Act 1 Scene 3

Extract I

1. Give the conditions to which Antonio is bound. How wise was Antonio to bind himself to
such conditions?
Ans. Antonio is bound to a bond according to which if he fails to repay the amount in due time,
Shylock will be entitled to take an exact pound of flesh from any part of Antonio’s body that he
may wish. It was very unwise of Antonio to misjudge Shylock’s intentions and sign such a fatal
bond.
2. Give the meaning of: May you stead me? Will you pleasure me?
Ans. Can you help me and will you do me this favour?
3. Shylock says that Antonio is a good man. What does Shylock mean with the connotation
‘good’?
Ans. When Shylock says the above words, he means that Antonio is a reliable man, whose
surety is sufficient to give a loan of three thousand ducats.
4. Enumerate the possible threats to Antonio’s business ventures as stated by Shylock, after the
above extract.
Ans. Shylock enumerates the possible dangers to Antonio’s merchandise-ships being only planks
of wood are apt to be broken; the mariners being merely human beings, are liable to be drowned;
there are pirates on the waters; and there are all the dangers of the ocean from the strong winds
and dangerous rocks.

5. How can it be proved that Antonio is a prudent businessman? How can you say that he is
overconfident?
Ans. Antonio can be considered as a prudent businessman as his wealth is distributed over the
whole world. One of Antonio’s ship is on its journey to Tripolis, another is bound for the Indies,
a third is voyaging to Mexico, fourth to England and others to various other distant places. His
business does not depend on single ship or single business transaction.
Antonio knows the possible dangers in his cargo business and also knowing that Shylock is his
revengeful enemy, he agrees to an unreasonable and dangerous bond. This shows that he is so
overconfident.
Extract II
Shylock:
How like a fawning publican……….most do congregate
1. What is meant by ‘a fawning publican’? Give three reasons why Shylock hates Antonio.
Ans. ‘Fawning’ means servile or pleasing somebody by praising them. Publicans were tax
collectors for the Romans and were generally oppressive. They were hated by the Jews because
they were the agents of Rome, who collected taxes also from the Jews. Publican is a natural term
of contempt and loathing in the mouth of a Jew. ‘Fawning Publican’ here is Shylock’s view
about a man (Antonio), who abuses him but now needs his help.
Shylock hates Antonio because he is a Christian, lends money without interest and hurls abuses
on him.
2. Write the meaning of the following in your own words:
If I can catch him once upon the hip,
I will feed fat the ancient grudge I bear him.
Ans. The above words mean that if Shylock could get hold of Antonio at a disadvantage or in a
weak spot, he will satisfy fully the long-standing hatred he has against him.

3. What old grudge does Shylock have against Antonio?

Ans. Shylock had a long-standing grudge against Antonio because Antonio was a Christian and
looked upon the holy Jewish race with contempt. He even spat on Shylock, kicked him and
called a ‘cut-throat dog.’ His greatest grudge was that he used to lend money without interest
that would bring down the rate of interest.
4. What does the ‘sacred nation’ refer to? What insults has Antonio heaped upon Shylock?
Ans. ‘The Sacred Nation’ is a reference to the holy Jewish race. Antonio insults Shylock for his
business deals and for earning profit by lending money on interest.

5. How does Shylock plan to get the money immediately? What light does this extract throw on
Shylock’s character?
Ans. Shylock could not instantly raise up the whole sum of three thousand ducats, so he plans to
get money immediately from a wealthy fellow Jew, Tubal. It shows that Shylock wants to
execute the bond as soon as possible and use the chance to take his revenge on Antonio.
Extract III
Shylock:
When Jacob grazed……….
Shylock:
Should fall as Jacob’s hire.

1. What topic is referred to in the extract? Who were Jacob and Abraham?
Ans. The topic referred to in the extract is lending money for interest so as to make profit. Jacob
was the second son of Issac who became the third successor to Abraham. Abraham was the
founder of the Hebrew nation and Jacob’s grandfather.

2. Give the story of Jacob who got his share as his payment from Laban.
Ans. Laban was Jacob’s uncle. Jacob and Laban entered into an agreement that Jacob would
receive as his wages the lambs which were born with spots or stripes. During the breeding
season, Jacob arranged the wooden rods in such a way that the shadows of the rods should fall
on the sheep. Consequently, most of the lambs were born spotted or stripped, and thus, they
became Jacob’s property.
3. What is the difference between taking interest and receiving payment for one’s labour?
Ans. Taking interest means to charge specific amounts on the money given as loan for a
specified period. Receiving payment for one’s labour means to take remuneration for one’s
service rendered. This is legitimate while taking interest is not in order. Interest can be earned
without working while ‘receiving payment for one’s labour’ clearly means you worked to earn
that money.

4. How does Antonio interpret Jacob’s success after this extract?

Ans. After this extract, Antonio tells Shylock that what business venture he is referring to
happened because God made it happen like that. Jacob had no control over it on what happened.
So Antonio questions Shylock that is Shylock trying to prove that charging interest makes
sense.

5. What is meant by “third possessor?” What role did Jacob’s wise mother play to make him the
third possessor?
Ans. The phrase “third possessor” means the third in succession to Abraham’s property.
Abraham was the first possessor, Issac being the second and Jacob was the third possessor in the
line of heirs to family inheritance of property.
Esau and Jacob were Issac’s sons. Issac wanted to bless his elder son Esau but would do so after
he brought him some savoury meat. Jacob’s mother Rebecca overheard this conversation. She
wanted to get this blessing for Jacob. She told Jacob to fetch two goats to make a savoury dish.
Rebecca then asked Jacob to go to his blind father with the savoury meat. In this way, Jacob,
through the crafty assistance of his mother, got the blessing of his father.

Extract IV
Antonio:
Well, Shylock, shall we be beholding to you?
….for all use of that which is mine own.
1. What is meant by ‘shall we be beholding to you’? What is Rialto?
Ans. ‘Shall we be beholding to you’-this statement was made by Antonio and he wants to say to
Shylock, “Are you going to lend us money?”
Rialto was the Venetian Stock Exchange where the merchants met for the transaction of
business.
2. Give some examples to show that Shylock was ill-treated by Antonio. How did Shylock react
to Antonio’s insults?
Ans. Shylock speaks of his ill-treatment at the hands of Antonio. He says that Antonio had spat
upon his Jewish robe in contempt and called him an unbeliever and a cur. He had also spat upon
his beard. On another day, he had pushed him aside with his foot as if he were a stray dog being
kicked out of his house. Shylock reacted to Antonio’s insults patiently.
3. Why did Shylock bear Antonio’s insults patiently?
Ans. Shylock bore Antonio’s insults patiently since, as a shrewd Jew, he was waiting for an
opportune time to take revenge on Antonio. Earlier, in the scene Shylock admits that patience is
the badge (characteristic) of his race.

4. Give the causes, financial and racial, for Shylock’s hatred for Antonio.
Ans. Financially Antonio is a threat to Shylock’s money lending business because he lends
money without charging interest and thus brings down the rate of interest charged by money
lenders. Besides, he hates Antonio since he is a Christian, who despises the Jewish race. So,
above is the financial and racial cause, for which Shylock hates Antonio.
5. Antonio is a rich merchant. What is the need for Antonio to borrow money from his enemy?
Why is Shylock prepared to lend money to Antonio?
Ans. Antonio did not have the required amount immediately with him as he had invested his
money in the cargo business when Bassanio raised a demand. Therefore, Antonio needed to
borrow money from his enemy Shylock to give it to Bassanio, his friend so that he can go to
Belmont to woo the rich lady Portia. Shylock was prepared to lend money to Antonio because he
thought that it was a perfect chance to revenge on Antonio.
Extra question to write in C.W
6. Which trait of Shylock’s character emerges in this scene?
In this scene, Shylock is presented as shrewd, cunning and crafty. However, the most evident
trait of his character is that of revenge- to take revenge on Antonio for all the insults heaped on
him by Antonio. He is eager to execute the bond-document for this purpose.

Extract V
Shylock:
Why, look you, how you scorn!
…..kind I offer.
1. What were the ‘shames’ which stained Shylock?
Ans. By ‘shames’, Shylock is referring to the insults hurled on him by Antonio such as speaking
abusively of him and his money-lending, spitting on him, kicking him, calling him a dog and
ridiculing the Jews.
2. What is meant by ‘the present wants’? On what terms is the speaker willing to supply the
wants?
Ans. ‘The present wants’ refer to the immediate need of Antonio-three thousand ducats to
provide for Bassanio’s trip to Belmont to woo Portia. The speaker is ready to supply the wants
provided Antonio signs a bond, according to which if Antonio is unable to pay him the money
on the specified date, the penalty to be paid will be an exact pound of flesh from any part of
Antonio’s body.
3. How does Antonio storm Shylock? Why was Shylock willing to lend money without interest?
Ans. Antonio storms Shylock by saying that in future too he is likely to abuse and disgrace him
and that he should lend the money as to an enemy rather than a friend. He challenges him to
exact the penalty if he fails to repay on time. Shylock is willing to lend the money without
interest because he wants to trap Antonio in a fatal bond and take his revenge.
5. What is meant by Shylock when he says: “This is kind I offer’? What did he propose
to do immediately after this?
Ans. ‘This is kind I offer you’ means this is the kindness that I offer you. This refers to his
lending of money without charging any interest on it.
Immediately after this, Shylock proposes to Antonio to accompany him to a lawyer and execute
certain legal formalities before he gives the loan. He urges Antonio and Bassanio to come to the
notary and sign a bond. According to which if Antonio fails to pay the exact sum on the exact
place and date mentioned then the forfeit to be paid will be an exact pound of flesh from any part
of Antonio’s body by Shylock.
6. Who is the third person, present at the scene? Why is he reluctant to agree to Shylock’s terms?
Ans. The third person present at the scene is Bassanio. Bassanio is reluctant to agree to
Shylock’s terms because he did not trust the kind words uttered by Shylock. He tells Antonio
that he will not have him make such an agreement on his account. He would rather remain as
poor as he is now and do without his wants supplied rather than risking Antonio’s safety to
Shylock.

Extract VI
Shylock;
Go with me to a notary…….pleaseth me.
1. Who is a notary? Whom does Shylock want to take to the notary? Why?
Ans. A notary is a lawyer who has the authority to execute official and legal dealings and
agreements. Shylock want to take Antonio to the notary to sign the bond document which
stipulates that the forfeit to be paid will be a pound of flesh from any part of Antonio’s body.
2. Give the meaning of:
a) Single bond- agreement in which aken by one person, i.e. Antonio will be the only signatory.
b) Merry sport - for a pleasant joke.
3. What does Bassanio say to prevent Antonio from signing the bond?
Ans. Bassanio tells Antonio that he will not have him make such an agreement on his account.
He adds that he would rather remain as poor as he is now and do without his wants supplied
rather than risking Antonio’s safety to Shylock.
4. Why is Antonio confident that there is no danger in signing the bond? What aspect of
Antonio’s character is shown in this incident?
Ans. Antonio is confident that there is no danger in signing the bond because he is confident that
one month before the date of payment, his ships will have brought nine times the amount they
are borrowing and they will not have to pay the penalty. This incident shows Antonio’s
overconfidence towards his business and his generosity towards Bassanio.
5.Why does Shylock insist on a pound of Antonio’s flesh in the bond? Which aspect of his
character is shown in his absurd demand?
Ans. Shylock insists on a pound of Antonio’s flesh to take revenge on him and to put him
completely at his mercy. Shylock’s hatred for Antonio and Christians is shown in his absurd
demand. It also shows that Shylock is cunning, cruel and merciless character.