9.1. What does Portia mean by. 'Away then? Is she happy in saying this? Give reason9. 2. Explain I'm locked in one of them. What is Nerissa and others asked to do?9.3. Why should the music sound?9.4. What contemporary belief about swans is expressed here?9.5. What does Portia want to do to make the comparison more proper? What music will be played if Bassanio wins?वॉटरस्पोर्ट्स यू मीन बाय आवेदन इसी हैप्पी इन इंग्लिश गिव रीजन
Answers
FROM The Merchant Of Venice,
ACT III ,Scene II
Extract : 9
Portia : "Away, then! I am lock'd in one of them:
If you do love me, you will find me out.
Nerissa and the rest, stand all aloof.
Let music sound while he doth make his choice;
Then,if he lose,he makes a swan-like end,
Fading in music: that the comparison
May stand more proper, my eyes shall be the stream.
1) By saying "Away, then! ", Portia is asking Bassanio to go ahead with the choice of the casket .
She is not very happy as she is anxious whether Bassanio will succeed or not in his choice of the casket.
2) Portia shows the caskets to Bassanio saying that her portrait is locked in one of the caskets. The one who selects the right casket which contains the portrait of Portia will be her husband. She says that if Bassanio loves her truly, he will choose the right casket.
Nerissa and all others are asked to stand outside during his choice that Bassanio can make his choice peacefully.
3) The music should sound that it creates a pleasant atmosphere and reduces Bassanio's Tension, thus leading him to the right choice. The music gives a warning to Bassanio against judging by outward appearances. Thus the music influences his decision.
4) The contemporary belief is that a swan, usually mute, sings a beautiful song just before its death.In fact, swan just disappears into a distance, singing its last song.
5)Portia said that if Bassanio makes the wrong choice, he will have a swan like end, fading away in music. To make the comparison more proper, Portia will cry bitterly and her eyes shall be a stream in which Bassanio will be drowned. So her tear filled eyes will be the death-bed of Bassanio if he fails.
If Bassanio selects the right casket, the music will be like the sounds of trumpets heard when the loyal subjects bow down to a newly crowned monarch and like the dulcet(sweet) sounds that will awake the bridegroom from his dreams during the daybreak and summon him to marriage.