Question

Discuss Antonis melancholy in the opening scene of The Merchant Venice and the dramatic purpose which it serves in the play as a whole

Answer 1

Answer:

Initially, Portia appears to be anxious over the prospect of choosing her husband through a lottery devised according to her father’s will. She feels sad as she can neither choose the one she likes nor refuse the one she dislikes as her husband. But later on she accepts her father’s will. Nerissa’s reaction to the lottery was positive. She calls Portia’s father pious and asserts that good men do have inspirations at the time of death. She consoles Portia by saying that she will be chosen correctly by a person whom she truly loves.

Explanation:

Initially, Portia appears to be anxious over the prospect of choosing her husband through a lottery devised according to her father’s will. She feels sad as she can neither choose the one she likes nor refuse the one she dislikes as her husband. But later on she accepts her father’s will. Nerissa’s reaction to the lottery was positive. She calls Portia’s father pious and asserts that good men do have inspirations at the time of death. She consoles Portia by saying that she will be chosen correctly by a person whom she truly loves.