Summary and Analysis Act III: Scene 1

Summary

In Venice, Salanio and Salarino are discussing the latest news on

the Rialto, the bridge in Venice where many business offices are
located. There is a rumor that a ship of Antonio's has been wrecked
off the southeast coast of England. Salanio despairs twice — once
because of Antonio's bad luck, and second because he sees Shylock
approaching. Shylock lashes out at both men, accusing them of
being accessories to Jessica's elopement. They expected as much
and mock the moneylender, scoffing at his metaphor when he
complains that his "flesh and blood" has rebelled. Jessica, they say,
is no more like Shylock than ivory is to jet, or Rhenish wine is to red
wine. Shylock then reminds the two that their friend Antonio had
best "look to his bond . . . look to his bond." The implication is clear;
Shylock has heard of the shipwreck.

Surely, says Salarino, if Antonio forfeits the bond, "thou wilt not
take his flesh." Shylock assures them that he will, for he is
determined to be revenged on Antonio for many grievances, all
committed against Shylock for one reason: because Shylock is a
Jew. A Jew is a human being the same as a Christian, Shylock
continues; like a Christian, a Jew has "eyes . . . hands, organs,
dimensions, senses, affections, passions . . . [is] hurt . . . subject to
the same diseases, [and] healed by the same means." Like a
Christian, a Jew bleeds if pricked, and since a Christian always
revenges any wrong received from a Jew, Shylock will follow this
example. A servant enters then and informs Salanio and Salarino
that Antonio wishes to see them at his house.

As they depart, Shylock's friend Tubal enters. Tubal has traced

Jessica to Genoa, where he has heard news of her but could not find
her. Shylock again moans about his losses, especially about his
diamonds and ducats; he wishes Jessica were dead. Tubal interrupts
and tells Shylock that he picked up additional news in Genoa:
Another of Antonio's ships has been "cast away, coming from
Tripolis." Shylock is elated. But as Tubal returns to the subject of
Jessica's excessive expenditures in Genoa, Shylock groans again.
Thus Tubal reminds Shylock of Antonio's tragic misfortunes, and the
moneylender exults once more. One thing is certain, Tubal assures
Shylock: "Antonio is certainly undone." Shylock agrees and instructs
Tubal to pay a police sergeant in advance to arrest Antonio if he
forfeits the bond.

Analysis

This act opens with Salanio and Salarino again functioning as a

chorus, informing the audience of the development of events
against which the action of the scene will take place. The
suggestion made earlier that Antonio's mercantile ventures at sea
might founder is now made specific. One of Antonio's ships lies
"wracked on the narrow seas . . . where the carcases of many a tall
ship lie buried." The news of the danger to Antonio also prepares us
for the entrance of Shylock, the embodiment of that danger, who
has by now discovered Jessica's elopement.

The moneylender enters, and both we and Salanio know perfectly

well what news concerns Shylock; Salanio's sardonic greeting, with
its pretense of wanting to know "the news," is calculated to
infuriate Shylock, for even though we have not seen Shylock since
the elopement of his daughter, we know that his anger will have
been fueled by the fact that Lorenzo — and, by implication, the
whole Christian community — has dealt him a blow. One should be
fully aware that Shylock is ever conscious of his Jewishness in a
Christian community. Then at the mention of Antonio, Shylock says
ominously, "Let him look to his bond." Without question, the bond is
"merry" no longer — but Salanio has not comprehended this yet. His
half-serious question "Thou wilt not take his flesh. What's that good
for?" is answered savagely: "If it will feed nothing else, it will feed
my revenge," Shylock declares.

The malicious digs of Salanio and Salarino produce one of Shylock's

most dramatic speeches in the play. It is written in prose, but it is a
good example of the superb intensity to which Shakespeare can
raise mere prose. Shylock's series of accusing, rhetorical questions
which form the central portion of the speech, from "Hath not a Jew
eyes?" to "If you poison us, do we not die?" completely silences
Shylock's tormentors. In fact, this speech silences us. We ourselves
have to ponder it. It is one of the greatest pleas for human
tolerance in the whole of dramatic literature. But it is also
something more, and we must not lose sight of its dramatic
importance: It is a prelude to Shylock's final decision concerning
how he will deal with Antonio.

Shylock speaks of a Christian's "humility" with heavy sarcasm;

"humility," he says, is a much-talked-of Christian virtue, but a virtue
which is not much in evidence. The "humility" of a Christian, Shylock
says, ceases when a Christian is harmed, for then the Christian
takes revenge. That is the Christian's solution, and that will also be
Shylock's course of action, his solution to the wrongs he has
suffered: "The villainy you teach me I will execute." And toward the
end of the speech, he repeats, like a refrain, the word "revenge."

Shylock's speech on revenge is so powerful and so unanswerable

that it is lost on Salanio and Salarino, who are none too bright
anyway, but their silence on stage stuns us. Shakespeare has
manipulated our sympathy. Then, just when we were secure in
feeling that Shylock's reasoning was just, Shakespeare shows us
another facet of Shylock, one which we have seen before — his
concern with possessions — and thus we must reconsider the whole
matter of justice which we thought we had just solved. Shylock's
friend Tubal enters, and in the exchange which follows, we realize
that Shylock has become a miser in order to build his own personal
defense against the hostile Christian mercantile world of Venice.
But his defense has increased to such an extent that he no longer
can contain it; it possesses him now. He cannot properly distinguish
between the love of riches and his love for his daughter, Jessica.
Shylock's obsession for possessing has blinded him; his anger at the
Christian world has corrupted even his love for his daughter: "I
would my daughter were dead at my foot, and the jewels in her ear!
Would she were hearsed at my foot, and the ducats in her coffin!"
Thereby, we see the extent of Shylock's hatred. By the end of the
scene, the audience is convinced, if it was not before, that Shylock's
attack on Antonio will be absolutely relentless. If he can, he will
literally take his "pound of flesh."

Passage – 1 (Act III, Sc.I, 32-42)

Paraphrase :

SALARINO : There is more difference between your flesh and hers

than between coal and ivory;, more between your bloods than there
is between red wine and white Rhine wine. But tell us, do you hear
whether Antonio has had any losses at sea or not?

SHYLOCK : There I have another bad match: a bankrupt, a prodigal,

who scarcely dares to show his face in the Market place; a beggar,
that used to come on the market so smugly; let him look to his
promise to pay: he was in the habit of calling me a usurer; let him
look to his promise to pay: he was in the habit of lending money for
Christian courtesy; let him look to his promise to pay.

Word Meaning With Annotation

Jet and ivory : jet is deep black, while ivory is extremely white, red
wine and Rheenish : there would be great difference in appearance
between the two blends of wine; for Rhenish, or wine from the
Rhine valley, is white, bad match ; a bad stroke of
business, prodigal : a wasteful person, a beggar, that was used to
come so smug upon the mart : he is now reduced to beggary, who
used to come into the market place with such a smiling and self-
satisfied expression, for a Christian courtesy : Shylock speaks the
words in bitter scorn. He cannot conceive of a man lending money
from any other motive than to extort as much interest as possible.
Antonio’s generous spirit moves the Jew to fury.

Read the above passage and answer the following questions

Question 1.
Where are Salarino and Shylock? Is there anyone else there?
Answer:
The scene is set in Venice. Salanio, Salarino and Shylock are engaged in
conversation.

Question 2.
Who used this phrase ‘flesh and blood’? Was it misunderstood by anyone?
Answer:
Shylock used this phrase to describe his daughter, Jessica. He was sorry to
say that his own flesh and blood rebelled. He was thus referring to Jessica’s
elopement. It is unbearable for Shylock that his own daughter should run
away with a Christian and show her disregard for her father.
This remark was misunderstood or deliberately misinterpreted. Shylock uses
the phrase flesh and blood in the usual sense, that Jessica is his natural
daughter. He refers to the biological relationship between father and child.
But Salanio/Salarino make fun of him, asking him if his physical desires are
roused even in hid old age.

Question 3.
Explain the comparisons made by Salarino between

(a) Jet and ivory,

(b) Red wine and rhenish

Answer:
Salarino is quick to point out that there is hardly any similarity between
Shylock and his daughter Jessica.

(a) If Jessica is ivory which is white and beautiful, Shylock is jet black and
unattractive.
(b) Jessica is rehnish (white wine) while Shylock is red wine. There can be no
confusion between the two.

Question 4.
In what sense is Antonio a prodigal? Is he a bankrupt? Explain Shylock’s
views. Give your comments.
Answer:
When Salarino talks about Antonio’s losses, Shylock speaks impatiently. He
had given a loan of three thousand ducats against this man’s security.
Shylock calls Antonio a bankrupt who has no money to spend. All he had has
been lost.
The Shylock charges Antonio for being a prodigal. He has wasted his money
thoughtlessly. According to Shylock, Antonio has ruined himself by taking a
loan for his extravagant friend. This is a culpable prodigality. We may not,
however, agree with Shylock in blaming a self- sacrificing gentleman like
Antonio.

Question 5.
Why is Antonio not seen at the Rialto?
Answer:
Now that Antonio is a bankrupt, with many debts and loans yet to be cleared,
he does not come to Rialto, the stock exchange. This remark of Shylock
shows that of late Antonio had stopped visiting Rialto where merchants
generally gather to do business.

Question 6.
Shylock gives the warning, “let him look to his bond”. What are his reasons?
Answer:
Shylock gives the warning to be conveyed to Antonio to take care of his
bond. He must repay the money within the prescribed limit of time. Shylock
complains that Antonio used to call him a despicable money-lender charging
high interest. He also used to lend money to people without interest to show
his Christian generosity.

Passage – 2 (Act III, Sc.I, Lines 45-63)

Paraphrase :

SHYLOCK : To bait fish with: if it feeds nothing else, it will feed my revenge.
He has disgraced me and insulted me half a million times; laughed at my
losses, joked about my gains, insulted my religion, crossed my deals, cooled
my friends, heated my enemies. And what’s his reason? I am a Jew. Doesn’t
a Jew have eyes? Doesn’t a Jew have hands, organs, dimensions, senses,
affections, passions, fed with the same food; hurt with the same weapons,
subject to the same diseases, healed by the same means, warmed and
cooled by the same winter and summer, as a Christian is? If you stick us,
don’t we bleed? If you tickle us, don’t we laugh? If you poison us, don’t we
die? And if you wrong us, shouldn’t we seek revenge? If we are like you in
the rest, we’ll resemble you in that. If a Jew wrongs a Christian, what is his
option? Revenge. If a Christian wrongs a Jew, what should his choice be by
Christian example? Why, revenge. The villainy you teach me I’ll use; and it
shall be hard but I’ll make the lesson better.
Word Meaning With Annotation

to bait fish : means “to feed fish.” hindered me half a million : “caused
me to lose half a million ducats, “ by lending money to people who might
otherwise have borrowed from Shylock. hath not a Jew eyes? hath not a
Jew hands, organs, dimensions, senses, affections, passions? fed
with the same food, hurt with the same weapons, subject to the
same diseases, healed by the same means, warmed and cooled by
the same winter and summer, as a Christian is : Shylock is comparing
the physical bodies and powers of the Jew and the Christian, and proving
that they are exactly similar. Then he passes to “senses, affections,” and
finds that here also there is no difference. If a Jew wrong a Christian,
what is his humility : Shylock sneers at the Christian religion. The teaching
of Christ is that a Christian must never take revenge, but must forgive his
enemy in a spirit of proper humility. But Shylock says that this is not
observed. He asks “If a Jew wrongs a Christian, does the latter show
humility? No! He takes revenge.” The sense of “humility” here is “patience”
or “humanity.” what should his sufferance be by Christian
example : what should his attitude be if he is guided by the example which
Christians set him?

Read the above passage and answer the following questions

Question 1.
What substance is meant to bait fish?
Answer:
Flesh is meant to bait fish.

Question 2.
Who is responsible for harming Shylock?
Answer:
Antonio is the man who is responsible for this.

Question 3.
Point out in what all ways the Christians and Jews are alike?
Answer:
Christians and Jews are alike in whishes, desires, feelings and emotions. The
Jews have hands, organs, limbs and senses like the Christians. They eat the
same type of food : they are wounded with the same weapons laible to suffer
from the same diseases and cured By the same medicines. They feel heat
and cold like to Christians.
Question 4.
How does’ a Christian behave when he is insulted by a Jew?
Answer:
A Christian takes revenge.

Question 5.
How will Shylock match the villainy of the Christians.
Answer:
He will also practise villainy. He would try his best to improve upon the
lesson he has been taught by the Christians. Shylock believes in a policy of
tit-for-tat.

Passage – 3 (Act. III, Sc.I, Lines 43-63)

Paraphrase :

SALARINO : Wiry, I am sure, if he defaults, you won’t take his flesh; what’s
that good for?

SHYLOCK : To bait fish with: if it feeds nothing else, it will feed my revenge.
He has disgraced me and insulted me half a million times; laughed at my
losses, joked about my gains, insulted my religion, crossed my deals, cooled
my friends, heated my enemies. And what’s his reason? I am a Jew. Doesn’t
a Jew have eyes? Doesn’t a Jew have hands, organs, dimensions, senses,
affections, passions, fed with the same food, hurt with the same weapons,
subject to the same diseases, healed by the same means, warmed and
cooled by the same winter and summer, as a Christian is? If you stick us,
don’t we bleed? If you tickle us, don’t we laugh? If you poison us, don’t we
die? And if you wrong us, shouldn’t we seek revenge? If we are like you in
the rest, we’ll resemble you in that. If a Jew wrongs a Christian, what is his
option? Revenge. If a Christian wrongs a Jew, what should his choice be by
Christian example? Why, revenge. The villainy you teach me I’ll use; and it
shall be hard but I’ll make the lesson better.

Word Meaning With Annotation

To bait fish : means “to feed fish.” hindered me half a million : “caused
me to lose half a million ducats, “ by lending money to people who might
otherwise have borrowed from
Shylock. dimensions : limbs, affections : likes, humility : patient
submission or forbearance.

Read the above passage and answer the following questions

Question 1.
About whom are SALARINO and Shylock talking?
Answer:
SALARINO and Shylock are talking about Antonio.
Question 2.
Is Shylock justified in his complaint?
Answer:
Shylock certainly seems to be justified in his complaint against Antonio.
Judging the case by Shylock’s version of the facts, Antonio has always been
most unjust to him. According to Shylock’s account, Antonio has been
insulting and humiliating Shylock, and also been ridiculing and mocking at
him. Antonio has, furthermore, been hindering Shylock’s transactions and
been instigating Shylock’s enemies against him.

Question 3.
Explain the last sentence in Shylock’s speech.
Answer:
Shylock says that the Christians have been treating the Jews in a most
wicked and cruel manner, and that now he too would follow the example of
the Christians and would treat the Christian Antonio in the same cruel
manner. Nay, Shylock would treat the Christian Antonio in a more cruel
manner than the Christians have been treating the Jews.

Question 4.
Does Shylock really “better the instruction”?
Answer:
Shylock certainly tries to better the instruction. He certainly tries to cause
the death of Antonio who is a Christian, while the Christian Antonio had
limited his cruelty towards the Jew only to the extent of disgracing him and
ridiculing him, thwarting his bargains, and otherwise harassing him.
However, Shylock does not succeed in his purpose. He exerts himself to the
utmost and comes very close to achieving his object but at the last moment
he is deprived of the opportunity which had-come his way.

Question 5.
Why has this speech by Shylock become famous?
Answer:
This speech by Shylock has become famous because it contains a factual
account of how the Christians of the time were treating the Jews, and
because this kind of inter-racial prejudice and hostility exist even today
between certain communities and between certain religions, though the
antagonism between the Jews and the Christians does not exist and longer.
In fact, this speech is a classic account of the persecution which the Jews
have been suffering for centuries at the hands of the Christians. We have
here a succinct account of the injustice which the followers of one religion
have been suffering at the hands of the fanatical followers of another
religion. The wording of the account and the logical reasoning behind the
account are really superb. And the speech is an excellent example of rhetoric
and oratory.

Passage – 4 (Act. III, Sc.I, Lines 70-85)

Paraphrase :

SHYLOCK : How now, Tubal! What’s the news from Genoa? Have you found
my daughter?

TUBAL : I often came to places where I heard of her, but I cannot find her.

SHYLOCK : Why there, there, there, there! A diamond gone, cost me two
thousand dollars in Frankfort! The curse never fell on our nation until now; I
never felt it until now. Two thousand dollars in that, and other precious,
precious jewels. I wish my daughter were dead at my foot, and the jewels in
her ear; I wish she were trained at my feet, and the dollars in her coffin! No
news of them? Why, okay: and I don’t know what’s been spent in the search.
Why, you— loss on loss! The thief gone with so much, and so much to find
the thief; and no satisfaction, no revenge; or only bad luck stirring and sits
on my shoulders; no sighs except the ones I’m breathing; no tears except
the ones I’m shedding.

TUBAL : Yes, other men have bad luck too. Antonio, as I heard in Genoa

Word Meaning With Annotation

The curse never fell upon our nation till now, I never felt it till now,-
Two thousand ducats in that, and other precious, precious
jewels : Shylock shows how very self-centred he is. He looks upon his
misfortunes as a blow to the whole Jewish nation, though, if we are more
charitable, it is possible to assume that he is thinking rather of her daughter
Jessica’s falling away from the Jewish faith, and that this is the curse he
means. I would my daughter were dead at my foot, and the jewels in
her ear: would she were hears’d at my foot and the ducats in her
coffin : it would be possible to feel sympathy for Shylock if he declared that
he wished his daughter dead, rather than married to a Christian. But he
seemingly wished her dead if it would only help him to recover his money
and jewels, a particularly despicable wish, hearsed : the hearse is the black
funeral carriage which carries the coffin to the grave, loss upon
loss : Shylock has lost further sums of money in the search for the runaway
lovers, other men have ill luck too,-Antonio : Tubal alternately reminds
Shylock of the loss of his daughter-and the bankruptcy of Antonio.

Read the above passage and answer the following questions

Question 1.
What is Shylock’s predicament as reflected in this passage?
Answer:
Shylock is in a sad state because of the loss of his money and his jewels. Of
course, he is feeling grieved also on account of the disgrace which his
daughter has brought on him by running away from home, and more
particularly by running away with a Christian.

Question 2.
In what light do you see Shylock on this occasion?
Answer:
Shylock here appears to be a pathetic figure. Any father would experience
similar feelings of grief and degradation at the gross misconduct of this kind
on the part of his daughter. Shylock’s grief is natural. But he also appears
here in a comic light. The manner in which he laments his loss has a touch of
absurdity. In fact, he is more grieved by the loss of his ducats and his jewels
than by the loss of his daughter and by a sense of disgrace. He appears as a
comic figure also because he is magnifying his personal loss by giving it the
dimensions of a national loss. “The curse never fell upon our nation till now”,
he says.

Question 3.
Why does Shylock want his daughter dead at his foot and the jewels in her
ear?
Answer:
Shylock wants his daughter dead at his foot because his daughter has not
only brought him , disgrace and dis honour by running away from home but
has also caused him a heavy financial loss by stealing his money and his
jewels. He would not mind his daughter’s having the jewels in her ears if he
can have the satisfaction of seeing his daughter dead before him. Death
would be the only adequate punishment for her misconduct. He would feel
tortured if his daughter remains alive and goes about in Genoa, flaunting the
jewels which she had stolen from him. If she lies dead before him with the
jewels in her ear, he can gloat over the sight. Death is the minimum
punishment that the thinks his daughter should receive and he would then
not mind the loss of his jewels. Actually these would be the feelings of any
father in Shylock’s situation.

Question 4.
What consolation does Tubal offer to Shylock?
Answer:
Tubal tells Shylock that he (Shylock) is not the only man who has suffered
bad luck, and that there are other men also in this world who become victims
of bad luck. He then mentions the case of Antonio. It is a well-known fact
that we feel our own losses much less when we learn that other people have
also suffered losses. And our grief over our losses is further diminished if we
are told that our enemies have suffered heavy losses. On being told that
Antonio has lost his ships on the seas, Shylock feels greatly consoled in his
distress.
Question 5.
Does Shylock get any satisfaction or revenge afterwards?
Answer:
Shylock does get some satisfaction afterwards though this satisfaction
proves to be short-lived. He comes very close to getting his revenge “upon
Antonio when the judge tells him that he is entitled to a pound of Antonio’s
flesh. Shylock feels exultant and jubilant at this time, and he had even begun
to sharpen his knife. But then the judge tells him that, in the process of
cutting the flesh, he must not shed any blood because no blood has been
mentioned in the bond. Thus Shylock is unable to get any real satisfaction
because he is deprived of the opportunity to take his revenge upon his
enemy.

Passage – 5 (Act III, Sc.I, Lines 101-112)

Paraphrase :

TUBAL : One of them showed me a ring that he accepted from your

daughter as payment for a monkey.

SHYLOCK : Damn her! You torture me, Tubal: It was my turquoise ring; I got
from Leah, my wife, when I was still single; I wouldn’t have traded it for a
wilderness of monkeys.

TUBAL : But Antonio is certainly bankrupt.

SHYLOCK : No, that’s true; that’s very true. Go, Tubal, hire me an officer;
accuse Antonio as of two weeks ago. I’ll have his heart, if he defaults;
because, if he were out of business in Venice, I can make whatever deals I
want to. Go, Tubal, and meet meat our synagogue; go, good Tubal; at our
synagogue, Tubal.

Word Meaning With Annotation

It was my turquoise : I had it of Leah : Shylock refers to the ring

containing a turquoise, a pale blue stone, which he had received from Leah,
his dead wife. This is a bitter thought to him, and intensifies his feelings of
hatred. Every circumstance in the play now is directed towards irritating and
infuriating the Jew. In this manner, his action against Antonio is not unnatural
or improbable, undone: ruined; bankrupt, fee me an officer : engaged a
law officer by paying him an advance fee. if he forfeit : if he becomes liable
for the penalty of the pound of flesh, go, Tubal, and meet me at our
synagogue; go, good Tubal; at our synagogue : Shylock arranges to
meet Tubal at the Jewish church, his motive being, as we afterwards see, to
swear an oath not to give up his scheme of revenge.

Read the above passage and answer the following questions

Question 1.
Who showed Tubal a ring? What did he tell him about this ring? How does it
concern Shylock?
Answer:
Some of the creditors of Antonio who came with Tubal to Venice, told him
something about Shylock’s daughter. One of them showed him a ring that he
got from Jessica in exchange for a monkey. This ring had been stolen by
Jessica from her father’s house.

Question 2.
Why is Shylock touched to the quick? Why was this painful and angry
reaction on hearing the news about the ring?
Answer:
It is a piece of painful news for Shylock that his daughter not only stole away
the ring from his house, but gave it up in exchange for a monkey.
Shylock reacts sharply to the news because the ring had a turquoise studded
in it. It was particularly dear to Shylock because it had been given do him by
his wife when he was still courting her. He is touched to the quick to hear
that his daughter has given up so heartlessly her father’s bridal present from
his late, much lamented wife.
Question 3.
Why does Tubal say that Antonio is undone? What makes Tubal say with
certainty that Antonio is undone?
Answer:
Tubal tells Shylock that Antonio has been ruined. He says so on the authority
of Antonio’s creditors who travelled with him to Venice. They are supposed to
posses authentic information about the financial status of the merchant
whom they had given loans.

Question 4.
What was Shylock reaction on hearing of Antonio’s misfortunes? Why is he
anxious to get Antonio out of Venice?
Answer:
Shylock is happy to hear that Antonio has been ruined. It is a source of great
consolation to this man who considers Antonio his enemy. Shylock is anxious
to get Antonio out of Venice. In his absence he can do good business in
lending money to people charging high rates of interest. So long Antonio is in
the city, he will advance loans that are interest-free. This harms Shylock’s
money-lending business.

Question 5.
Why, Shylock plans to go to a Synagogue? Give your opinion.
Answer:
Shylock is going to his Synagogue. He asks Tubal to meet him there. His
purpose, perhaps, is to present his case before other Jews and win their
sympathy and support for his cause.

Question 6.
Explain, “fee me an office ; be speak him a fortnight before.”
Answer:
Shylock instructs Tubal to engage an officer even a fortnight before the
expiry of the bond. He should be ready to get Antonio arrested on the
forfeiture of the bond. Shylock is certain that Antonio will not be able to
repay three thousand ducats loaned to Bassanio against Antonio’s security.

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

Shylock : How now, Tubal! what news from Genoa? hast thou found
daughter?
Tubal : I often came where I did hear of her, but cannot find her.

(i) Who is Tubal? What has been said about him a little earlier in the
scene?

Answer : Tubal is a close friend of Shylock and also a wealthy Jew like him.
Earlier in the scene, Salanio saw him coming and commented that none
could another Jew like the two Jews i.e., Shylock and Tubal, unless the devil
himself turned into a Jew. It means that both were the worst kind of people.

(ii) What does Shylock say in response to Tubal’s words : ‘but I

cannot find her’?

Answer : Shylock’s daughter had eloped with Lorenzo, taking her father’s
ducats and jewels. Tubal comes and tells him that she was in Genoa and he
had heard of her at other places also, but was not able to trace her. Shylock
also learns about how she is spending his money. Shylock says that he would
prefer her to be dead at his feet with his money and jewels.

(iii) What instructions does Shylock give to Tubal at the end of their
meeting?

Answer : Shylock is delighted to hear that Antonio’s ships have been

wrecked. He knows that Antonio’s money had been hugely invested in his
ventures. Therefore, he would not be able to meet the bond. He wants Tubal
to arrange for a lawyer at the earliest. He wants the lawyer to prepare
beforehand so that he can have his revenge on Antonio.

(iv) What is your impression of Shylock as a father? Give reasons to

justify your answer.

Answer : Shylock appears to a tyrant father. He would not allow his

daughter to be married to a Christian . He was very devilish and when she
eloped, wished that it would be better if she was dead at his feet with all his
money and jewels.

(v) What information does Tubal now give to Shylock concerning

Antonio? State what Shylock tells Tubal expressing his reaction to
what the latter has said.

Answer : Tubal informs Shylock that he is not the only one having bad
fortune. He has heard of Antonio’s ships getting wrecked in the sea. Shylock
gets happy hearing this. He says that he will now plague Antonio and also
torture him.
Extract I.

Q1. Where does this scene take place? Whom does 'she' refer to in
the first line of the extract? What is said about her in the extract?

Ans. The scene takes place in a street in Venice. In the first line
'she' refers to the rumour or report which is personified as an old
woman. When Salarino talks about Antonio's ship, Salanio wishes
that rumour may prove to be a big liar in this case as any old woman
who ever gossiped with our neighbours over her gingerbread cakes
and made her neighbours believe that she mourned sincerely for the
death of her third husband.

Q2. What was said earlier about the place where a ship of Antonio
was wrecked? Where did the news about the ship-wreckage spread?

Ans. Earlier, it was told that Antonio's ship was wrecked in the sea,
at a spot known as Goodwin. The news about the ship's wreckage
spread at the Rialto, the place where the merchants met for
transactions.

Q3. Give the meaning of: "without any slips of prolixity or crossing
the plain highway of talk".

Ans. The given words mean: without speaking much. That is, coming
directly to the point without wasting much time.

Q4. How does Shylock react to the loss of Antonio's ship?

Ans. Shylock was pleased to hear about the loss of Antonio's ship.
He calls Antonio a beggar who used to come to market with a huge
smile. He says that Antonio must keep his promise of paying back
the loan.
Q5. What feelings for Antonio are expressed by Salarino and Salanio
in this scene? Who enters the scene at this time? What does Salanio
say about his daughter?

Ans. In the scene, Salanio and Salarino express their feelings of

concern and sympathy for Antonio.

Shylock enters the scene at this time. When Shylock blames

Salarino and Salanio for his daughters' elopement, Salarino says
that there is difference between him and his daughter as there is
between the colours black and white or as there is between red
wine and white wine.

Extract II.

Q1. Whose flight is being talked about? Where has the person
flown? With whom has the person flown?

Ans. The flight of Jessica is being talked about. She has flown to
Belmont. Jessica has flown with Lorenzo.

Q2. What bad news, besides the flight of the bird, is given just
before the arrival of Shylock?

Ans. Just before the arrival of Shylock, the news about the wreckage
of Antonio's ship is given.

Q3. Give the meaning of: the bird was fledged; and then it is the
complexion of them all to leave the dam.

Ans. The given words mean that it is the nature of a fully feathered
young bird to leave the nest when it is old enough. He means to say
that Jessica was old enough to leave her parents and start her own
life.

Q4. What steps has Shylock taken to get back the flown bird?
Ans. Shylock took all possible steps to get back his daughter. He
asked the Duke for justice and even persuaded him to check the
ship in which Bassanio left for Belmont. Later, it was said that
someone saw Lorenzo and Jessica in a gondola. Shylock took the
help of his friend Tubal for finding and bringing back Jessica to him.

Q5. How does Salarino compare after the extract, the character of
the flown bird with that of Shylock?

Ans. After the extract, Salarino compares the character of Jessica

and Shylock. He says that Jessica is a complete contrast to Shylock
just as black is to white or as ordinary red wine is to expensive
white wine.

Extract III.

Q1. What is meant by a 'bankrupt' as well as a 'prodigal'? Why has

the man gone bankrupt? Why is he called a prodigal?

Ans. A 'bankrupt' means a person who does not have enough money
to pay off his debts.

'Prodigal' means a spendthrift who spends money carelessly.

The man has gone bankrupt because his ship was wrecked in the
sea. He is a spendthrift who has spent his money carelessly and has
gone bankrupt. That is why he is called a prodigal by Shylock.

Q2. What is known as Rialto? Why was the man said to go 'so smug
upon the mart'?

Ans. The Venetian stock exchange, where the merchants used to

meet to do their business deals, was known as the Rialto. The man
used to go to Rialto smiling and satisfied, because he was sure of
his financial position as he owned a number of ships. Shylock says
these words to compare Antonio's financial position in the past with
his present condition.
Q3. Give some incidents to show that the man referred to in the
extract used to insult Shylock?

Ans. The man referred to in the extract is Antonio. He used to insult

Shylock. Antonio insulted Shylock's business, made fun of his profit,
spat on him, kicked him, heated his enemies and cooled his friends.
Antonio hurt Shylock by doing these things because Shylock was a
Jew.

Q4. How did the bankrupt cause loss to Shylock in Venice?

Ans. The bankrupt caused loss to Shylock in Venice by lending

money without interest, and affecting Shylock's business of lending
money at high rate of interest.

Q5. How is the bankrupt likely to go into a loss? How will such a loss
affect Shylock as far as his revenge and financial position is
concerned?

Ans. The bankrupt is likely to go into a loss as his ship has been
wrecked. Besides he needs to pay back the 3000 ducats he had
borrowed from Shylock for Bassanio. Such a loss will help Shylock to
get his revenge.

Extract IV.

Q1. Who is the thief referred to in the extract? What had the thief
stolen? What loss has Shylock suffered due to the theft?

Ans. The thief referred to in the extract is Shylock's daughter

Jessica. The thief has stolen his money, gold and gems. After the
theft, Shylock has to spend money to find Jessica. So he has
suffered loss upon loss due to the theft.
Q2. Who is Tubal? Why did he go to Genoa?

Ans. Tubal is a friend of Shylock. He is also a Jew. He went to Genoa

to search for Jessica who had eloped with Lorenzo.

Q3. What news did Tubal bring from Genoa about the thief?

Ans. Tubal brought the news that he went to the places in Genoa
where he heard some news about Jessica but could not find her.

Q4. The extract refers to 'satisfaction' and 'revenge'. In what

context are the expressions used by Shylock?

Ans. Shylock uses the expressions satisfaction and revenge in the

context of his efforts to find his daughter and his money stolen by
her. His efforts to find her and get the money back were failures. So
he doesn't have the satisfaction of getting back his daughter and
money. He also can't get revenge on the people who hurt him.

Q5. State what ill-luck befell Antonio. Why was Shylock happy over
the news?

Ans. One of Antonio's large ships has been wrecked in the sea. This
was the ill-luck that befell Antonio. Shylock was happy over the
news as he could now take revenge on Antonio, if Antonio couldn't
pay back the loan.

Extract V.

Q1. Why does Tubal say that Antonio is undone? What makes him
say with certainty that Antonio is undone? Who is Leah? Why is she
referred to in the extract?

Ans. Tubal says that Antonio is undone because he has heard from
some sailors that one of Antonio's large ships has been wrecked in
the sea. Leah was Shylock's wife. She is referred to in the extract
because she had given a ring to Shylock, which was stolen by
Jessica, who later sold it to buy a monkey.

Q2. In what mood is Shylock in the scene? How is Tubal said to be

torturing him?

Ans. In this scene, Shylock is very sad. Tubal is said to be torturing

him when he tells the news about his daughter. Tubal tells Shylock
that he could not find his daughter, that his daughter spent eighty
ducats in one night and that she exchanged his wife's ring for a
monkey.

Q3. What is Shylock's reaction on hearing about Antonio's

misfortune? How is he going to punish Antonio? What would he gain
by his revengeful action?

Ans. Antonio's misfortune makes Shylock happy because he will be

able to take his revenge on Antonio. He will punish Antonio by
exacting a pound of flesh from any part of his body. By his
revengeful action, he can remove Antonio from Venice, which will
help to increase his business.

Q4. What is a synagogue? What can you conclude from Shylock's

journey towards the synagogue?

Ans. A synagogue is a place of worship of the Jews. Shylock's

journey to the synagogue shows us that he is a religious man and
that he feels pride in his Jewish heritage.

Q5. In what way, by the end of the scene, does Shylock convince the
audience that his attack on Antonio is without any mercy? Which
character trait of Shylock is shown in this scene?

Ans. In this scene Shylock explains the insults he has suffered, for
years, from Antonio. He says that he will do the same as his
enemies. He says that he will take Antonio's heart. This shows that
Shylock is a vengeful man who will suffer patiently and wait for the
perfect opportunity to take his revenge.

yet it lives there – there is still a rumour

unchecked – undenied

narrow seas – English Channel

flat – sandbank

carcasses – ruined parts or wrecks

tall – majestic

knapped – chewed

slips of prolixity – lapses into boring speeches

flight – escape

fledged – ready to fly

complexion – nature

dam – mother

red wine- cheap wine

Rhenish wine – expensive white wine

match – bargain

prodigal – waster

smug – self-satisfied

mart – Rialto, stock exchange

wont – accustomed

usurer – one who lends money for high interest

forfeit – fails to pay in time

feed – satisfy
disgraced – humiliated

scorned – despised

heated – incited

dimensions – limbs

sufferance – punishment

hearsed – laid in her coffin

lights on my shoulders – falls on his self

Tripoli’s – a port at Lebanon

four score – eighty

divers – several

plague – trouble

Leah – Shylock’s wife

fee me – engage a lawyer for me

bespeak – speak before

synagogue – place of worship of Jews.

The Merchant of Venice Act 3 Scene 1 Summary Questions and

Answers

1. Salerio :
Why, yet it lives there unchecked that Antonio hath a ship of rich
lading wrecked on the narrow seas the Goodwins, I think they
call the place, a very dangerous flat, and fatal, where the
carcasses of many a tall ship lie buried, as they say, if my gossip
Report
be an honest woman of her word.

Question 1.
What is referred to as ‘it’ in the first line? What’s the meaning of
unchecked? Where has the speaker heard ‘it’?
Answer:
‘It’ is referred to the rumour that is going on in Venice about the
wreckage of Antonio’s ship in the English Channel. ‘Unchecked’
means ‘without being denied’. The speaker has heard about it in
Rialto, the stock market of Venice.

Question 2.
What do you know about Goodwins?
Answer:
Goodwins refers to the Goodwin Sands, near the mouth of the Thames, the
scene of many shipwrecks. The area is shadlow and dangerous and the
remains of many a ship lie buried there.

Question 3.
Explain ‘carcasses of many a tall ship’.
Answer:
Carcasses are the remains or wreckage of ships. Many fine or majestic ships
have been ruined at the Goodwin Sands and their wreckage lie buried there.

Question 4.
‘If my gossip Report’ explain the figure of speech used here? What is gossip
Report?
Answer:
The figure of speech used here is Personification. Report or news has been
personified in the form of ‘Old mother Rumour’, who spreads stories without
proof

Question 5.
What does Solanio wish soon after this? Who meets them just after this
extract?
Answer:
Solanio wishes that Old Mother Rumour were a lying wench that ever chewed
ginger to make her neighbours believe that she mourned sincerely for the
death of her third husband. He wishes that the rumour regarding the loss of
Antonio’s ship were untrue. Shylock meets them just after this extract.

2. Shylock :
You knew, none so well, none so well as you, of my daughter’s flight
Salerio : That’s certain : I, for my part, knew the tailor that made the wings
she flew withal.

Question 1.
Who are the ‘you’? What were they talking about?
Answer:
‘You’ are Salerio and Solanio, friends of Antonio, who were talking about the
rumour at Rialto about the wreckage of Antonio’s ship in the English
Channel.

Question 2.
What is Shylock accusing them of? Explain ‘the tailor that made the wings’.
Answer:
Shylock is accusing them that they knew about the elopement of Jessica and
did nothing about it. Salerio agrees by saying that he knew the tailor who
made the boy’s clothes, which she wore to disguise herself, and flew away
from home.

Question 3.
Explain the figure of speech used in the extract.
Answer:
The figure of speech used is a metaphor. Jessica is compared to a bird that
flew away from Shylock.

Question 4.
According to Solanio what should have been Shylock aware of?
Answer:
According to Solanio, Shylock should be aware that his daughter was no
longer a fledgling; she is grown up and is able to fly away according to her
will.

Question 5.
Just a little later Salerio makes a comparison between Shylock and his
daughter. What is it?
Answer:
Salerio says that Shylock is jet black whereas his daughter is like ivory. He is
like cheap wine when compared to Jessica who is like the expensive Rhenish
wine.

3. Shylock :
There I have another bad match : a bankrupt, a prodigal, who dare
scarce show his head on the Rialto; a beggar, that was used to
come so smug upon the mart. Let him look to his bond ! he was
want to call me usurer. Let him look to his bond he was wont to
lend money fora Christian courtesy. Let him look to his bond !
Salerio :
Why, I am sure, if he forfeit thou wilt not take his flesh : what’s that good
for ?
Question 1.
What is Shylock calling another ‘bad match’? Why is it a bad match?
Answer:
The news that Antonio has lost a ship is the bad match. Shylock has already
lost his daughter and incurred much expense and now he has made another
bad bargain as Antonio has lost his ship and won’t be able to pay back the
debt.

Question 2.
Who is the ‘bankrupt prodigal’? What difference has come into his life?
Answer:
Antonio is the bankrupt prodigal. According to Shylock, Antonio like other
Christians is wastrels who do not know how to save money. Earlier Antonio
used to visit the stock market with a self-satisfied expression but now he is
like a beggar who won’t like to show his face in shame.

Question 3.
Explain, ‘Let him look to his bond! He was wont to lend money for a Christian
courtesy’.
Answer:
Shylock says that Antonio should take care to redeem his bond and pay back
the borrowed money in time; otherwise, he will have to pay with his life. He
used to lend money to people without charging any interest from them
because of his Christian sympathy for them but now it’s time for him to pay
attention to the bond.

Question 4.
What is Salerio asking at the moment and what’s the reply of Shyiock?
Answer:
Salerio asks Shylock whether he is serious about taking the flesh of Antonio
as per the stipulation in the bond; it’ll be of no use to Shylock. The Jew
replies that he’ll bait fish with the flesh. It’ll gratify his revenge. This way
he’ll be able to avenge all the insults against him, his nation and loss in
business.

4. Shylock :
If a Jew wrong a Christian, what is his humility ? Revenge ! If a
Christian wrong a Jew, what should his sufferance be by Christian
example ? Why, revenge ! The villainy you teach me I will execute,
and it shall go hard but I will better the instruction.
Question 1.
In what way does Shylock justify his desire for revenge a little before this
extract?
Answer:
Shylock says that he wants to take revenge against Antonio as Antonio
disgraced him publicly. Antonio has scorned him calling him a usurer, caused
losses equal to half a million ducats by interfering in his deals and above all
insulted his race. He had cooled his friends and incited his enemies.

Question 2.
Give the meaning of the extract.
Answer:
Shylock says, a Christian does not forgive a Jew if he wrongs him. He doesn’t
show any patience but takes revenge. So, how should a Jew take insult from
a Christian? He will do the same thing to a Christian.

Question 3.
Mention the ways in which Antonio had insulted Shylock.
Answer:
Antonio had called Shylock a cut-throat dog in the Rialto and spat on his
gabardine. He had laughed at his money and the interest. He had insulted
his race.

Question 4.
What does Shylock mean by ‘I’ll better the instruction’?
Answer:
Shylock means that he will certainly follow the example set by Christians of
cruelty and wickedness. In fact, he’ll improve upon the example of the
villainy taught by Christians.

Question 5.
What injustice does Shakespeare wants to highlight in the passage?
Answer:
Shakespeare wants to highlight the prejudice of Christians against Jews. This
is a classic case of anti-Semitism that has existed for ages. Jews were
considered as non-believers and inferior to the Christian race. Antonio
represents the Christian attitude and is intolerant towards Shylock’s ways.

5. Solanio : Here comes another of the tribe : a third cannot be matched,

unless the devil himself turn Jew.
Shylock : How now, Tubal ! what news from Genoa ? Hast thou found my
daughter ?
Question 1.
Who is referred to as another of the tribe? What does it mean?
Answer:
Tubal, a friend of Shylock is referred to in this manner. It states that Tubal is
also a Jew, another one belonging to Shylock’s race.

Question 2.
Explain the meaning of ‘a third cannot be matched’.
Answer:
Solanio considers Shylock as well as Tubal as an incarnation of the Devil. The
two are the worst Jews and a third cannot be found unless the Devil himself
turns into a Jew.

Question 3.
What news has the person brought? Where had he been?
Answer:
The person has brought the news that he often went to several places where
he heard of Jessica to be but could not meet her. He had been to Genoa.

Question 4.
How does Shylock lament his losses as a response to the news?
Answer:
Shylock laments about the diamond his daughter has taken away from him
and other precious jewels. He wishes his daughter was dead with the jewels
adorning her ears and the ducats in her coffin. So much money is being
spent in searching for her. It’s been loss upon loss.

Question 5.
What does Shylock say in self-pity at this time?
Answer:
Shylock says that he keeps suffering from losses. His daughter has gone
away and so much has been spent to find her and her lover. He doesn’t get
any satisfaction even in taking revenge. No sighs are heard except his and
no tears shed by anyone else except him. He considered himself as the only
victim of bad luck.

Question 6.
What comforting news does he hear from the newcomer? How does Shylock
react to this?
Answer:
Tubal, the newcomer gives Shylock the comforting news that other people
also have their share of problems. Antonio has lost a ship coming from
Tripolis. Shylock is elated to hear this. He thanks god for bringing misfortune
to Antonio.

6. Shylock :
Out upon her ! Thou torturest me, Tubal : it was my turqoise; I
had It: of Leah when I was a bachelor : I would not have given it for a
wilderness of monkeys.
Tubal : But Antonio is certainly undone.

Question 1.
Who is the ‘her’? Why does Shylock say ‘Out upon her’?
Answer:
Shylock is talking about his daughter Jessica by referring to ‘her’. Tubal has
just given him the heart-breaking news that Jessica has given a ring in
exchange of a monkey. It was the turquoise, which she had taken when she
eloped.

Question 2.
Who is Leah? Why is Shylock so possessive about the turquoise?
Answer:
Leah is Shylock’s dead wife. The stone is important, as his wife had given it
to Shylock before their marriage.

Question 3.
What’s the meaning of ‘Antonio is undone’? Why does Tubal say this at this
point of time?
Answer:
It means Antonio is a ruined man now. He has lost a couple of ships richly
laid with cargo. Tubal wants to divert the mind of Shylock from his daughter
and cheer him up by doting on Antonio’s loss.

Question 4.
What does Shylock tell Tubal to do at the end of the scene? Why?
Answer:
Shylock tells Tubal to hire a legal officer for him. He has to be booked for a
fortnight, in advance so that Shylock can be ready to cut off Antonio’s heart.
Once he is gone, Shylock can make as much profit as he can.