i) Who had tried his luck at the casket lottery before the prince of Arragon? What was the result? ii) Why does the prince of Arragon reject the gold casket? iii) Why is he impressed by the inscription on the silver casket? iv) To what extent is he right? Where does he go wrong? V) What casket does he choose? What does he find in it?
Answers
Answer:
Explanation:
Question 1.
I will not jump with common spirits And rank me with the barbarous multitudes’. (Lines : 31-32)
Who utters these words and when ?
What do they tell you of the speaker ?
Answer: The Prince of Arragon, one of Portia’s suitors, utters these lines as he broods on the inscription on the gold casket. They reveal that Arragon is self-conceited and arrogant. He feels as if he were an extra-ordinary person.
Question 2.
‘O that estates, degrees and offices Were not derived corruptly’. (Lines : 40-41)
The Prince of Arragon who utters these words seems to be a wise observer, but then why does he make a wrong choice ?
Answer:
The Prince of Arragon has wisely read of the. ways of the world. Even then he fails in his choice of the caskets because he is self-conceited and arrogant.
Merchant of Venice Workbook Answers Act 2 Scene 9 Passage Based Questions
PASSAGE 1.
Read the following extract and answer the questions that follow :
Arragon :
I will not choose what many men desire,
Because I will not jump with common spirits
And rank me with the barbarous multitudes.
Why, then to thee, thou silver treasure-house;
Tell me once more what title thou dost bear :
‘Who chooseth me shall get as much as he deserves
And well said too; for who shall go about
To cozen fortune and be honourable
Without the stamp of merit ? Let none presume
To wear an undeserved dignity.
(i) Who had tried his luck at the casket lottery before the Prince of Arragon ? What was the result ?
Answer: The Prince of Morocco had tried his luck at the casket lottery. He had chosen the gold casket which was a wrong choice. He had to leave disappointed.
(ii) Why does the Prince of Arragon reject the gold casket ? What does it reveal to you about his character ?
Answer: The Prince of Arragon rejects the gold casket because he does not want to go with the common people who get tempted by the attractive outside of things. He considers himself to be out of common. He is self-conceited and arrogant.
(iii) Why is he impressed by the inscription on the silver casket ? What does it reflect ?
Answer: The inscription on the silver casket makes him feel that he fully deserves Portia. So he goes for the silver casket. It shows that he has a very high opinion about his own merit.
(iv) To what extent is he right ? Where does he go wrong ?
Answer: He is right in thinking that honour should be won by merit and that merit should be the sole criterion for high position in life. He goes wrong in thinking that he is meritorious and deserves to be the husband of Portia.
(i) What casket does he choose ? What does he find in it ? How does Portia react on his leaving ?
Answer: He chooses the silver casket. He finds in it the picture of an idiot. When he leaves
after making a lot of fuss, Portia remarks that some people take a very long time in coming to a decision, and thus, choose wrong.
PASSAGE 2.
Read the following extract and answer the questions that follow :
Madam, there is alighted at your gate
A young Venetian, one that comes before
To signify the approaching of his lord;
From whom he bringeth sensible regreets,
To wit, besides commends and courteous breath,
Gifts of rich value. Yet I have not seen
So likely an ambassador of love:
(i) Who is speaking these lines and to whom ? What has happened early in the scene ?
Answer: A servant is speaking to Portia. Earlier, the Prince of Arragon has made a wrong choice and left after making a lot of fuss, leaving Portia in a bad mood.
(ii) Who is the young Venetian referred to here ? Why is the speaker so impressed ?
Answer: The young Venetian referred to here is Bassanio’s messenger. He has brought with him a number of gifts and graceful compliments from his master. This has greatly impressed the speaker.
(iii) How does Portia react on hearing the news ?
Answer: Portia reacts sharply on hearing the news. She is in no mood to hear of another suitor soon after a skirmish with Arragon. She suspects that the servant is overreacting in praising the newcomer.
(iv) What does Nerissa wish at the end of the scene ? What clue does it provide to you ?
Answer: At the end of the scene Nerissa wishes that this suitor should turn out to be Bassanio.
It provides us the clue that Portia has some interest in Bassanio and Nerissa wants her to marry him.
(v) In which mood is Portia ? Who is able to choose the right casket later in the play ?
What does it tell us of the person ?
Answer: Portia is in a bad mood. It is Bassanio who chooses the right casket later. Bassanio’s choice of lead casket is deliberate. He takes a deliberate risk and wins. It shows his adventurous nature and right judgement.