Merchant of Venice act 2 Scene 9
Read the extracts given below and answer the questions that follow:
1.
'(i) What proper honour is given to Arragon to indicate that he is a prince?
. To honor Arragon as a prince, trumpets were sounded as he entered
the room and Portia addressed him as J noble prince'.
(ii) Enumerate the three conditions in the oath which Arragon was supposed
to take. Which conditions in the oath he explicitly keeps at the end of
the scene?
Arragon is bound by the oath to observe three conditions. First, he must
never reveal to any other person which of the caskets he has selected.
Second, if he does not win Portia, he should not woo any other lady.
Third, if he chooses wrongly he must depart at once without further
words. He explicitly kept the last condition at the end of the scene.
(iii) How wise is it to arrange marriages through a lottery system where
chance plays a significant role? What does Portia feel in this regard?
How does Nerissa justify the system in Portia's case?
It is not wise to arrange marriages through-a tottery system where chance
plays a significant role. Portia initially feels that her fate is sealed by the
lottery of caskets designed by her father. However, later she accepts her
father's will and asserts that she will abide by it and would remain a
virgin like Diana if no suitor wins her in marriage. Nerissa justifies the
lottery of caskets saying that her father was a virtuous man, who' must
have had her well-being at heart. So, according to her father's will. she
will be chosen by someone who will truly love her.
(iv) It is said that Arragonis too proud and self-opinionated. Do you agree
with this statement? Give two reasons to justify your answer.
Prince Arragon is too proud and self-opinionated. While making his
selection, he calls the common people as 'fool multitude' and again as
'barbarous multitudes'. He says that he will not act according to what
common .men choose. and put himself on the level of the ignorant and
the foolish. Secondly, Arragon thinks himself to' be most deserving
because of his inherited nobility.
2.
(i) What does the inscription on the gold casket say? Which casket does
the speaker choose?
The inscription on the gold casket says 'who chooses me shall gain what
many men desire'. The speaker chooses the silver casket.
(ii) How does Arragon interpret the meaning of. 'many men' given on the
gold casket?
Arragon says that the words 'many men' probably refer to the foolish
majority, who are so slow-witted and who have so little wisdom that
they judge only by appearances and outward glitter. Their· untaught
eyes never see the inner meaning of things, but is content to remain on
the outside like the swallow.
(iii) How does Arragon compare the martlet to the foolish multitude?
Arragon compares the multitude 'to the martlet. The martlet, instead of
seeking a sheltered place for its nest, constructs it in the most exposed
places like the outer wall, unprotected from, any stormy weather or any
accident which may occur. Similarly, the foolish common people who
judge by the outside of things, fall into errors and calamities. '
(iv) Give the meaning of:
. (a) in the force and road of casualty.'
open to disaster and in the very path of danger.
b) rank me with the barbarous multitudes.
I don't put myself at the level of the ignorant and foolish common
people.
(v) How is the theme of appearance and reality brought out in the choice
of caskets?
The theme of appearance and reality is brought out in the choice of
caskets. Arragon rejects the lead casket calling it base lead because of its
dull and plain appearance. He says lead must present a more attractive
appearance than it does before he gives or risks anything for it. He rejects
the gold casket saying he will not choose what many people desire. He
will not put himself at the level of ignorant common people. The word
'deserves' meaning 'merit' on the silver cakset attracts Arragon and he
selects it.
3.
(i) What does the inscription all. the silver casket say?
The inscription on the silver casket says, 'who chooses me shall get as
much as he deserves'.
(ii) Why did the- words of the inscription on the silver .casket appeal to
Arragon?
Words all. The inscription on the silver casket appeal to Arragori because
the word "deserves' meaning 'merit' in the inscription appeals to him. He
thinks himself to be the most deserving. He feels that there are many
who succeed without having any inner merit. But he I deserves' because
of his inherited nobility.
{iii) Give the meaning of:
To cozen fortune and be honourable
'Without the stamp of merit?
To try to cheat fortune and win something without merit. It means no
one ought to be allowed to deceive and trick fortune by asking her for
what he does not deserve.
(iv) How does Arragon explain further the importance of deserving before
getting an honoured position? : '
Arrag6n further tells that .no man should' aspire to be honored unless!
he deserves it. Arragon wishes that all the positions of rank, dignity
and officers were bestowed on the deserving, instead of being obtained
dishonestly. If this happens, many low ranking people would be separated!
out from the ranks of the truly honorable.
(v) Which casket did Arragon finally choose? What did he feel after making
the choice? .
Arragon finally chooses the silver casket. After making the choice,
Arragon is dumb-founded and very disappointed with what he finds in
the casket. He pauses silently for a long time before speaking. He says
that there is such a difference between that creature and the picture he
hoped to see. He asks Portia whether he deserves no more than the head
of a fool He wants to know whether that is his prize and whether he
deserves nothing more than that.
4.
(i) After which incident does Arragon speak these words? In what mood
is he? With which fool's head did he come to woo?
Arragon speaks these words after opening the silver casket. He is in a
mood of disappointment. He came to woo Portia with one foolish head
of his own.
(ii) Which second head did he get? Briefly state what was written on the
Schedule attached to the second head.
The second head he got was from the silver casket. The scroll attached
to the second head says that silver metal of the casket was tested seven
times by fire. A mind which never makes an error of judgement must
be similarly tested seven times. Some people find their happiness in
shadows and unreality -.·Their happiness is therefore only shadowy and
unreal. There are many living fools whose foolishness is hidden by
their silvery-hair because they have the appearance of being venerable
and wise. One of these is the fool's head concealed in the silver casket.
Arragon will always have a foolish head. He should now leave as his
chance is over.
(iii) Which casket does the speaker choose? Why did he choose that casket?
The speaker chooses .the silver casket. The motto of the silver casket
appeals to .the speaker. It says 'who chooses me shall get as much as
he, deserves'. He feels that he deserves Portia because of his inherited
nobility.
(iv) After the departure of the prince, what did Portia say about him? ,
After the departure of the prince, Portia says that there is another moth
which has burnt itself in the flame of the candle. These people, when
they choose, the wisdom of their superficial knowledge makes them
look utterly foolish and lead them to make the wrong choice.
(v) State the old saying uttered by Nerissa after the prince's departure.
After the Prince's departure, Nerissa utters an old saying. 'Hanging
and winning goes by destiny". It means that it is fate that decides what
happens to one, whether one is to be hanged or to be wedded. It implies
that it is destiny that has saved Portia from two unsuitable suitors and
it is destiny that may give her a worthy suitor.
5.
(i) Where does this scene take place? Who has alighted at the gate?
This scene takes place in a room in Portia's house at Belmont. Gratiano
has alighted at the gate.
(ii) The visitor brought gifts of rich value. What does this indicate in the
, context of the scene?
Gifts of rich value indicate the great regard and love Bassanio has for
Portia.
(iii) Give the meaning of the last three lines of the extract.
In the last three lines, the servant says that he has not seen so generous
an ambassador of love. Even a day in April, the sweetest spring day,
coming to give people. a foretaste of bright. and bountiful summer, is
not comparable to this gorgeous messenger, who rides in advance of
his master.
(iv) What were the reactions of Portia and Nerissa to 'the announcement of
a new suitor?
Portia asks the servant to stop speaking because he is so generous in
his praise that she is dreading to hear him say that he is some relative'
of his. Then Portia tells Nerissa to come quickly along with her to meet
this messenger of Cupid, who has arrived in ~such a courteous manner.
Nerissa prays to Cupid, the god of love, that the lord announced be
Bassanio if such is his will.
(v) Why does Portia say to the servant to be silent and not to praise the
young Venetian further?
Portia tells the servant to be silent because (he is too extravagant in his
praises that she is dreading to hear him say that he is some relative of
his.
(vi) Explain how the plot makes progress in this scene.
The plot of the play makes further progress in this scene.: This scene,
the second .of the casket scenes, is important because it fills up the
interval of the three months between the signing up of the bond and the
forfeiture. It also seems to reveal the wisdom of the device of caskets
because it shows that the results are not a mere lottery. It proves that
only the person, who rightly loves, will choose rightly. This scene also,
reveals to the audience which is the right casket. It will heighten the
suspense during Bassanio's selection later. This scene also keeps up the
theme of appearance and reality.
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