bible) on starved people. (Note: Lorenzo compares Portia and Nerissa with the angels from heaven and the others with the starving Hebrews, who nourished by ‘manna’ survived for forty years before they got to the promised land) The morning has approached and Portia knows that the men are still amazed by the sudden discoveries they have made. She asks them all to go in and question the ladies there on oath so that their answers dim curiosities. She promises them that Nerissa and she will answer all questions faithfully. Gratiano gets to make the concluding remarks. He tells the audience that the only thing he will be wary of ever is losing his wife’s ring.


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