nswer the following questions.
Who was Antonio? Why did he borrow money from Shylock?
Why was Antonio not in a position to repay the money he owed Shylock?
What was Shylock's response to Portia's statement that he must show mercy?
How did Portia describe the quality of mercy?
What offer did Bassanio make to Shylock?
What motive did Bassanio say Shylock had for not accepting ten times the amount
as penalty?
What did Bassanio request the Duke to do?
.. How did Portia use Shylock's terms of agreement to save Antonio's life?
that follow-
Answers
Answer:
Portia enters, disguised as Balthasar. The duke greets her and asks whether she is familiar with the circumstances of the case. Portia answers that she knows the case well, and the duke calls Shylock and Antonio before her. Portia asks Antonio if he admits to owing Shylock money. When Antonio answers yes, Portia concludes that the Jew must be merciful. Shylock asks why he must show mercy, and, in one of the play’s most famous speeches, Portia responds that “[t]he quality of mercy is not strained,” but is a blessing to both those who provide and those who receive it (IV.i.179). Because mercy is an attribute of God, Portia reasons, humans approach the divine when they exercise it. Shylock brushes aside her pretty speech, however, by reiterating his demands for justice and revenge.
Portia asks whether Antonio is able to pay the money, and Bassanio offers Shylock twice the sum owed. If need be, Bassanio says, he is willing to pay the bond ten times over, or with his own life. Bassanio begs the court to bend the law slightly in order to exonerate Antonio, reasoning that such a small infraction is a little wrong for a great right. Portia replies, however, that the law shall not be broken—the decrees of Venice must stand. Shylock joyfully extols Portia’s wisdom, and gives her the bond for inspection. She looks it over, declares it legal and binding, and bids Shylock to be merciful. Shylock remains deaf to reason, however, and Portia tells Antonio to prepare himself for the knife. She orders Shylock to have a surgeon on hand to prevent the merchant from bleeding to death, but Shylock refuses because the bond stipulates no such safeguard.
Antonio bids Bassanio farewell. He asks his friend not to grieve for him and tells Bassanio that he is happy to sacrifice his life, if only to prove his love. Both Bassanio and Gratiano say that, though they love their wives, they would give them up in order to save Antonio. In a pair of sarcastic asides, Portia and Nerissa mutter that Bassanio’s and Gratiano’s wives are unlikely to appreciate such sentiments. Shylock is on the verge of cutting into Antonio when Portia suddenly reminds him that the bond stipulates a pound of flesh only, and makes no allowances for blood. She urges Shylock to continue collecting his pound of flesh, but reminds him that if a drop of blood is spilled, then he will be guilty of conspiring against the life of a Venetian citizen and all his lands and goods will be confiscated by the state. Stunned, Shylock hastily backpedals, agreeing to accept three times the sum, but Portia is insistent, saying that Shylock must have the pound of flesh or nothing. When Shylock finds out that he cannot even take the original three thousand ducats in place of the pound of flesh, he drops the case, but Portia stops him, reminding him of the penalty that noncitizens face when they threaten the life of a Venetian. In such a case, Portia states, half of Shylock’s property would go to the state, while the other half would go to the offended party—namely, Antonio. Portia orders Shylock to beg for the duke’s mercy.
The duke declares that he will show mercy: he spares Shylock’s life and demands only a fine, rather than half of the Jew’s estate. Shylock claims that they may as well take his life, as it is worthless without his estate. Antonio offers to return his share of Shylock’s estate, on the condition that Shylock convert to Christianity and bequeath all his goods to Jessica and Lorenzo upon his death. Shylock consents and departs, saying simply, “I am not well” (IV.i.392).
READ A TRANSLATION OF ACT IV, SCENE I, LINES 164–
(i) Antonio is the merchant of Venice. He borrowed money from Shylock as his friend, Bassanio was in need of it and Antonio did not have the money so he borrowed the money from Shylock and gave it to Bassanio promising Shylock that he will give the money after his ships arrive.
(ii)Antonio was not in a position to repay back the money that he had borrowed from Shylock as his ships that carried the money and other goods had met with a misfortune.
(iii)Shylock's response to Portia's request for mercy is to insist on the justice of his cause. As far as he's concerned, he has the law on his side, and he's determined to ensure that the terms of the contract he made with Antonio are fulfilled to the letter.
(iv)Portia argues that mercy is better than justice. She says it is not "strained." If something is strained, it is overused and under pressure: water resources, for example, might become strained during a drought. Mercy, she says, is underused. Mercy is abundant and freely poured on the earth by God, just like the rain.
(v)Bassanio strikes a deal with Shylock by telling him that Antonio will guarantee payment in three months for a loan of three thousand ducats
(vi)According to Bassanio the motive of shylock was to to take revenge on Antonio as he was an hindrance for shaylocks business of lending money. Hence shylock made an agreement with bassanio that Antonio should offer a Pound of his flesh near to his heart if bassanio fails to repair the Dept.
(vii)Bassanio requested the Duke bend the law to save his friend, Antonio.
(viii)Portia initially declares that Shylock must show Antonio mercy in an attempt to soften Shylock's plea for justice. In summary, Portia saves Antonio's life by disguising herself as a young lawyer named Balthazar and cleverly interpreting the law to prevent Shylock from receiving his bond of a pound of Antonio's flesh.