4.

Name any five Shakespearean plays.

5.

Who is the Chief Justice of India? Mention some eminent personalities

in the legal field in India.

THE MERCHANT OF VENICE

- William Shakespeare
(The Plot)
Antonio, a merchant of Venice, and Bassanio are very close friends.
Bassanio needs money to marry a wealthy lady in Belmont named Portia. He
borrows money from a cunning, Jewish moneylender called Shylock. Shylock
lends him a heavy sum but makes Antonio sign a bond that if the money is not
repaid within three months, he would cut a pound of flesh from Antonios body.
Meanwhile, Portia, who has to face many suitors, waits for the arrival of
her beloved, Bassanio. Before he died, Portias father, realising her difficulty in
choosing the right man, had left a test for her suitors. Each man was to be presented
with three caskets, of gold, silver and lead. Inside one of them was Portias
picture, and whoever chose this casket would become her husband.
The Prince of Morocco chooses the gold casket but finds inside it a skull
and a warning. The Prince of Aragon chooses the silver casket and finds the
portrait of an idiot and another warning. Bassanio chooses the lead casket, the
one with Portias picture, and claims her as his wife. And his friend Gratiano
marries Nerissa, Portias maid.
As the merry-making commences, there comes a letter from Antonio. His
ships are lost at sea, and hence unable to pay his debt, he has to keep his word
with Shylock, and offer him a pound of his flesh. Portia offers money but Shylock
insists on a pound of Antonios flesh as mentioned in the bond.
When their husbands leave for Venice, Portia and Nerissa too follow them
in disguise. Portia disguises herself as a (male) lawyer with Nerrisa as her clerk.
Portia leaves her house in the care of Jessica, Shylocks daughter who has left
her father and married Lorenzo.
All the great men of Venice gather at the Dukes court but Shylock is
unmoved by their arguments. He feels that the law is on his side and demands
justice according to the bond. Portia enters the court and changes the entire
nature of the argument. She speaks not of justice but of mercy.
53

Portia wins the battle of wits and Shylock is forced to leave the courtroom
in defeat. Thanks to the brilliance of Portias reasoning, the misfortunes of Antonio,
the merchant of Venice, are finally ended, and the married couples are ready for
a life of happiness.
Note: The following is an extract from the court scene, Act IV.
Place: The court of justice in Venice.
Enter Portia, dressed like a doctor of laws.
DUKE

: You are welcome: take your place.

Are you acquainted with the difference
That holds this present question in the court?

PORTIA

: I am informed thoroughly of the cause.

Which is the merchant here, and which the Jew?

DUKE

: Antonio and old Shylock, both stand forth.

PORTIA

: Is your name Shylock?

SHYLOCK

: Shylock is my name.

PORTIA

: Of a strange nature is the suit you follow;

Yet in such rule, that the Venetian law
Cannot impugn you as you do proceed.
(To Antonio) You stand within his danger, do you not?

ANTONIO

: Ay, so he says.

PORTIA

Do you confess the bond?

ANTONIO

I do.

PORTIA

: Then must the Jew be merciful.

SHYLOCK

: On what compulsion must I? Tell me that.

PORTIA

: The quality of mercy is not straind

It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven
Upon the place beneath. It is twice blessed:
It blesseth him that gives and him that takes:
Tis mightiest in the mightiest; it becomes
54

The throned monarch better than his crown;

His sceptre shows the force of temporal power,
The attribute to awe and majesty,
Wherein doth sit the dread and fear of kings;
But mercy is above this sceptred sway,
It is enthroned in the hearts of kings,
It is an attribute to God himself;
And earthly power doth then show likest Gods
When mercy seasons justice. Therefore, Jew,
Though justice be thy plea, consider this
That, in the course of justice none of us
Should see salvation; we do pray for mercy,
And that same prayer doth teach us all to render
The deeds of mercy. I have spoke thus much
To mitigate the justice of thy plea,
Which if thou follow, this strict court of Venice
Must needs give sentence gainst the merchant there.
SHYLOCK

: My deeds upon my head! I crave the law,

The penalty and forfeit of my bond.

PORTIA

: Is he not able to discharge the money?

BASSANIO : Yes, here I tender it for him in the court;

Yea, twice the sum, if that will not suffice,
I will be bound to pay it ten times oer,

PORTIA

: I pray you, let me look upon the bond.

SHYLOCK

: Here tis, most reverend Doctor, here it is.

PORTIA

: Shylock, theres thrice thy money offerd thee.

..

PORTIA

: Why, this bond is forfeit;

55

And lawfully by this the Jew may claim

A pound of flesh, to be by him cut off
Nearest the merchants heart. Be merciful.
Take thrice the money; bid me tear the bond.
SHYLOCK

: There is no power in the tongue of man

To alter me. I stay here on my bond.

ANTONIO

: Most heartily I do beseech the court

To give the judgment.

PORTIA

: Why then, thus it is:

You must prepare your bosom for his knife.

SHYLOCK

: O noble judge! O excellent young man!

.

PORTIA

: Therefore, lay bare your bosom.

SHYLOCK

: Ay, his breast So says the bond: doth it not, noble judge?
Nearest his heart; those are the very words.

PORTIA

: It is so. Are there balance here to weigh The flesh?

SHYLOCK

: I have them ready.

PORTIA

: Have by some surgeon, Shylock, on your Charge,

To stop his wounds, lest he do bleed to death.

SHYLOCK

: Is it so nominated in the bond?

PORTIA

: It is not so expressd, but what of that?

Twere good you do so much for charity.

SHYLOCK

: I cannot find it; tis not in the bond.

..

PORTIA

: A pound of that same merchants flesh is thine.

The court awards it, and the law doth give it.

SHYLOCK

: Most rightful judge!

PORTIA

: And you must cut this flesh from off his breast.
56

The law allows it, and the court awards it.

SHYLOCK

: Most learned judge! A sentence! Come, prepare.

PORTIA

: Tarry a little; there is something else.

This bond doth give thee here no jot of blood;
The words expressly are a pound of flesh:
Take then thy bond, take thou thy pound of flesh;
But, in the cutting it, if thou dost shed
One drop of Christian blood, thy lands and goods
Are, by the laws of Venice, confiscate
Unto the state of Venice.
..

SHYLOCK

: Is that the law?

PORTIA

: Thyself shalt see the act;

For, as thou urgest justice, be assured
Thou shalt have justice, more than thou desirst.
.

SHYLOCK

: I take this offer then: pay the bond thrice,

And let the Christian go.

BASSANIO : Here is the money

PORTIA

: Soft!
The Jew shall have all justice. Soft! No haste:
He shall have nothing but the penalty.

William Shakespeare (1564-1616) was born at Stratford-on-Avon and was

educated at the free Stratford Grammar School. There is no authentic
documentation of his early life. He married Anne Hathaway in 1582 and
moved to London in 1586 to become an actor, poet, dramatist and theatre
manager. His well-known comedies are A Midsummer Nights Dream, The
Merchant of Venice and Much Ado About Nothing, while his outstanding
tragedies are Hamlet, King Lear, Othello and Macbeth, among many more.
57

Glossary:
difference
Jew

/'dIfrEns/
/dZu:/

: dispute
: A race who presently live in
Israel. During Shakespeares
times, the Jews were ruthless
moneylenders and were hated by
the Christians. They hated the
Christians too.
stand forth
/stGnd fC:T/
: come forward
strange nature
/streIndZ 'neItLE/ : unusual because he demands a
pound of flesh even when he is
offered ten times the original sum
of money
impugn
/Im'pju:n/
: oppose or resist
ay
/aI /
: yes
bond
/bBnd /
: agreement
straind
/streInd/
: forced
twice blessed
/twaIs blest/
: Mercy has a double blessing. It
blesses him that gives and him that
receives it
it becomes . . .. . .his crown
: The King earns greater respect
when he is merciful.
temporal
/ 'tempErEl /
: worldly
His sceptre . . .. . . fear of kings
: The kings sceptre (royal staff) is
a symbol of his earthly power and
he is feared.
But mercy. . . . .God himself
: But mercy is above this earthly
power. It resides in the hearts of
kings and is an attribute of God.
And earthly power. . seasons justice
: Earthly power is revealed like
Gods power when justice is
tempered with mercy.
seasons
/'si:znz/
: tempers, strengthens
58

in the course of justice

mitigate
I crave the law

/'mItIgeIt/

forfeit

/'fC:fIt/

suffice
beseech
nominated
tarry
expressly
confiscate
soft

/sV'faIs/
/bI'si:tL/
/'nBmIneItId/
/'tGrI/
/Ik'spreslI/
/'kBnfIskeIt/
/sBft/

: if strict justice were to take its

course
: lessen
: I pray for what the law entitles me
to. . .
: give up as penalty for doing
something wrong
: be sufficient
: earnestly ask for
: mentioned
: wait
: directly shown
: take or seize
: wait

Choose the appropriate synonyms of the italicised word from the options
given.
1.

Though justice be thy plea, consider this.

(a) argument (b) request (c) support (d) quest

2.

I crave the law the penalty and forfeit of my band.

(a) lose (b) withdraw (c) continuation (d) implement

3.

If that will not suffice, I will be bound to pay it ten times.

(a) continue (b) suffer (c) work (d) be enough

4.

I do beseech the court.

(a) order (b) implore (c) persuade (d) ask

5.

Thy lands and goods are, by the laws of Venice, confiscate.

(a) take away (b) give (c) remain (d) enforce

II.

Choose the appropriate antonyms of the italicised word from the

options given.

1.

His sceptre shows the force of temporal power.

(a) spiritual (b) limited (c) temporary (d) strong

2.

I have spoken thus much to mitigate the justice of thy plea.

(a) reduce (b) increase (c) militate (d) annual
59

3.

This strict court of Venice...

(a) rigid (b) big (c) strong (d) lenient

4.

There is no power in the tongues of man to alter me.

(a) argue (b) change (c) fix (d) frighten

5.

The Venitian law cannot impugn you.

(a) question (b) stop (c) acquit (d) convict

Comprehension:
I.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Level I
What was the agreement between Antonio and Shylock?
Why did Portias father leave a test for the suitors?
Why was Antonio unable to pay his debt?
Who was Nerissa and whom did she marry?
How, according to Portia, is mercy twice blessed?

II. Level II
1.
2.

Does Portia come across to you as a modern woman? Give reasons.

What are the problems and issues involved in money lending and
borrowing?

III. Answer the following questions in a paragraph each:

1.
2.

How is Shylocks character revealed in this scene?

How does Portia turn the argument against Shylock?

IV.

Write a short essay on

The qualities of mercy as expressed by Portia.

Scanning:
Scanning is going through a text quickly with a view to looking or searching
for a specific piece of information. Looking through a telephone directory to
locate a particular phone number is an exercise in scanning. Quite often there is
a link between skimming and scanning for readers skim a passage for a general
idea of its content and then scan it for specific information.
60